Week 2, 14–20 July

Despite very changeable weather the excavation progressed well, with another full complement of excavation trainees. In Trench 1 the excavation of dump deposits, probably of 11th/12th century date, continued. There was no sign of the south-east wall of the Roman fortress interval tower SW6, but we are confident it is down there somewhere! In Trench 3 the foundation platform for the column base in the centre of the trench was removed, revealing an area of cobbles. It is assumed these cobbles are in a foundation pit that provided further support for the column, but only time will tell.

A view of Trench 3. Can you spot the cobble foundation in the centre of the trench?

With the return of Assistant Site Manager Toby Kendall from secondment in France, it was possible to open up the first of the new trenches. Trench 5 lies to the north-west of Trench 3, and is intended (among other aims) to locate the north-west end of the infirmary block and to investigate the relationship of this structure to the Roman Multangular Tower at the west corner of the fortress (see the site plan in the web diary prologue). The garden topsoil and other modern deposits were removed.

A new course for 2003, surveying, was run during this week. Toby Kendall demonstrated the basic surveying techniques, including laying out a site grid and drawing building elevations, and the use of an Electronic Distance Measurer (EDM) to record features on a site. Geophysical survey was taught by Dr Mark Noel (GeoQuest Associates), Professor of Geophysics at the University of Durham. Apart from allowing the trainees to develop the surveying skills and techniques, the course made possible further recording of the medieval hospital and adjacent structures. The geophysical survey was carried out at Acomb Grange, a monastic farm close to York that was run to provide food and other materials for the hospital. A good time was had by all.

Surveying module trainees using an EDM

Over the weekend, special events were laid on for visitors as part of the National Archaeology Days organised by the Council for British Archaeology. The re-enactment group Comitatus provided demonstrations of living history at the end of the Roman period on one day, and on the second day laid out a 'history street' forming a physical timeline of the history of the site from early Roman times to the medieval period. Sandra Garside-Neville, assisted by placements Ged Callaghan and Katrina Foreman, presented a display on brick and tile. Russell Marwood demonstrated war-gaming with a re-construction of the battle of Powicke Bridge, the first engagement of the English Civil War.

	Roman meets Viking on the 'history street' at the National Archaeology Day
	Placements Katrina (in Roman dress) and Ged (holding roof tile) at the National Archaeology Day
	Russell Marwood demonstrating war-gaming

A notable find from Trench 5 was a Roman voussoir brick with a wedge-shaped profile, which would have been used in the construction of archways or vaulting. It is possible such vaulting was employed in the construction of the Roman fortress towers.

Profile of Roman voussoir brick