Gale force winds which we had over the weekend have had a positive effect on the site leaving it in a perfect, fairly dry condition for starting to excavate features. Many field school participants have started work on the site today and have come from all over the world to experience the site, including visitors from USA, Belgium and Finland as well as Dorset residents. For one the local participants it has been a very exciting first day indeed! Jane Randall, who lives in Wareham, has discovered an in situ, black burnished ware pot which is in very good condition, with only a few pieces broken away.

Jane Randall excavating a Black-Burnished Ware pot

Inverted black burnished ware pot

Jane is currently undertaking a part-time undergraduate degree in archaeology at Bristol University, and so was extremely happy to find a local site where she would be welcome to dig as part of her course requirement. As well as field school paticipants, we have also enjoyed the company of members from the Young Archaeologist’s Club with around 20 children ranging from 10-13 enjoying a few hours digging on a real archaeology site. Under supervision from John Milward and Gethyn Phillips, the young visitors experienced excavating around the Roman walls in Area G.

Members of the Young Archaeologist’s Club enjoying their time on site.

North of the site in Area H, the perinatal burial has finally been lifted after being covered over since Thursday due to the poor weather conditions. Down in Area F, a leg bone, most likely to be pig, has been uncovered very near to the surface by Becca Donovan, a second year student. First year students have also started completing their first section drawings of their features, gaining them experience in recording as well as excavation.