Finding their inner Indiana Jones has thrilled children at a St Albans primary school who have been taking part in an archaeological dig on their field.

Children at Camp Primary school spent a week trying their hand at all sorts of archaeological techniques, including excavation and archaeological recording and drawing.

They were visited by district archaeologist, Simon West, and have interviewed specialists from Verulamium Museum and English Heritage about their jobs.

Archaeologist Dr Tess Machling, who is also a parent at the school, said: “It’s been really amazing working with the children. Their young eyes are able to spot the tiniest find and their enthusiasm has been fantastic!”

Finds have included several pieces of prehistoric flint and a couple of pieces of medieval pottery, which probably arrived on the site when the field was being farmed, many hundreds of years ago.

But the finds which got everyone most excited are those which relate to the history of the school itself: a halfpenny was discovered which dates from the outbreak of World War II in 1939 and the children have also dug up a number of old fountain pen nibs, marbles and even a bell from a child’s toy.

The pupils will now be cleaning and researching their finds before creating a temporary museum at their school to show parents and carers what they have found.