RESIDENTS can get their hands dirty and help uncover more of East Oxford’s history.

The Archeox project has started work on a major excavation at the site of a former leper hospital and adjoining chapel in the tiny hamlet of Bartlemas, off Cowley Road.

It is the first archaeological investigation of the area and will involve about 200 volunteers.

Project director David Griffiths said: “It’s quite exciting.

“Although we have done a lot of test pits and geophysical surveys, this will be our first bigger-scale excavation.”

The work is being led by archaeologists from Oxford University’s department for continuing education, with the groundwork being carried out by volunteers.

It is likely to go on until the middle of October and diggers have already unearthed fascinating evidence of the area’s history.

People from the local area are invited to come and see the site between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, when there will be a chance to talk to Mr Griffiths and project officers Jane Harrison and Paula Levick, and see some of the finds.

Mr Griffiths said: “This site has never been looked at properly even though it’s really important. We have found all kinds of wall fittings sticking out from the existing chapel wall, that suggests there was an earlier building on site.

“We know the leper hospital was founded in 1120 but the chapel itself is no earlier than the mid-1300s so it’s quite likely there was an earlier chapel on site.”

Rubble dumps and stone have also been uncovered, which are thought to relate to the English Civil War, and other finds include bits of pottery, a clay pipe dating to the mid-17th century, bits of glass and floor tiling.

Mr Griffiths said: “We don’t know what kind of buildings lay outside the chapel, we don’t know if there are any human burials from that period and that’s something we would hope to find out.”

Part of the project involves training and educating volunteers in archaeological techniques – and this excavation is set to provide a perfect opportunity to do so. Drainage work was required at the site and after liaising with the Diocese of Oxford, which owns the land, and Oriel College, which owns much of the neighbouring area, it was arranged for the dig to take place at the same time.