Ninety people have taken part in a two-week archaeological dig at Leiston Abbey in Suffolk - and the group found a medieval poker chip and a curse tablet.
A 'Nuremburg jetton', which would have been used for gaming, was found along with the metal curse tablet, which is expected to contain a message when it is unrolled.
The Dig Venture project ends this weekend but experts said they hoped to continue the dig, which is near to Sizewell nuclear power plant, next summer.
Leiston Abbey dig unearths 'poker chip' and curse tablet
19 July 2014
BBC News
The Nuremburg jetton (left) and the rolled curse tablet were found during the two-week dig
An archaeological dig at an abbey ruins in Suffolk has unearthed a medieval 'poker chip' and a curse tablet.
Ninety people paid to take part in a two-week excavation at Leiston Abbey.
A 'Nuremburg jetton', which would have been used for gaming, was found along with the metal curse tablet, which is expected to contain a message when it is unrolled.
The Dig Venture project ends this weekend but experts said they hoped to continue the dig next summer.
A team of 90 diggers has paid to take part in the crowd-funded archaeological project
Leiston Abbey is near to Sizewell nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast
Participants searched for artefacts and information about the Premonstratensian abbey, which was founded on the site in 1182 with the current ruined buildings dating from 1363.
Industrial remains
Maiya Pina-Dacier, Dig Venture's community manager, said of the finds: "The jetton was used as an informal currency and it is evidence people were gaming."
Curse tablets were believed to be of Romano-British origin. They were made of lead or pewter and were rolled-up containing an inscribed curse of someone who had wronged the author.
The team has also found a carved bone knife handle at Leiston Abbey
Dig Ventures has returned for a second year in its search for evidence of industrial remains, such as a mill, next to the ruins.
Brendon Wilkins, project director, said: "We're starting to build a picture up of what the lumps and bumps in the field were.
"We've found evidence of large post-built structures and a platform with further structures probably underneath it, but what they were for is still a bit of a mystery. We hope to return next year to dig larger-scale excavation trenches."
BBC News - Leiston Abbey dig unearths 'poker chip' and curse tablet
A 'Nuremburg jetton', which would have been used for gaming, was found along with the metal curse tablet, which is expected to contain a message when it is unrolled.
The Dig Venture project ends this weekend but experts said they hoped to continue the dig, which is near to Sizewell nuclear power plant, next summer.
Leiston Abbey dig unearths 'poker chip' and curse tablet
19 July 2014
BBC News
The Nuremburg jetton (left) and the rolled curse tablet were found during the two-week dig
An archaeological dig at an abbey ruins in Suffolk has unearthed a medieval 'poker chip' and a curse tablet.
Ninety people paid to take part in a two-week excavation at Leiston Abbey.
A 'Nuremburg jetton', which would have been used for gaming, was found along with the metal curse tablet, which is expected to contain a message when it is unrolled.
The Dig Venture project ends this weekend but experts said they hoped to continue the dig next summer.
A team of 90 diggers has paid to take part in the crowd-funded archaeological project
Leiston Abbey is near to Sizewell nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast
Participants searched for artefacts and information about the Premonstratensian abbey, which was founded on the site in 1182 with the current ruined buildings dating from 1363.
Industrial remains
Maiya Pina-Dacier, Dig Venture's community manager, said of the finds: "The jetton was used as an informal currency and it is evidence people were gaming."
Curse tablets were believed to be of Romano-British origin. They were made of lead or pewter and were rolled-up containing an inscribed curse of someone who had wronged the author.
The team has also found a carved bone knife handle at Leiston Abbey
Dig Ventures has returned for a second year in its search for evidence of industrial remains, such as a mill, next to the ruins.
Brendon Wilkins, project director, said: "We're starting to build a picture up of what the lumps and bumps in the field were.
"We've found evidence of large post-built structures and a platform with further structures probably underneath it, but what they were for is still a bit of a mystery. We hope to return next year to dig larger-scale excavation trenches."
BBC News - Leiston Abbey dig unearths 'poker chip' and curse tablet