THE early history of the Forest of Dean will have to be re-examined and possibly even re-written if discoveries identified by spy-in-the-sky technology prove to date back to pre-historic and Roman times.

The system has enabled archaeologists to strip away trees and examine what lies beneath the soil. And what has been found in the Forest has proved to be both unexpected and exciting.

The full story will unfold tonight (Wednesday, September 19) at a meeting of members of the Forest of Dean Local History Society at Blakeney Village Hall (7.30pm).

The information will be presented by Jon Hoyle, Gloucestershire County Council’s senior projects officer for archaeology.

He will concentrate on recent findings from the pre-historic and Roman periods as well as some early medieval discoveries.

Jon said: “There’s a perception that the Forest has always been covered with trees.

“But the new survey has enabled us to look beneath the tree canopy revealing lots of things previously unknown.

“We have identified field systems and early earthworks.

“They are exciting finds which cast new light on what the Forest may have have been like in pre-history and before the arrival of the Romans.”

Other aspects include the possibility of ritual monuments being found in the Tidenham area.

“The discoveries will mean, at the least, a fresh examination of local history, some parts of which may have to be rewritten,” said Mr Hoyle.

Visitors are welcome to tonight’s meeting.