Day 10 area F overview
We have been very fortunate with the weather today and the sun has even made an appearance this afternoon. A Roman housing platform has emerged in Area F. Samian ware and black burnished ware, both types of pottery, as well as some flint and a horse mandible have been found within the housing platform. Michael Owens and Craig Pitchens, both first year students studying BSc Archaeological, Anthropological and Forensic Archaeology, are both enjoying their first experience of a dig site, and especially the company of the people they are working with.
Michael and Craig excavating the Roman building platform
In Area G, planning is underway on certain features including the recording of a characteristically D shaped natural tree throw root pit that is evidence of a tree falling down at some time in the distant past. Thomas Bowns and Nidar Bhunnoo who are both first year students on the BA Prehistory and Roman course have unfortunately found no finds in this pit and highlight how some features can appear to be man-made at first but can in fact be perfectly naturally occurring. They are both enjoying the dig nonetheless and are looking forward to moving on to their next feature.
Thomas and Nidar planning their natural tree throw feature
Elsewhere on the site, some soil sieving is taking place showing that Archaeology is not just all about excavation. Laura Evis, a Forensic Archaeology PhD student, has been sieving soil samples taken from burials trying to find any small bone fragments that were missed during excavation. This is a very important process as it can be difficult to recover teeth and phalanges (toes or fingers) from juvenile and perinatal burials, especially in soils that contain lots of chalk and clay.
Laura Evis sieving soil from human burial to ensure no small bones have been missed
In the environmental cabin, Becca Donovan, a second year student, has also been examining fine, coarse and heavy residue samples taken from each context found in features to try and recover any charcoal, grain or molluscs that can tell us about past diets, environments and agricultural practices.