The trainees made steady progress this week, undeterred, as all good archaeologists must be, by several bouts of heavy rain. In all, 25 trainees took part in 10- and 5-day modules, and 1- and 2-day tasters.

Dr Peter Addyman, Director of YAT, addressed trainees before presenting them with certificates of completion...

...and the Australian contingent celebrated the completion of their stint with customary good humour, presenting Peter with a pair of trainers worn during the dig! One enthusiastic trainee commented on her experience 'I enjoyed the week immensely and can now educate all my friends with the technicalities of archaeology!'

Three of the site guides who continue to enthuse visitors. Left to right: Alex Sotheran, Karen Adams and Stuart Noon

Over 300 visitors watched work in progress on Saturday and, in response to demand, an exciting day packed with archaeological activities for children and young people has been organised for 28th August. Click here for more details.

Trench 1

The construction trench for the medieval drain was finally identified and the drain cap stones were exposed. It should now be possible to enter the drain and investigate its fill over the coming week. Excavation of the deposits north of, and pre-dating, the wall construction trench has commenced, revealing evidence for occupation.

At the south end of the trench, in the undercroft, it appears that there was considerable building and demolition work during the post-medieval period (16th-18th centuries).

Trench 2

Comfortably sheltered from the rain, this week was spent peeling back floor deposits within the covered undercroft area. The 1915 drain was fully exposed and the foundations of the undercroft's pillars were finally reached. So far no intact floor deposits relating to the undercroft itself have been found.

Trench 3

Work focused on excavating those parts of the Victorian trenches where the excavations had been particularly deep; some of these seem to have been back filled to create the Victorian garden. Further fragments of glazed medieval floor tile were found.