ATU is a three year project (2010 - 2012) bringing together historians, archaeologists and people in the local community to uncover, research and record Folkestone’s rich and ancient past.

The project is led by Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Folkestone People’s History Centre and is supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

As the project progresses, schools are being offered site and classroom visits and there are teaching and learning resources on both the ATU and Canterbury Archaeological Trust websites. Near the end of the project we aim to build Archaeological Resource Kits of original local finds which teachers and children can use in the classroom for years to come.

What’s happening in 2010?

A focus for 2010 is excavation at the ‘Vanishing Villa’ site at the East Cliff where local volunteers are getting involved alongside the professionals. The site was first excavated in 1924 by a Sussex school master and has since seen some more investigative work.

Throughout two summer seasons (2010, 2011) there is an opportunity to explore new areas of this site before it is lost forever to cliff erosion.

Local primary schools have signed up to a special ‘Vanishing Villa’ cross curricular project in Term 1 where children will see and hear about the excavations at the East Cliff and video conference with its leading archaeologist, Keith Parfitt. We hope there will be some children’s work to display as a result!

All Folkestone schools can take advantage of the bank of teaching and learning website resources being built for the ATU project. Follow the links to find useful background information, images of various kinds and activity ideas.