Trench 1
The cut features beginning to become apparent at the end of last week were cleaned and investigated. As these have begun to be excavated they seem to be a complex series of inter-cutting pits of various size, as well as surrounding post-hole features. Some of these pits have turned out to contain several deposits and are rather deep, containing mostly medieval finds. Though these pits seem to be medieval in date, it is unusual that they are so deep, and that some of them are so irregular in shape. Their precise function is unknown, but may still relate to earlier phases of formal gardening, with suggestions that the larger pits may either be deep beds or even ponds. Whatever their function, they have provided a mass of finds, notably a medieval horseshoe and a large piece of the rim of a Viking pot.

Trench 3
As with all new trenches, the first task in Trench 3 was to remove the most recent layers of build-up, including in this case a Victorian path. The deposits below contain an unusually large amount of animal bone, including a cat’s skull. The majority, however, appear to be rabbit bones; all are long bones cut from just above the wrist, suggesting that they are the remains of past rabbit-catching activity.

Trench 4
The hearth continues to be the main focus of work in Trench 5. The most recent phase of burning, associated with the ‘tile-on-edge’ hearth, has now been fully recorded and excavated, revealing earlier layers of burning activity. These will be recorded and removed in the same careful fashion in order to get as much information as possible from these unusual deposits. Finds this week have been a mixture of Roman and medieval pottery, as well as smaller finds like nails.

Trench 5
More pits have been discovered in Trench 5, and excavation has shown them to be filled with large amounts of pottery and tile. These are medieval in date, and are unusually high status finds; large pieces of glazed roof tile, and expensive, well-made pottery. As St. Mary’s Abbey was one of the richest in the country, these finds may be remains of the abbey buried after its demolition. A linear feature has also been revealed in the south side of the trench, but does not appear to correlate with similar-looking linear features in Trenches 6 and 9.

Trench 6
Excavation in Trench 6 is approaching an end as the depth limit has almost been reached. Having removed the deposits associated with the metal-working remains, an area of cobbles has been revealed. Their function and date are unknown, but they may have had a structural function. There may also be links with Trench 9. As work will soon end in this trench, however, such interpretations may remain purely speculative.

Trench 7
The final layers of material overlaying the cobbles were cleaned off this week. These deposits were removed with particular care as they may represent a long period of activity, and these deposits may be the only evidence of the land use during that period. Any finds and other information gathered from these deposits will help further our knowledge of the history of the site. Having exposed the cobble surface, work will concentrate on that next week.

Trench 9
Steady progress has continued in Trench 9 this week. The main focus has been on a deep linear cut feature in the south side of the trench. This does not appear, as first thought, to correspond with the cut in Trench 5, but may relate to a similar feature in Trench 6. The line of the cut also seems to respect the line of the standing wall. As ever, this poses more questions that will have to wait until next week to begin to be answered.