Digging into Swindon's Roman past. Take a site tour with English Heritage.

Tony Robinson of Time Team at the Big Dig on 28/29 June

Two teams of archaeologists are trying to throw light on what the Groundwell Ridge Roman site between Ash Brake and St Andrew's Ridge actually contains.

TV archaeologists from Channel 4's Time Team spent 28 and 29 June exploring the north east area of the ridge, outside the site scheduled as an ancient monument, for the nationwide weekend Big Dig programme.

A scientific team from English Heritage have started a scientific search for evidence of Roman use and will be on site until 25 July. The work is being carried out to evaluate the effects of a proposal by Swindon Council to build a footpath and cycle-way over part of the site. The team will be excavating a 30 metre trench by hand to see what lies below the surface. A mini-digger will be used to open up the line of a water main laid by Thames Water in the early 1990s before the archaeological potential was discovered so that the sides of that trench can be investigated.

The results of the dig will be added to last year's geophysical survey by English Heritage and presented at a public display on National Archaeology Day, 19 and 20 July

An English Heritage outreach worker will conduct daily tours during the dig. Site tours take place on Monday to Friday at 11am and at 3pm when the diggers will be at work, and on the hour from 10am until 4pm on the weekends of 5 and 6 July and 12 and 13 July although the digging team will not be on site.

The archaelogical team are very keen for visitors to avoid parking in Ash Brake in order to minimise inconvenience to residents. Places should be booked by calling 07889-808139.