Real life Indy on trail of treasures
INDIANA Jones is back – and ready to prove that archaeology is exciting.
Giant stone balls ready to crush in an instant, menacing tidal waves, angry natives hurling spears – Indy has survived it all.
But the real archaeologists of the Fylde laugh at such dangers as Indy's latest adventure, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, hits cinemas today.
For the members of the Wyre Archaeology group excitement and adventure are stock-in-trade.
Lost cities?
How about Fleetwood's very own Atlantis – the legendary Portus Setantiorum which could be the mystery iron-age settlement discovered by the group last year?
Secret passages?
How about the lost Roman road at Stalmine which the group will be probing in the near future?
Danger? How about catching a nasty chill in a boggy field in Pilling?
"It may be small scale stuff round here, but it's very interesting," said Brian Hughes, Wyre's own Indiana Jones and one of the leading lights in the group.
He and partner Michelle Harris, who live in Fleetwood, have penned a number of archaeology-based books on local history and are never happier than when burrowing to find magical pieces of ancient pottery.
Brian said: "It started with local history for both of us.
"When we went on holiday as kids we were always taken to historical places rather than sitting on beaches.
"I have
always been interested in local history as long as I can remember."
The iron-age settlement found at Bourne Hill, Thornton, is of such significance that any future exploration will have to be supervised by professionals.
First a terrain survey of the area will have to be done. Wyre Borough has given the group £500 towards that and now they are seeking other funding so work can start.
There will be more thrills at Stalmine
Brian explained: "We will be digging there but we can't reveal when we will be doing it – we don 't want crowds of people there.
"It's at Highgate Lane. We hope we can dig it up and prove it's a Roman road and not just a lump in a field.
"The Romans were definitely in Over Wyre because three coin hoards have been found at Preesall Hill."
The celluloid Indiana Jones cracks his whip and gets the girl at the end, but misses the genuine fun of real archaeology.
"It is exciting," said Brian. "For me the excitement is in solving a puzzle. Putting the pieces together and coming up with an answer.
"I wouldn't be interested in going on a big dig that was already there. I'm interested in tracking it down myself."
That's an archaeologist on the trail of a mystery. Sound familiar?
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Last Updated:
22 May 2008 2:13 PM
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Source:
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Location:
Blackpool