PEOPLE can come and learn more about Calstock Roman fort at an archaeological dig next month.

Visitors to the Saturday open days on October 8 and 15 will see the archaeologists in action, find out more about the site and handle artefacts — children will be able to have a go at making their own Roman pots.

Led by Dr Chris Smart, of the University of Exeter, and the Tamar Valley AONB, the dig, supported by a grant of £35,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is part of the Calstock Parish Heritage Project and will train local volunteers who signed up earlier in the year in excavation and recording.

The project was originally going to look at a suspected Iron Age settlement close by, but after a geophysical survey showed a lack of archaeological evidence the decision was taken to shift the focus back to the Roman fort next to St Andrew's Church, which was discovered in 2009, only the third one to be found in Cornwall.

Project officer Eloise Kane said: 'We were overwhelmed by the response from the public who wanted to be involved in the dig, which got booked up within two weeks in June.

'The open days will provide an opportunity for those who missed out to join us on site to get a taste for the archaeology and see what we find. We're very grateful to the landowners and tenants for allowing us to expand on work at the Roman fort and find out more about this important site.'

Dr Smart said: 'This excavation provides a wonderful opportunity to understand the sequence of construction of the Roman fort at Calstock, the road that led from its rear gate, and a massive enigmatic enclosure that surrounds it.

'Although we undertook a small investigation of this enclosure ditch last year its date was not certain, and by looking at whether it cuts through, or is built over the Roman road, we will be able to understand whether it relates to the fort, or not.

'There is the potential that it is associated with later Roman use of the hilltop, or is medieval in date. Of equal importance to me is that we can give the local community an opportunity to be hands-on with their own heritage, which has not been previously possible here.

'It is exciting to be taking my research in a new direction, by working in association with the Tamar Valley AONB and the HLF'.

To go along to the open days, people can visit the Tamar Valley Centre in Drakewalls between 10am and 4pm where a free shuttle bus will take them to and from the archaeological site.

For more information call the Tamar Valley AONB on 01822 835030 or e-mail Eloise Kane on [email protected]">[email protected]