EXCAVATION work taking place near Threshfield has revealed some surprising facts, which are starting to rewrite the history of the area.

Dr Roger Martlew, a lecturer at the University of Leeds, has been excavating two sites in fields near Netherside Hall.

The fields were thought to contain pre-historic hut circles dating from around the Iron or Bronze Age.

But a team of local archaeology students and volunteers from the Earthwatch Institute of America have discovered that the circles were in fact kilns, used for drying wood to provide fuel for smelting lead.

Dr Martlew said: "This is quite a surprise because the structures were built among fields that may be as much as 2,000 years old.

"We have already recovered large amounts of charcoal from the kilns and this should help us to find out exactly when they were last fired and what kind of wood was being used for fuel."

The team had to painstakingly unearth the kiln using trowels and brushes.

Don Henson, education officer for British Archaeology who has been assisting on the excavation, said they were able to date the kilns because they had found a clay pipe at one of the sites.

As tobacco was only introduced into England in the 16th century the dating of the structure was made easier.

Dr Martlew and his team will be continuing their excavation of the field next summer.