Press Release - Nunnery Fort Excavation 25.05.2021

Dig Alderney given green light to excavate parts of the Nunnery Roman Fort

The best-preserved Roman fort in the British Isles is set to yield more of its historical secrets this summer, travel restrictions permitting.

Alderney's Policy & Finance Committee (P&F) has given an archaeological team permission to excavate parts of the Nunnery heritage site which attracts numerous visitors with its historical displays and information room covering Roman, Tudor, Victorian and World War II eras.

A provisional date of the last two weeks in August is dependent on travel from the UK without quarantine. Travel within the Common Travel Area, which includes the UK, is scheduled to resume on July 1 but is subject to any changes in pandemic conditions.

Dig Alderney, a charity set up to further archaeological projects in Alderney, had originally intended to conduct further geophysical survey work on the Iron Age and Roman settlement site on Longis Common but the pandemic has pushed this back to 2022.

Instead, a smaller team of local and UK volunteers led by archaeologist Dr Jason Monaghan will excavate areas of interest inside the Roman fort. This will include answers to the questions, what lies under the Sun Room which is earmarked for demolition, and will we at last be able to lay eyes on the south wall of the original Roman tower, which has never been seen?

Four areas have been identified for excavation, but the available time may limit this to just two:

• The SE corner of the fort where the Sun Room currently stands - one of the few locations not disturbed during the German occupation. This could reveal the juncture of the Roman south wall with the Medieval east wall and may help establish when the fort's east Roman wall fell onto Longis beach below. It may also establish when the 'gun ramp' was built.
• The Magazine frontage - it is here the original Roman tower wall will be exposed.
• Removal of trees and flowerbeds earlier this year will allow access to the German Bunker frontage and the inner face of the Roman tower's south wall and floor. It is also possible that remains of Tudor occupation of the tower will be found. The team will also be looking for the continuation of the floor in the Tower doorway discovered in 2016 and thought to be Tudor.
• The remains of a building in the NE corner of 'The Garden', possibly constructed in Victorian times.

Dig Alderney will work closely with Visit Alderney, local enthusiasts and States Works to ensure safety, subsequent landscaping and whether revealed structures can safely remain on display to add public understanding of the fort's unique history. Visitors to the Nunnery during the excavation will be able to observe the work in progress.

Processing of any finds will be carried out on the site and lodged in the Alderney Museum while any unexpected discoveries may be transported to Guernsey for further study and conservation. The States of Alderney will retain ownership of all finds.