Roman pottery and King Charles II coin unearthed in North Petherton dig

Fragments of Roman pottery and a 17th-century coin were among the discoveries made by volunteers taking part in a community dig in North Petherton over the weekend.

The test pitting project was part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology and saw 15 volunteers from across the Quantocks join forces to excavate four sites around the village.

According to a post from the Quantock Heritage Group on Facebook, one of the most exciting finds could be a small piece of pottery that predates the famous Alfred Jewel by around 2,000 years.

“In amongst the trays of finds there is a possible piece of Roman Black-Burnish, an interesting bronze or copper alloy possible scribe for using on wax tablets and a King Charles II farthing shown to us by one of the local community,” the group wrote.

Although no major artefacts were uncovered, organisers say the event was a success and met their expectations – with more items still being cleaned and catalogued.

The group thanked North Petherton Town Council for funding the activity, as well as local residents who allowed them to dig in their gardens and fields.

Organisers say they hope to return later in the year to continue the project and uncover more of the town’s hidden history.