Summer 2008 Weblog Week 3
By Piers Pye-Watson
A quieter week for numbers on trench for S.H.A.R.P. this week. Week 2 saw the most volunteers but those who stayed on that little longer got to enjoy fabulous weather and so work resumed without the hindrance of sudden heavy showers!
Aside from John’s SE corner, the extended area of Trench 6 from week 2 was once again the focus for our volunteers with some promising results. Many features keep appearing in the area north of the large boundary enclosure, all of which are supporting the theory of the settlement being situated here, as suggested by our geo-physical survey. With the earlier finding of the two beam slots it could now be the case that we are indeed excavating Saxon building remains, although evidence such as floors may have been lost due to ploughing. However the hunt continues to understand the area before the season is through.
Meanwhile those from last week’s B.E.R.T. course continued their good work in Trench 9.
The week began with the intriguing excavation of an odd assemblage of animal bones. Articulated vertebrae from numerous sheep joined the single cow leg among the finds in what turned out to be a shallow ditch or pit feature. Few bones relating to those already obtained could be found, despite much wet-sieving, adding to the mystery. The debate concerning why these particular bones were there and positioned as such rages on with some practical and some more imaginative explanations.
However the aim for Trench 9 was to understand the relationship between the two parts of the large boundary ditch as identified on the geo-physical survey. The placing of the trench has proved to be fitting as we believe we have found this relationship and the start of where the two meet. With the amount of colluvial deposit making the archaeology considerably deeper in places than that higher up on Trench 6, our volunteers have had to work hard. Thankfully, their efforts went answered as both deep ditches yielded pottery finds: most being Saxon (Ipswich and Thetford wares) with the odd surprising piece of residual Roman pottery.
Away from the trenches, the acclaimed Osteoarchaeology course ran all week and as expected was enjoyed by its participants who were especially pleased with the amount they covered and the amount of hands on study. Megan Davis returned for an absorbing Tuesday night lecture looking at the ‘Silver of the Iceni’ Many thanks to her and I hope she enjoyed the many and various questions she received at the end! More old faces reappeared for the week’s ‘A’-themed punch party at which we saw a lot of fantastic costumes, boat races and limbo - fun had by all!
With one week to go it is all steam ahead for all trenches!