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The first week of the training dig began relatively quietly, with trainees on site finding a lot more archaeology than expected. The tarmac and gravel had already been removed from the four trenches, and it was possible to begin work on the removal of the first deposits. The location of the Training Dig, right next to DIG, makes it an interesting resource for school groups, who visited the site during this first week. Click for sketch trench location plan |
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The archaeology in this trench was easily visible, as it was very close to the surface. A wall, possibly of medieval date, runs across the middle of the trench. A service trench was found to one side of the wall, and upon excavation was discovered to contain a lead pipe. One corner of the trench contained a modern drain, which had a posthole right next to it. There was also evidence found of a surface, possibly a floor, made up of tile and brick. Finds from Trench 4 include medieval green glazed pottery and animal bone.
In this trench there was a rubble deposit covering the whole area. In one corner there is possibly evidence of a wall, though this requires further investigation. The removal of the rubble deposit revealed another rubble layer, and work is continuing on removing this. Finds from the trench include a piece of flint, medieval green glazed pottery, and lots of brick and tile.
Before work could begin on Trench 6 a pile of bricks had to be removed from the centre. After this work was done some interesting features were revealed. A large posthole was found, containing an intact post, but it is unlikely to be very old. A row of stone slabs were also revealed, and more work is needed to determine how important these are. As there has not been much excavation in this trench during the first week, there are no finds other than lots of interesting brick and tile.
Trench 7
Trench 7 was similar to Trench 4, as some of the archaeology was clearly
visible. At one side of the trench was a brick plinth, presumable a footing
of some kind, but we do not know which of the buildings that once stood
on the site it relates to. Excavation this week has focussed on the removal
of a modern deposit at one side of the trench. At the other side is a
row of bricks, seeming to form a wall, but we will not know more until
we have excavated further. There have been few finds from Trench 7, but
a lot of brick and tile has been found.