Today the sunny but windy site was filled with enthusiasm and excitement amongst the budding archaeologists who had eagerly been awaiting the opportunity to begin excavating features that they had uncovered.

Across the site, people have been busy completing the pre-excavating plans in order to record features prior to their excavation. The majority of newly discovered features have now been planned in. This has left the head of planning, Harry Manley, delighted over the progress of the planning.

Some of the first years were assembled to define the edges of features so that the planning and documentation could continue, after which the ditch or pit was sectioned in half or quadrants to then begin excavating stratigraphically and unearthing artefacts. Other groups of first years were allocated to continue outlining and excavating a Roman building platform.

The second years are now scattered all over the site to mentor first years with the planning and excavation of their allocated features, while the third years were lending a helping hand to fellow supervisors, as well as re-opening the ditch of the ‘banjo’ enclosure near its entrance.

The finds of the day were another decorative piece of terracotta ‘Samian’ ware that revealed images of prestigious eagles/swan representations, which suggests once again that the settlement many in fact been inhabited by people of higher status. A copper alloy bracelet for a child was also recovered together with a well preserved brooch (pictured). There were also countless sherds of pottery, animal teeth and bones, plus finds of nails and tiles from a Roman building.

Day 4: A copper alloy brooch, decorated fineware and a view of the team starting to excavate features