Week 5

After the departure of a number of 4-week placements and trainees, this week started with some reshuffling of personnel around the trenches. Meanwhile, the new group of trainees got to work with planning, recording and excavation, and several school placements got involved in non-excavation activities.

Trench 1
The deposits in Trench 1 this week have been a series of subtly different silty layers relating to activity on the site prior to the construction of the Exhibition Centre; shown in records as a 19th century formal garden. Of particular note amongst the finds this week were three pieces of Viking pottery; uncommon and potentially very interesting finds.

Shell-tempered Viking pottery from Trench 1.

Trench 4
During the usual excavation of deposits in Trench 4, we discovered a large ‘pitched tile’ hearth, probably from around the 14th century. There is evidence to show in situ burning, and possible alterations to the original shape, as well as surrounding floor levels and stake-holes. This has definitely been the surprise discovery of the week, and potentially quite important.

Cleaning the medieval hearth in Trench 4.

Trench 5
Following the removal of path layers in the centre of the trench, it was soon apparent that there was a large feature on the north side of the trench adjacent to the standing walls. Upon investigation this proved to be a deep cut, in excess of 1.5m in depth and revealed that at some point, the walls had been underpinned by modern concrete. There are no records of such activity, and research has begun into this unexpected discovery.

The concrete underpinning of the standing wall being revealed in Trench 5.

Trench 6
Trench 6 continues to be the most complicated area of the site. This week a possible in situ area of metal working was revealed. In the confined and difficult conditions in the trench, work is by no means straight-forward, but as with Trench 4’s hearth, this is a potentially important discovery revealing previously unknown land use in the site’s past. Additionally, the trench has turned up a collection of unusual and interesting finds, including blue Roman glass and more pieces of Viking pottery.

Trench 7
Work began in Trench 7 this week by excavating the deposits around the pipe running through the trench edge, deposits still related to the construction of the Exhibition Centre. The bulk of the week’s work was then concerned with the removal of the unknown rubble layers in the rest of the trench. In addition, a variety of features were identified, and prepared for eventual excavation next week.

Trench 9
The week started off trying to work out the relationship between the post-hole clusters in this trench and in adjacent trenches in this part of the site. The next task was to remove the path layers from the centre of the trench, during which a good collection of finds including a large piece of Samian pottery were recovered.