Evidence of medieval life has been found around Loddon, but until now there has not been an opportunity to dig for historical artefacts in the centre of the town.
However, on Saturday and Sunday the enthusiasts behind the Loddon Parish Study dug five test pits as they went looking for more clues of the town’s past.
The hope was to be able to find items that showed the group where previous settlements were based.
Project coordinator David Crease said: “This is the first time we have looked in the village itself.
“We are ultimately hoping to build up a complete network of test pits through the village that produces a pattern to the outskirts where the medieval evidence was found.
“We want to know where the Saxon centre was and how far it spread, and where the medieval centre was and how far it spread. We have an idea but no physical evidence.”
A total of five sites were chosen for the one-metre square test pits and about 40 people helped across the weekend to dig and sieve as they looked for interesting finds.