The BBC crew were present on site today, along with presenter Dr Alice Roberts, filming for the TV series ‘Digging for Britain’. They were keen to learn about the developments on the site since they were with us last year.
Developments related to the skeletal remains being excavated are that ‘Steve’ (all skeletons are given names by the students excavating them) had been buried with a sheep forelimb, and a total of seven young babies or ‘neonates’ have been found this year so far. This is a large number for only day 10, as only 14 burials of this type were found in total previously on the site.
In area ‘A’, the excavations on the terrace house have revealed a broken quern stone, which has been recycled and used as part of the footing of a structure dating to the late, or even post-Roman, occupation of the site. Quern stones were used as a tool to grind wheat to make flour.
After today’s experience of how archaeology is undertaken in all weather conditions, we are all hoping for a warm sunny day tomorrow.
Lauren and Zoe
Day 10: A crouched pit burial, decorated black burnished ware, a horse mandible, parts of a very late structure and a general view of the site during the day's mist and rain