LEADING archaeology expert Susann Palmer knew the history of Portland sheep was a bit woolly.

Now a new project may help to uncover more details about the roots of this unusual breed.

The last of the Portlands disappeared from the area in 1920 and Mrs Palmer was one of the founding members of the Portland Field Research Group which in 1977 reintroduced a flock of sheep to the island to ensure that links were maintained.

The animals were kept at the farm at the borstal (now the YOI) and Mrs Palmer even had a cardigan made from the wool of one of the animals, thanks to local spinner Freda Lymath of Wakeham.

The memories came flooding back after Mrs Palmer read about Su Illsley’s flock appearing on the BBC’s Countryfile programme.

Presenter Adam Henson delivered some breeding ewes to Mrs Illsley’s farm to bolster the stock.

The Dorset Echo reported how according to folklore, the ancestors of the Portland sheep swam ashore from the Spanish Armada and large numbers were eventually shepherded by islanders.

But Mrs Palmer said that sheep may have been around on Portland for a lot longer than people think.

As director of the Association for Portland Archaeology (APA), Mrs Palmer led a dig in 2005/06 of a Romano-British site opposite Royal Manor Arts College.

A huge amount of bones were found, including sheep bones and they are now in storage at Portland Museum.

Mrs Palmer says the next step is to extract DNA from the bones to see if the animals were true Portland sheep and related to the ones now on the island.

This would be a joint project between APA and Bournemouth University which would need funding.

Mrs Palmer said: “It would be incredibly exciting if the sheep from the Weston Road excavation were the ancestors of today’s Portland sheep.”

Portland sheep are small, easily managed and have a creamy fleece, tan coloured legs and face and light horns.