Archaeologists are looking for up to 500 volunteers to help with a dig in Navenby, near Lincoln, this summer.

They plan to explore more of the village's Roman heritage but are also looking for evidence of Iron Age and Bronze Age civilisations.

Navenby is thought to lie close to the Jurassic Way, a prehistoric route described as "the M1 of its day".

The English Heritage backed investigation will also reopen the site of a polygonal Roman temple that was briefly explored during 2001.

Colin Palmer-Brown, senior partner at Saxilby-based Pre-Construct Archaeology (Lincoln), is organising the scheme in conjunction with a local housing development company.

He said: "We'll almost certainly get burials which will tell us something about the place – who lived in the buildings, their age and the make-up of the settlement.

"But there'll also be strip buildings. They tend to be a combination of accommodation and workshops, built from timberwork on a stone base with wattle and daub walls.

"We want everyone from schools, colleges and archaeological groups to children, the elderly and everyone in between to be involved."

Glyn Coppack, inspector of ancient monuments for Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire at English Heritage, explained the significance of Navenby for archaeologists.

"It's an important Roman site but we know there's Iron Age remains under the Roman.

"There was a view that the Romans came along and cleared away the Iron Age remnants but we know that isn't the case.

"Of particular interest among the site's prehistoric past is the Jurassic Way, which really was the M1 of its day."

Housing developer NDC Group is also helping to fund the dig.

Mr Coppack said: "Normally developers regard archaeological surveys as something they have to do but here they're putting something back into the community.

"This is what developer-funded archaeology should do – we should learn more about the place we live in."

Councillor Marianne Overton, a member of the Navenby Archaeology Group which has investigated sites on the other side of the village, said: "I would like to encourage people to find out about their local archaeology.

"It's only by people having an interest in their archaeological history that they will be able to protect it in the future."

Fifteen to 20 volunteers will be required to help out on each of the project's 28 days.

For more information and to volunteer contact Colin Palmer-Brown of Pre-Construct Archaeology on (01522) 703800 or email colin@pre-construct.co.uk