The elements marked the end of another busy week with spectacular thunder and lightning on Sunday afternoon. In all 38 trainees took part in the 5-day module, and 1- and 2- day taster courses. Many participants in recent weeks have taken part in the excavations as birthday treats. The trend continued this week with four more birthdays, including two 40th and a 60th.

View of the site from the south at the beginning of Week 10. The trenches deepen and the spoil heaps continue to rise…

Trench 1

This week excitement mounted with the excavation of the medieval drain directly beneath the Victorian capstone. Silts that had built up were removed. Unfortunately the deposits here were contaminated, and only Victorian debris was found. However, further along the drain medieval material may remain.

12th and early 13th century deposits from buildings which pre-dated the existing standing hospital buildings were also excavated, and there was evidence for both occupation and demolition. Some of the dumped deposits here may have been used to raise the ground level before the building of the hospital.

An enigmatic feature has been uncovered in the undercroft area of Trench 1. This seems to be some kind of flue cut through earlier deposits, constructed with re-used stones, presumably following the demolition of the hospital. Not being water-tight, this could not have been a gully, and it has been suggested that it might have been a flue from a lime kiln associated with demolition of the buildings. However, it would be odd to have a kiln inside, and there were no signs of burning or other features associated with kilns!

Trench 2

Work continued to expose the medieval drain and to excavate deposits associated with it and later disturbances. Inside the undercroft the post-medieval deposits which relate to activity within the post-medieval house that was on this part of the site from c.1540 are still being excavated.

Trench 3

Work has concentrated this week on the medieval clay floor deposits which were visible in the vicinity of the infirmary's column bases, and the foundation of the column base adjacent to the air-raid shelter has been exposed. At the east end of the trench post-medieval dump deposits were excavated as the medieval floor deposits are approached in this area as well.

This week's finds

	Medieval green glazed handle from a beaker.
	Medieval glazed floor tile, cut to a four-lobed shape.

	Hone stone, used for sharpening implements.
	Victorian bone tooth brush, with bristles missing. Inscription reads 'Pitterton Margaret St Cavendish Sq'

And finally...

Victorian glass drink bottle, called a 'Thompson's bomb' after its inventor. The curved shape means that the bottle cannot stand upright, and this prevents the cork from drying off and popping out!