Archaeologists to unearth medieval building on farm through 12-day dig

12-day excavation is set to take place on High Tarns Farm in Silloth, led by archaeologist Mark Graham, with the aim of uncovering traces of medieval life on the farm. This initiative comes after Graham discovered crop marks on the land, indicating the potential existence of a significant medieval structure. The dig is scheduled to commence on 22nd July, and volunteers will be participating in the historical exploration. SSP reported.

While expressing his excitement about the project, Graham emphasized the possibility of disappointment, stating, "If you're going to be an archaeologist, you better get used to disappointment." Despite limited written records on the subject, it has long been known that a medieval farm associated with Cistercian monks once occupied part of the town.

The discovery of crop marks occurred during Graham's examination of aerial images in 2022. These marks result from vegetation benefiting from enriching nutrients and trapped water supplies in previously existing fortification ditches, resulting in prominent growth. Descending upon what seemed like the outline of a substantial timber building, Graham's excitement was indisputable as he confessed, "I nearly fell off my chair." The characteristic shape of the marks aligns with the presence of holes, likely designed to support imposing wooden posts expected in such a structure.

Curiously, historical maps from the 1800s do not document the existence of any such building, further enhancing the significance of the discovery. The observed crop marks suggest that the building could stretch around 50m (164ft) in length and 20m (66ft) in width. Graham speculates that the structure could have served as a barn affiliated with the Cistercian farm or, even more intriguingly, might have served as the dwelling of a Viking chieftain, predating the Cistercian era. He noted, "There have been houses on the scale that we're talking about excavated in Scandinavia, but to find such a thing here in Cumbria would be absolutely remarkable."

Approximately 50 volunteers will aid in the excavation process with hopes of uncovering definitive evidence of medieval life that will assist in dating the building. Graham emphasized the importance of this undertaking by asserting, "No one on the planet can tell us exactly what this is until we do our work. That's the rewarding aspect of the job."