St Leonard's Excavation — the second season

Week 10 14-18 August 2002

Visitors at trench 1 at the beginning of Week 10.

Another busy week on site with seventeen trainees on the 5-and 10-day excavation modules and a further fifteen on the taster courses. Fortunately the weather improved, and good progress was made in both trenches. Visitor numbers continued to be high this week with many families taking the opportunity to watch work in progress.

Trench 1

Trainees, left to right: Betty Bentley excavates another post-hole in Trench 1, while Jan Cox and Lorna Brown sieve material.

In the covered area of Trench 1, work continued peeling back dump deposits belonging to the period before the 11th century building was constructed. A further post-hole has been excavated with the post-pipe, into which the wooden post would have been set, clearly visible. This is yet more evidence of the structural complexity of the infirmary. There is still no sign of the south-east wall of the Roman interval tower which would have run through this part of Trench 1.

Outside, elevation drawings of the medieval drain and other excavated features were completed. A dump deposit was excavated adjacent to the medieval drain, roughly at the level of the drain's construction cut. A fine piece of medieval green glazed ware was found here.

Left to right the medieval drain, with access point open, the Roman interval tower wall, and Roman rampart.

Further along, a medieval pit was found to have truncated the probable dividing wall within the Roman interval tower that was identified last week. Some more Samian pottery was found in this pit, as well as medieval pottery and some lead. Adjacent to the pit some in situ Roman dumping was discovered, and possibly a Roman floor.

Work continued on the Roman rampart. There are now puzzling hints of structural elements in the rampart- perhaps a retaining wall. Roman bone and pottery continued to be excavated here.

Trench 3

Work proceeded on removing some of the construction levels of the hospital, a slow process as post-holes and stake holes need very careful excavating and recording. Some 12th century floor deposits were excavated. Much more Roman pottery is being found here, which may be from disturbed Roman occupation levels- an exciting prospect as digging continues downwards!

Trench 3 at the beginning of Week 10 The large holes are post-holes, probably for an internal wall.

Finds

	Hone stone, not complete
	Flint flake probably chipped off during working
	Copper alloy rectangular buckle
	Copper alloy decorative mount, with fleur-de-lys decoration. Back and front shown
	Roman pottery