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Archaelogists are digging to unearth the secret behind one of the Forests oldest historical sites.

Mysterious Soudley Camp has baffled historians for years with several theories being put forward for exactly what it is.

Now archaelogists have moved in to trawl the ground for clues to real history of the mystery hillock.

And on Sunday they will be showing members of the public what they have found in the first sheme to examine 1,700 sites discovered by a specialist aerial survey of the Forest of the Dean, many of them previously unknown to archaeologists.

The enigmatic archaeological site is on a promontory above the Soudley Brook, with a large bank and ditch defending its more accessible western side.

Nobody knows why it was built or even when it was built.

Theories include that it is a Neolithic hilltop enclosure, defensive Iron Age settlement, or an early medieval castle.

“The site is officially recorded as an Iron Age 'promontory fort' or defended farmstead, but it doesn't quite fit the typical form for these sites,” explains a spokesman for the project.

“The team are hoping to find answers to some of these questions. In addition to three trenches and six small test pits, environmental samples will be taken across the ditch in the hope of establishing its depth.”

The archaeology open day is being held on Sunday October 29 2017 between 11am-3pm.

As well as revealing any finds from the initial dig by Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology, there will be site tours, children's activities and news of a five year project designed to get the Forest to yield its age-old secrets.

Another major aspect of the Programme is to survey and investigate the 1,700 archaeological sites identified by the LiDAR survey.

Archaeologist Andy Walsh, who is leading the excavation, said that: “The excavations will hopefully answer some of our long held questions about Soudley Camp, as well as being a great opportunity for local people to get involved in uncovering the heritage of the Forest of Dean.”

The Soudley Camp excavation is part of the £2.5 million Foresters' Forest Programme, a Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership being led by the Forestry Commission.

There will be information available about this work presented at the Open Day and an opportunity to sign up to help surveying them over the next five years.

Access to Soudley Camp is off the road to Soudley School, on the right before the school buildings. Please feel free to drop in between 11am and 3pm on Sunday 29 October.