CELEBRATIONS at this time of year are nothing new and it is good to think that mankind has always had cause to celebrate in some way in joy, thanksgiving or for other reasons.

There is no reason to think that this did not apply to Portlanders' Mesolithic, Roman and Middle Ages ancestors.

Recent excavations by the Association for Portland Archaeology have disclosed in parts what the lifestyles of these people could have been like but, as APA director Mrs Susann Palmer has pointed out: "There is no evidence that celebrations took place on either of the Portland sites."

The winter solstice at this time of year must have given the Mesolithic people in particular great cause to rejoice for, although imperceptibly, the nights were lengthening, the earth would soon start to warm up, the sea would grow calmer and to these people all of this meant hope of less harsh weather and better hunting, fishing and growing conditions to ensure their survival - surely a reason to celebrate!

The Romans, who, according to recent archaeological finds on the island seemed to be a wealthy lot, were able to afford lavish food and other goods and from their known world reputation at the time, they were not slow to eat, drink and be merry in praise of their deities.

Nor were many inhabitants during the Middle Ages who appeared - from the artifacts found at the Weston Road site - to have been quite prosperous and would have had Christianity included in celebrations.

All of this prosperity has been revealed by members of the Association for Portland Archaeology (APA), who have spent the last few months working on the vast volume of material which was found at the multi-period site.

Mrs Palmer said: "More surprises are being encountered now that everything is washed and documented and can easily be studied."

Thousands of bones of animals, birds and molluscs were found, and the huge quantities suggest that there was either a large human population on the island then or else activities took place which required a lot of food.

A study of the medieval material also indicates that even after the Roman occupants had left the area, the site continued to be used by people of wealth and status.

Mrs Palmer believes that the Romano-British site still holds many mysteries but what has been uncovered shows that its various occupants could well have afforded to celebrate in style.