Medieval pottery fragments and cut animal bones among discoveries in Diss

© Courtesy Diss Corn Hall

© Courtesy Diss Corn Hall

© Courtesy Diss Corn Hall

© Courtesy Diss Corn Hall

© Lucy Kayne

© Lucy Kayne

© Courtesy Diss Corn Hall

A face cream tub from 1910, a medieval belt strap and an ash pit full of fragments, animal bones and other artefacts have been discovered during a popular community excavation around a lake covering six acres behind council offices in the Norfolk market town of Diss.Held by the Mere, the inclusive Heritage Triangle project attracted around 1,000 inquisitive visitors over two days to help out with the dig.Oyster shells and cut animal bones evidenced the meals people once ate around a lake which could have been reduced in order to improve public health during the 19th century. Helpers included Billy, a man whose endeavours in washing the vast majority of the finds caused archaeologists to appoint him their Finds Washer Extraordinaire.“These finds prove that the site was occupied in medieval times, well before the current buildings and those on the 1637 map,” says Dr Tom Licence, the Director of the Centre of East Anglian Studies.“Over the two days we clicked in 850 visitors, and trained 30 local children in basic archaeology.“The two lectures were well attended, and a large number of families took part in the 'Find the Finds Trail' - part of a larger project investigating.”Licence says the dark grey and black colouration of some of the medieval pottery fragments was caused by firing in a kiln with very little air. The investigation is one of the first events as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund-backed scheme to extend the town’s Corn Hall, improve the surrounding streets and create a Boardwalk and floating island on the Mere.