BUDDING archaelogists on this year’s Bexley Archaeological Group’s training dig turned up a surprise when they were led to a virgin area and told “have a dig around and see what you can find”.

The group has been excavating a site in Bexley over a number of years and also uses it for its summer training dig.

Group members had already looked at maps of the virgin area and decided there could be something there.

The trainees started digging and quickly uncovered part of a brick wall.

Further investigation found a concrete floor and with it more wall which streched for a considerable distance.

A second smaller concrete floor was also uncovered.

The group believes the larger building dates to the 19th century and may have been an orangery or greenhouse because of the amount of glass found.

Other finds included some 20th century items such as scissors as well as some medieval pottery.

The trainees were also taught other techniques such as field walking where they walk an area with a bag and pick up everything that is not a stone or earth.

Among the finds were a worked flint dating back to 3000BC.

They also enjoyed a number of talks from experts on how to identify finds.