In 1988-9 I directed a rescue excavation at Chells, on the north-eastern fringe of Stevenage, for the Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust (HAT).

The site was of an Iron-Age/Romano-British settlement that extended over several hectares of clayey and flinty Hertfordshire soils. We found little evidence of structures, but plenty of rubbish, including areas that I could identify only as refuse-filled ponds. It must have been a smelly place. There were dozens of ditches, mostly, I guess, marking boundaries.

Most of the site was heavily damaged by ploughing and drain-laying. The ploughing may have obliterated traces of structures and just left the lower deposits of pits and ditches. There was no stratification linking different areas of the site.

There were a great many finds, and the dig was great fun. Because the stratigraphy was simple, it was possible to involve school children as well as adult volunteers. I was greatly helped by a group of volunteers from Stevenage who eventually formed themselves into the Stevenage Archaeology Group (SAG).

My role only lasted a single season, before I moved back into journalism. The site was continued and completed by Jonathan Hunn.