Amateur archaeologists are being given the chance to search for rare finds - with a wire coat hanger.

The time team at Cressing Temple wants visitors to carry out the ancient art of dowsing in a bid to unearth new historical finds.

The search is on to find archaeological features hidden below ground in an area where a Tudor mansion and a medieval Knights Templar building used to stand.

And by using a wire coat hanger, visitors can scour the unexcavated site in an attempt to find remains.

The project is the brainchild of Barry Crouch, a senior technical officer with the historic buildings and conservation section of Essex County Council.

He is carrying out a study to prove dowsing - also known as divining - can be done by anyone.

Mr Crouch said experts have got a good understanding of the area and is looking to see if visitors can detect a buried cellar using divining.

He said: "We know the whereabouts of the cellar and wall and we want to see how many people's rods respond when they walk over the area.

"Although we know the site well, there is still a chance the project may unearth previously undiscovered buildings. We know there is a drainage system in the area but it is still to be detected.

"I want to prove that contrary to popular belief, dowsing is not an arcane practice."

Mr Crouch, who has played a major role in temple excavations in the past, is hoping the findings will help him write a thesis for a post-graduate diploma in field archaeology.

Visitors will know if they have struck lucky if their coathanger either starts twitching or rotates in their hands.

The two sessions will take place at 10.30am and 2pm on Sunday, July 25. They will begin with an introduction on how to dowse with metal rods, a test exercise and then a mapping study of part of the site.

Joining in the sessions is free after admission to the site at £3 and £2 for concessions.

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