'Perplexing' find at Alderney Roman dig

Besides various military uses, the site has also hosted a farm, the residence of the island's governor and holiday homes

Archaeologists have found something "interesting" and "perplexing" at a Roman dig in Alderney.

A team from the island, the UK and Guernsey are excavating land at the fort of the nunnery at Longy Common.

The dig is focusing on a gateway and wall but the team said they were "not expecting" the way it was laid out.

Dr Jason Monaghan said: "We've found something interesting, but we don't actually know what it is until we take a bit more dirt out."

Dr Monaghan, Director of Guernsey Museums, said the team had dug a trench to examine the gateway.

"It's a bit perplexing, the nunnery always throws little surprises at us and the wall has changed below the ground level and we weren't expecting that to happen so we need to know why it's changed," he said.

On a previous dig the site was found to be a well-preserved Roman military structure dating back to the 4th Century after a building and tower were uncovered.

Following that dig, Dr Monaghan said: "It's better preserved than all the other small Roman forts in Britain.

"It probably guarded the entrance to Longis Bay, Alderney's only natural harbour, and I think they would probably have based a couple of Roman warships there."