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Archaeologists return to site of medieval abbey

Cerne Historical Society Nine people with buckets and tools working on an archaeological trenchCerne Historical Society
The latest dig is expected to last four weeks

Archaeologists are back at the site of a Benedictine abbey in a bid to discover the position and layout of its buildings.

Cerne Abbey in Dorset was demolished in 1539 during the Dissolution and, until excavations last year, had remained virtually untouched.

During the first dig, researchers from the University of Sheffield discovered tiled floors and an intact burial.

The latest four-week visit, led by Dr Hugh Willmott, is being recorded by the Time Team TV show, to be streamed online.

A crenelated stone tower with a large arched doorway. Above the door are two ornate bay windows, one above the other. The tower has broken stones on one side suggesting it was part of a larger building. It is surrounded by trees.
Little remains of the Benedictine abbey which was destroyed during the Dissolution

Ground-penetrating radar surveys by the university in 2022 provided the "first ever evidence for the medieval abbey, and potentially its Anglo-Saxon predecessor beneath", according to Dr Willmott.

Cerne Historical Society, which is supporting the project, said two trenches dug in 2023 - one on the south-east corner of the cloister and the second on the northern side of the abbey church - revealed dressed stone and a male skeleton, possibly an abbot.

Society chair Gordon Bishop said: "They were here for three weeks last summer and discovered the location of the cloister and the main part of the abbey church, as well as uncovering many fascinating artefacts."

Cerne Historical Society A group of people standing in a field next to a large white bell tent.Cerne Historical Society
The dig is being conducted by a team from the University of Sheffield

The latest dig involves two further trenches - one on the south-western corner of the cloister, which is hoped will identify the western end of the monastic church, and possibly evidence for a pre-Conquest church.

The second, north east of the cloister, aims to identify the purpose of buildings seen on the survey, and search for Anglo-Saxon evidence.

Cerne Abbey was founded in 987 but, when King Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the monasteries between 1536 and 1541, it was surrendered, plundered and demolished.

Cerne Historical Society Thirteen people working on an archaeological trench. The remains of a wall can be seen across the centre of the trenchCerne Historical Society
Excavations have already unearthed a wall and a hearth

All that remains is the Abbots Porch and Guest House and there have been no significant excavations, except by grave diggers.

It is believed the abbey occupied a site east of Abbey Street but previous geophysical surveys were hampered by rubble obscuring the buried structures.

The dig, supported by volunteers from Cerne Abbas village, will conclude on 10 August.

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