Hill 80 Project At Wijtschate To Go Ahead

I'll be following this.
"An extremely well-preserved German First World War trench position containing the bodies of German and British soldiers will finally be excavated next year after archaeologists raised enough money to conduct a major dig, before housing developers build on the land.
Hill 80 near the Belgian village of Wijtschate (or Whitesheet as the British called it) was a German outpost from late 1914 to 7 June 1917, when it was captured by the British during the battle of Messines.
Because the Germans held the position for so long - while others frequently changed hands - they were able to build a network of trenches fortified like few others. To many German soldiers, Hill 80 became home.
After the guns fell silent, the trenches, which overlook Ypres, were filled back up with dirt and the position was forgotten about - until now.
The site was rediscovered in 2015 when housing companies wanting to build on it were forced by Belgian law to conduct initial archaeological tests.
Because no farming had taken place on the land, the trenches were found to be extremely well-preserved: Archaeologists discovered bullets, uniforms, water bottles, combs and even the bodies of German and British soldiers beneath the dirt.
Under Belgian law, housing companies have to conduct a minimum excavation before they can build - but no company has been prepared to pay for this meaning any building is on hold, for now.
This sparked a team of archaeologists to fundraise for a full and proper excavation before any housing company changes its mind and pays for a smaller excavation which scientists and historians say would be inadequate.
The Hill 80 project, organised by battlefield archeologist Simon Verdegem, successfully raised £123,000 from a kickstarter campaign with the support of historian Dan Snow and comedian Al Murray. Their four-month excavation will start on 16 April 2018."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5172755/Soldiers-remains-dug-WWI-trenches-Belgium.html#ixzz56ohXBj4C

 

Need the Time Team!

 

As long as they leave Tony Robinson in London.

 

Oohh! Ok...not a fan?

 

Nah- his whiney voice and AmDram style always annoyed me.
Great programme though.