Today saw the continuation of the excavation, environmental sampling and the processing of finds. As the students progressed onto the lower stratigraphic layers of the features, further finds in the form of faunal remains and ceramic sherds were discovered in both of the trenches. Trench B supervisor, Derek Pitman, concluded that there has been a marked overall acceleration in the number of finds correlating positively with the progress of the excavation of the features. Furthermore, the excavation of a large ditch began in Trench B, which was discovered with post holes running parallel alongside it, resembling a potential palisade. Trench A, has so far a total of thirty-six pit features; those undergoing excavation have contained ceramic sherds – some of which are Bronze Age, Iron Age and Post Roman in date.
Across both of the trenches many of the sub-circular features were revealed to contain significant quantities of burnt flint. One interpretation explaining the presence material related to domestic tasks, such as heating water. However, experiments conducted show that under high temperature conditions, flint nodules fracture explosively. Another interpretation is that the burnt flint was crushed to a fine silica powder for use as temper in ceramic production. Perhaps the large quantities of the burnt flint found on site are indicative of industrial ceramic production. It is known that Black Burnished Ware of the Iron Age through to the third century was produced in Poole Harbour. Does the amount of burnt flint at this site relate to the ceramic production at Poole Harbour, if so how was it transported?
Aerial photographs of each of the trenches were captured today using a drone. Photographs from oblique and vertical perspectives where taken so that each of the trenches could be observed in their entirety. These photographs will assist in the interpretation of the association of features with one another, in their respective trenches.
Geophysical Prospection
In the neighbouring fields of the trenches, students set up a grid using a GPS in preparation for the geophysical surveying that is conducted as part of The Durotriges Project. Geophysical prospection techniques can be used in an archaeological context to map and form imaging of buried features, which may otherwise be undetectable. The techniques employed will include magnetometry and ground resistivity, both of which have been used to aid the selection of suitable excavation areas in previous seasons of The Durotriges Project. The results of these can be overlaid upon a geographical and topographical map indicating the nature of any present archaeology.
Magnetometry survey – a fluxgate gradiometer detects changes in the magnetic field of an area being surveyed. These anomalies are detected being as a difference from the background magnetic field. A magnetometer is able to detect magnetic metals, charcoal, areas of burning activity and fired materials such as ceramics.
Resistivity survey – An electrical current is passed into the ground at one metre intervals from a base line. The unit of measurement of resistance is taken in Ohms for each of the points recorded. This result is compared to a background reading. An especially high level of electrical resistance may indicate features such as foundations or walls. Where there is little electrical resistance, pits post holes and even organic deposits may be detected.