ENGLISH Heritage has applied to site a mobile archaeological headquarters in North Swindon as it prepares to uncover the Roman secrets buried beneath Abbey Meads.

As the Evening Advertiser has already revealed, the national heritage organisation plans to start digging at Groundwell Ridge on June 23.

Its archaeologists are already using equipment similar to sonar in a bid to outline the structures which may lie beneath the surface.

It is thought that the site may have been a villa, or, more likely, a temple. Archaeologists hope to uncover mosaics and artefacts among the remains of the building.

English Heritage has applied for planning permission to erect a temporary site compound, including three portable cabins, a storage area, portable toilets and a mesh boundary fence. The dig is scheduled to last for five weeks.

English Heritage spokesman, Duncan Bainbridge, said: "It is just a compound to house the tools and equipment that we'll use in conjunction with the archaeological dig.

"We're looking forward to starting work it is quite an exciting site. There is a lot to be found out about it and we are keen to get started. It is also a very good opportunity for Swindon."

The dig will be carried out by a 15-strong team from the English Heritage Centre for Archaeology in Portsmouth.

They plan to use data gathered during this week's electronic survey of the site to create as detailed a map as possible of the structures lying beneath the surface.

They will then use this map to help them choose the five potentially most interesting areas on the site, which is where they will sink exploratory trenches.

The mystery of precisely what sort of Roman structure lies there will remain at least until structures and artefacts are uncovered, but it is by no means the first Roman site in the Swindon area.

Although Swindon as a town is thought to date back to the era of the Domesday book, its position on a main Roman route between London and Cirencester means its history goes far further back.

Roman remains have regularly come to light during building work in the area, at sites as diverse as Dorcan and the M4.

Planning officers are recommending permission be given to English Heritage. The meeting is at 7pm in the Civic Offices on Tuesday.

English Heritage is not the only organisation planning to dig at Groundwell Ridge this month.

On the weekend of June 28 and 29, television's Time Team will be carrying out their own dig slightly to the east of the English Heritage site.

It is part of the Time Team Big Dig, a nationwide archaeological project in which the programme makers are also hoping as many people as possible nationwide will sink test pits of about a metre square and no more than 60cms deep on their own land.