Year’s 5 and 6 pupils at St Joseph’s School in Aylesham were treated to a local history lesson, thanks to local housebuilder Barratt Homes and its archaeologist SWAT Archaeology. The session, which took place in November, provided an opportunity to showcase historic findings that were uncovered at Barratt Kent’s Aylesham development on Colliers Way.
Archaeology provides the tools to explain and examine human behaviours from years gone by, helping us to understand how societies functioned, all while building a connection between the past and the present. Following new discoveries that were unearthed by Barratt Kent, the local housebuilder showcased its findings to the next generation of children in Aylesham, where SWAT Archaeology presented a range of artefacts to the students in a roundtable session. The presentation also taught the pupils how Aylesham came into being, from the Bronze Age and Iron Age to the conquest by the Roman Empire, and then into the medieval period to present day.
Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director for Barratt Kent, comments: “It is a privilege to uncover treasures from years gone by at our developments, and it is only right we share our findings with the next generation, as we continue to create new homes for the future. It is very important to preserve and celebrate our local history, so we are thankful to our archaeologist for showcasing the finds to the pupils at St Joseph’s.”
Paul Wilkinson from SWAT Archaeology adds: “It is incredibly rewarding to uncover historic artefacts at new homes developments and share these with local communities. It was a joy to present these findings with the pupils and help them to build a wider understanding of the history of their local area. All the pupils were very eager to see and learn about the discoveries, and I hope that we have inspired a future archaeologist or two!”
Mrs Seager Fleming (Head Teacher) from St Joseph’s School concludes: “What a treat it has been for our students to gain an understanding of discoveries through the art of archaeology. Our history lessons are always loved, so it’s wonderful for the students to have a hand-on history lesson away from a screen. The session was very insightful, and really brought our local history to life for our students.”