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The large Bronze Age site at the Eastbourne Park on Shinewater Marsh was discovered in late August 1995. The site is over 2500 years old and dates to the late Bronze Age.

The waterlogged ground has preserved wooden remains that would normally have rotted away. This allows archaeologists more opportunity to find out about the past. It also makes the site unique in Sussex and nationally very rare.

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The whole site was covered by clay during flooding about 2000 years ago.

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A number of objects made of bronze were found. These included several axe heads, one of which was probably made in Germany, and a sickle or reaping hook. The sickle's handle had been preserved by the wet conditions. This find is unique in Britain.

It has been suggested that some of these objects were thrown into the marsh as offerings. Similar `ritual deposition' of axes and other objects can be seen on other Prehistoric sites across Europe.

The `dig'

The archaeologists worked by hand so as to damage as little of the delicate wooden remains as possible. Some of the wood still shows marks made by Bronze Age builder's tools.

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The wooden structures and all the other `finds' such as the pottery and bones will provide clues that can lead us to a better understanding of life in the past.

Why dig?

Archaeologists are working to answer questions about the site: exactly how old and just how important are the remains? Scientific tests such as Carbon-dating are being carried out to provide more information. The results will help us plan works in the future and, most importantly, find out how the site looked and was used 2500 years ago. By looking at the past we may also learn something about the present too.

Although we have tried to preserve parts of the site for the future we know that some areas are going to deteriorate. These areas will be dug over the coming years so that information can be gathered before the remains rot away.

The dig was funded by East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council. Advice and assistance was received from English Heritage and the Fenland Archaeological Trust. The project was managed by the County Archaeologist and dug by the Field Archaeology Unit of University College, London, who also undertook the conservation of the objects.