On the 8th and 9th of September 2001 the archaeological dig was again opened to the public to show the latest developments on the site and also to try and raise money for future excavations and scientific investigation. The weekend was a great success with preliminary figures indicating that more than 1,500 people attended over the two days.

This year the Trust built on the experience of previous Open Days and put together a series of displays that took visitors from the initial discovery of the site in 1995, through the excavations of 1998, 1999 and 2000, right up to the latest discoveries made just a few days before opening to the public in 2001. Guided tours were a very popular addition, lead by different members of the Trust and the archaeological team, these enabled some of the less obvious features to be explained and generally enhanced the whole experience.

This year's excavations were carried out between 13 August and 21 September and only days before opening to the public a sensational discovery was made. This comprised a large number of pieces of ancient pottery unearthed in the newly excavated section of the ditch, many of which fitted together to form a larger section. Another exciting find was a hole cut in the bedrock which may have been created originally as some kind of underground store but was later used as a very large post hole. It's possible this is an indication that the entrance to the fort has been found but this can only be confirmed by further excavations in the future.

There was an exhibition of artifacts in the Parish Centre, including those found during the exploration of the well. Also displayed were the first examples of the computer modeling funded by the Local Heritage Initiative grant awarded to the Mellor Archaeological Trust in April 2001. This grant of over £13,500 has been made to help bring the history of the Mellor site to the public. The money will be used to cover the costs of surveying the site plus the computer and software required to enable the 3D modeling of the hill-top throughout the centuries. Other work supported by the grant will include geophysical surveys, public information boards and booklets, displays of excavated artifacts and a web site.

The excavations of 1998 - 2001, which have only covered a fraction of the site, have shown a great variety of prehistoric and later features and a wealth of artifacts in an area where almost nothing was known of the ancient history.

So far the excavations have concentrated on defining the boundary and date of the site. Beginning with the larger open area excavation of 2001, the trust's task is now to establish how the settlement evolved over time, what types of buildings existed and how the material culture changed through time. There is still much work to be done in the area immediately surrounding the hill-fort. Survey work will continue to map the whole hilltop, including recording and understanding the interesting earthworks located at its summit.

The wider landscape surrounding the Mellor site has received little archaeological attention other than occasional excavations of prehistoric burial sites. An archaeological study will be undertaken to identify new sites within this area of Millstone Grit, which formed in the Iron Age an interface between the richer settlements of the limestone White Peak and the poorer, more sparsely distributed communities of the Mersey Basin. In the presentations under the Local Heritage Initiative, the later historic period in Mellor, including the important industrial heritage, will be included to complete the picture of the way in which Mellor's landscape and life have evolved over 10,000 years.

The Mellor Archaeological Trust was set up to help fund the continuing work. If you would like to make a donation, or would like any further information about the Trust or the dig, please contact John and Ann at the Old Vicarage, Mellor, or by e-mail at contact Ann Hearle.