An archaeological dig will take place behind the council offices on Market Hill from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March 2015, as part of the Diss Heritage Triangle project.

Dig Diss is the first of many community activities planned as part of the project and will involve pupils from Diss High School and the Waveney branch of the Norfolk Young Archaeologists.  The children will work under the supervision of staff and students from the Centre of East Anglian Studies at the University of East Anglia and will help with digging, recording finds, and then cleaning and identifying the items unearthed.

Dr Tom Licence, director of the Centre of East Anglian Studies, will lead the dig, which aims to locate and excavate the ‘middens’ or rubbish pits of former inhabitants of the site. It is hoped archaeologists may find evidence of some of the earliest occupation of Diss.

As part of the community weekend Richard Bacon MP will officially open Diss Museum for the season at 11am on Saturday 14 March.

Members of the public will not be able to participate in the dig but can watch, hear talks from archaeologists working on the site and take part in other activities including an exhibition about the dig, a ‘Find the Finds’ trail around the Heritage Triangle and a ‘Time Team-style wrap up talk at the end of each day’s dig at 5pm in the Corn Hall.

Sheila Moss King, Programme Manager for the Diss Heritage Triangle & Diss Corn Hall Project said: “This is a great opportunity to come to a live dig, see how they work and get those exciting first glimpses of what the experts find. Those south-facing slopes are known to have been occupied as far back as the Bronze Age, so who knows what might turn up?”

She added: “We are all thrilled that work has started on the project and we just cannot wait to unveil the new look Diss in September 2016. It’s been a real team effort to get where we are but we are still fundraising and now is a great time for local businesses and residents who would like to get involved to donate.”

Dig Diss marks the start of work to develop the Diss Heritage Triangle, a Heritage Lottery funded project that aims to deliver the complete regeneration of the historic centre of Diss.  The project will restore and extend the Corn Hall, transform the streets around the Heritage Triangle, and create a Boardwalk and floating island on the Mere.  The land behind the council will become gardens leading to the Boardwalk; the archaeological investigations are the first step in that work.

NOTES

1. The Diss Heritage Triangle and Diss Corn Hall project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, South Norfolk Council, Norfolk County Council, Diss Town Council and by local people who’ve contributed over £100,000 during the recent fundraising activities.
2. Prior to the two days of excavations, magnetometry surveys will be conducted over the site, which leads down from the Council Offices to the edge of Diss Mere.  Magnetometry will create a map of below ground, and will guide where pits are to be opened up, ready for the Dig Diss weekend.  
3. The Big Lottery Fund is the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.  The Fund aims to enable others to make real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
4. For details on how to donate to the Heritage Triangle, individuals and businesses can do so online at www.heritagetriangle.co.uk

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