| A 5-day module and the last 10-day module took place this week with 21 trainees, including three returnees and Y.A.T. staff member Heather Dawson. As usual excellent progress was made, despite the odd bout of rain. |  |
Trench 1
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Dump deposits inside the undercroft area of the trench continued to produce medieval and Roman pottery. |
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Outside, on the south side of the medieval drain, the drain cut and back-filled deposits continued to be cleared. Work on the northside of the drain revealed what seem to be floor surfaces. This part of Trench 1 would have been inside the Roman interval tower and, sure enough, a considerable amount of Roman pottery is being found. Outside this area deposits represent the levelling preceding the building of the hospital. |
Trench 2
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This week, underneath the medieval floor, the substantial foundations of the infirmary pillar, in excess of 0.9m deep, have been uncovered together with part of the infirmary's wall foundations. The construction cut for the medieval drain still awaits discovery. Interestingly, another void from a removed stone appeared, containing what seems to be Victorian bottle glass. This may be further evidence for Victorian curiosity, like our own, about the drain. (see Week 5). Busy as ever, trainees under Brian Milner in Trench 2 have completed over 150 site plans so far! |
Trench 3
| The main interest this week lay in the east of the trench. Here what appears to be post-medieval demolition of the hospital building threw up late 15th and early 16th century roof tiles, and glazed floor tiles which may have been brought here from elsewhere (possibly the church) for levelling. The construction level of the hospital has been reached in the west of the trench, with the cobble foundation for the column base which was dislodged into the adjacent air-raid shelter clearly exposed. |
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FINDS
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Medieval lace tags. These copper alloy objects were used on the ends of laces to prevent fraying and to facilitate threading. In the medieval period they were known as aiglets or points. The laces themselves were used to fasten clothing and accessories such as bags. |
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Finial roof tile with indentations of chicken and 'I' on one side, and what seem to be key end indentations from a key with a hollow stem on the other. Late 15th/ early 16th century. Speculation about the identity of the upper portion included bellows shield, pike stand and egg measurer before its fit with the lower portion confirmed its identity as a roof tile! |
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Glazed and decorated floor tile, late 15th century/ early 16th century. Inscribed VG and probably made by Cistercians at Fountains Abbey. |
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Jug handle, late medieval |
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Jet bead, possibly Roman |