A glimpse into Cornish life 3,500 years ago is on offer next weekend as an archaeological investigation is carried out at one of the county's most important heritage sites.

The work at the Bronze Age site near Lanyon, north of Penzance, will be undertaken by Cornwall Archaeological Society and Historic Environment Projects, for Cornwall Council.

The site is a roundhouse settlement and field system, which is approximately 3500 years old, with at least 12 roundhouses.

Previous excavation of two of the roundhouses in the 1980s led to the recovery of Middle Bronze Age and Iron Age artefacts and this has recently been confirmed by radiocarbon dating Since the 1980s the site has been covered by dense vegetation, most notably bracken, and the project will provide an important chance to examine the effects of bracken roots on archaeological sites.

An open day will be held on Saturday 10 September for members of the public to visit the excavations.

The work is being organised through Historic Environment's Scheduled Monument Management project, and funded jointly by English Heritage, Cornwall Archaeological Society, Cornwall Heritage Trust, and Cornwall Council.