On 5th March 2010 CSI: Sittingbourne hosted a celebration day in The Forum. Guests included school children and politicians from the local community who were all keen to see the progress during the time CSI: has been running. It gave everyone the opportunity to see some of the objects and all the hard work that has been undertaken by the volunteers and professionals working in the lab over the last 7 months.
Children from schools in the local area produced their own newspaper front pages based on reports featured in the local papers, as well as thanking all those involved for allowing the finds to be put on display in their town.
On display for the first time were intricate and decorative pieces including brooches, buckles and sword fittings. Several of the iron swords were also out for display with archaeologists and volunteer conservators explaining all about them.
New exhibits inluded a display of images taken using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These enlarged images give the public the opportunity to see the important, small and easily missed details required for a fuller understanding about the practices of the period as well as other things. The images are excellent – on some you can see fly wings, wool and textile weave. These are still on display in the conservation lab for anyone wishing to see what has been found and a new post will be added on this blog soon.
We would like to thank Canterbury Archaeological Trust for allowing permission to use the images featured in this post. All images are (C) Canterbury Archaeological Trust
CSI: Sittingbourne 