A ROMAN bowl, medieval pottery and the remains of many 18th century beef meals have been discovered in an archaeological dig behind Chippenham's Museum and Heritage Centre.

The six-week dig comes to an end on Saturday, July 8, when ancient drains will be covered up again.

Each week students from Chippenham College and enthusiastic archaeology volunteers helped dig a pit five foot deep in an effort to trace Chippenham's colourful past.

Centre manager Mike Stone said: The Roman discoveries point to the fact that there was Roman activity in this area, which we were not aware of before.

With the prospect of a development on the Flowers site we could get another look in this area.

Despite Chippenham's traditional Saxon links, no Saxon discoveries were made. A Bronze Age flint scraper and Neolithic flint blades were uncovered, as well as Tudor pottery, and a large collection of Stuart pottery.

People did not have refuse collection so the rubbish was just thrown out the back, said Mr Stone.

A huge collection of bones were retrieved, showing signs of butchery, suggesting the residents of the 18th century were wealthy people who could afford to eat lots of beef joints.

Venetian-style glass, fragments of a stoneware tankard, some of which were imported from Germany, and glazed ridge tiles from a roof backed up Mr Stone's theory the residents were a wealthy family.