Roman remains are set to be unearthed as a dig gets underway at the Duchy of Cornwall site in Faversham.

The sprawling expanse of 320 acres to the south east of the town is poised to become a huge 2,500-home estate in future years.

Now, as preparations for the mammoth development continue, a team of archaeological experts are setting up base as they scour beneath the surface for potential hidden treasures.

Expectant history buffs are hoping to uncover finds dating back as far as Roman times at the site running alongside the A2.

Will Bedford, director of archaeological firm Landgage Heritage, said: “We have a good chance of finding some Roman archaeology here as we are near sites that have been successfully excavated.

“The Romans were actually quite modern in their outlook, especially with their passion for innovation and technology.

“This extends to where they chose to live and how they developed supporting infrastructure. With close-by Roman roads, we hope to find evidence of their lives here.”

Development bosses say the results of the archaeological investigations will “help inform the overall proposals for the new neighbourhood”.

Teams - who are focusing efforts on areas of interest identified by a recent geo-physical survey - began work on Monday.

They are expected to stay on-site for six weeks.

Ben Murphy, estate director at the Duchy, said: “Archaeology sheds light on how we used to live and promotes better understanding of our history and culture.

“We hope any results from the dig will tell us more about the land at south east Faversham and how it has evolved over time.”

The Duchy - owned by Prince Charles - says it will share any interesting finds and artefacts with the local community.

Faversham has a rich history dating back to the Roman period. A settlement was formed at Durolevum, later the site of Syndale, which is known nowadays as Judd’s Folly.

Watling Street, now the A2, was a key road linking London with Canterbury and Dover, and many cremation burials took place in a Roman cemetery alongside the road.

Plans for the huge housing development, which will be the largest the town has ever seen, were revealed in 2018.

The sprawling site is set to be included in Swale Borough Council’s Local Plan, and an application for the development is poised to be officially submitted this year.

Dubbed an “urban extension”, the mammoth project is planned to start in 2024/25 and will take years to complete.