The final day started with one last site briefing from Miles Russell and Paul Cheetham, the project directors. With ideal digging conditions many research questions have been answered despite the fact that there is still much to do and new questions always arising.
The site team on the last day of the dig
In Area F, more cow bones have been found during the excavation of the ‘banjo’ ditch meaning the bone material will be useful for radiocarbon dating thus getting a date for the construction of the ditch itself. The pit which was had two complete black burnished ware pots in yesterday has revealed another, almost complete, pot and a whole layer of fragmented pottery at a lower level. An crouched inhumation pit burial has also been cleaned up today after being found yesterday and is ready for lifting. This was found by first year students Felicity Ashton, studying BSc Archaeology, and twin sister Kim Ashton who is studying Archaeological, Anthropological and Forensic Sciences. In the housing platform further east to the site, stake holes have been revealed suggesting a very decent sized round structure or fence line. Mark Shattock, trench supervisor, is happy that the phasing questions have been answered with respect to the ‘banjo’ ditch and the east side housing platform.
Crouched burial excavated by Felicity and Kim
In Area G, there is excitement that a carved column has been excavated showing that the buildings being excavated are likely to relate to a Roman villa. This was excavated by Nida Bhunnoo, Thomas Bowns and Freya Gulliver who are all studying Prehistory and Roman Archaeology. The column was upside down and had a carved design on one side whilst the other was flat for abutting up to a wall. This would have held a lintel on top and would have made the building look somewhat majestic. It was being reused as part of a stoke hole of an oven/dryer. The main phases of the villa have been traced and although we are unsure about all the detail of the chronology, this will continue to be refined during the post-excavation process and some futher work on site over the summer.
Roman column from Area G
In Area H, final excavation has occurred on the lime kiln as well as in a large pit that is next to it. Context forms have been filled out with finalising details added and features are now ready for planning. This will take place on Sunday during the open day when the last few features will be planned before the site is covered over.
The lime kiln excavated