Ben and Michael excavating a wall foundation ‘robber’ trench on the site of the villa

Good progress was made in Area F today especially on the, possible late/post Roman, building platform which lies on the east side of the ‘banjo’ enclosure. Students are currently excavating down through a demolished mortar layer to see whether it is recent ditch backfill or if it is part of the platform construction itself. The neonatal burial found on a separate housing platform yesterday has been exposed and is expected to be lifted tomorrow as the end of the day is fast approaching.

Neonatal burial excavated in Area F

The burial was found by second year student Katherine Dance who is studying Prehistory and Roman Archaeology and its excavation was assisted by Lucy Hider. Lucy is also a second year student, studying BSc Archaeology, and is used to washing the bones at the university, but this is her first time excavating them. Also in Area F, the west side of the ‘banjo’ enclosure has been revealed to show a possible ornamental entrance causeway. This type of entrance has been known elsewhere, but further excavation will be needed before a final interpretation.

In Area G, a copper alloy gilded bracelet was found in a ‘robber’ trench of the villa foundations. First year students Ben Bazely and Michael Hughes, who are both studying BSc Archaeology, found the bracelet and are continuing to excavate the robber trench.

Gilded copper alloy bracelet found by Ben and Michael

Also on site today is second year student Rosemary Helen-Mayne who is collecting soil samples for her undergraduate independent research project. She is looking at the geochemistry of the soil and how it affects bone preservation and will wait until any bones found have been processed before studying them against the soil analysis.

Rosemary with her soil samples taken from around bones

The pressure is still on to get as many features excavated as possible before the final week is over, however the weather forecast looks like it will be on our side!