It's an archaeological dig that has outlasted the popular TV series Time Team, and shows no signs of coming to an end just yet.

Eastern Daily Press: The Sedgeford dig continues for another summer, with a new trench being dug, and unearthing the footings of a bulding. Picture: Matthew Usher.The Sedgeford dig continues for another summer, with a new trench being dug, and unearthing the footings of a bulding. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

The Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Project is celebrating its 21st excavation season.

Since 1996, a wide range of excavation and research projects has been undertaken and fascinating snapshots of early life in Norfolk have been revealed.

The work has shown that people were living in the area more than 4,300 years ago.

High profile finds from previous excavation seasons have included the terminal of the Sedgeford Torc, a Roman villa and an Anglo-Saxon cemetery.

Eastern Daily Press: The Sedgeford dig continues for another summer, with a new trench being dug, and unearthing the footings of a bulding - The outline of a building which could possibly be a church. Picture: Matthew Usher.The Sedgeford dig continues for another summer, with a new trench being dug, and unearthing the footings of a bulding - The outline of a building which could possibly be a church. Picture: Matthew Usher. (Image: © ARCHANT NORFOLK 2016)

And project director Gary Rossin said the scale of the project was so huge it would never be finished in his lifetime.

He said: 'We believe we are on the verge of something big. This is the second phase of excavating an Anglo-Saxon settlement. We are now excavating where people lived and worked.

'For the first 11 years we mainly excavated an Anglo-Saxon cemetery. We are now finding out more about their daily lives.

'Two sites are open. You can see some of the buildings in place. We are now exploring a midden – a dump for waste.

'There is also an industrial complex. We have found lots of burnt grain, which suggests malting was going on. It also shows people were using surpluses, so it was not just about subsistence.

'It's a salutary lesson being here 21 years. We have got people digging here now, whose parents came before them. In 21 years we have achieved an awful lot, but there is so much more to do.

'This particular dig is in Sedgeford but the same thing could be going on at any other village in Norfolk.'

The project is now in partnership with Leiden university in the Netherlands, whose students are working in west Norfolk.

The 2016 excavation season runs to August 19. They are looking to run a range of excavation projects and courses. The programme will include large-scale excavations of the Middle Anglo-Saxon village and industrial complex, small-scale excavation of the medieval manor and watermill and excavation of the First World War aerodrome. A wide range of courses is on offer. The site is open to visitors from 10am-4pm, Sunday to Friday.

Have you dug up something special where you live? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk