AN archaeologist who digs up skeletons in public view is carrying out a dig in a Ribble Valley village in the hunt for Roman relics.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Historic England and Ribchester Museum, launched the Ribchester Revisited project this week with archaeology students exploring the north gate of Ribchester Roman fort.

It will be run by Dr Duncan Sayer and Dr James Morris from UCLan, Kathy Tucker from Historic England and Patrick Tostevin, who is the curator of Ribchester Museum.

Dr Sayer uses sociology and science to understand past societies and believes archaeologists must be aware of the wider social landscapes. He deliberately excavated human remains at Oakington investigating an early Anglo-Saxon cemetery without screens so that anyone could witness the professional treatment of ancient skeletons by archaeology students.

Ribchester Revisited will primarily focus on the areas considered to be ‘at risk’ by Historic England including the scheduled monument, the churchyard and the existing historic houses.

It will also be a training excavation for UCLan students, running until August 2, with the aim of obtaining further funding to extend the project. The students will work on two trenches and will dig to collect artefacts.

Dr Sayer said: “Ribchester is a relatively unexplored area of historical interest and we want to make people aware of its significance.

“We will not only be looking for Roman relics but also for evidence of the early medieval settlers who followed the Romans so it’s an important dating exercise.”

The Roman site at Ribchester, Bremetennacum Veteranorum, represents a fort and a civilian settlement called vicus established in the first century AD.

The partnership could last three years, depending on what is unearthed, and temporary exhibitions will be held in the Ribchester Museum.