There are around 2,000 abandoned medieval villages in England, and each one has its own unique story to tell. At Elmswell Farm, aerial photos taken by the RAF revealed the clear outline of a village, complete with crofts, tofts, and holloways (paths worn into the ground through time).
In 2017, DigVentures’ crowdfunded excavation took an exploratory look at the medieval remains, proving that they’re full of evidence that can help us chart the ebb and flow of life at this well-preserved village.
With help from our crowdfunders, we charted the location of several buildings, unearthed plenty of pottery, and recovered other fragments of daily life, like a chalk spindle whorl.
You can read more about what we found in the Site Report, and on the Dig Timeline.