Could the Roman gods be displeased with us today as there was a heavy down pour that drenched the site and caused numerous pits to get waterlogged creating puddles?

Second and third years were assigned to the northern edge of the site to define the back stretch of the ‘banjo’ ditch. The section of the ‘banjo’ in area ‘A’ has revealed that there is a Roman pit that cuts the ‘banjo’ ditch, plus an earlier pit which seems prior to the ‘banjo.’  Near the ‘banjo’ entrance, the ditch seems to be deepening daily and becoming V-shaped which is so narrow at the base that it is proving difficult to excavate.

The artefacts for the day were a decorative rim pottery vessel. There was also a piece of ceramic ware that is believed to be an olive jar; which could have originated from an amphora pot. The fragment of the olive jar is unique in that it possesses a ribbed mark that was created when the individual moulded the jar by hand. An unusual bone was recovered which has two drilled holes, one in the centre and the other at one end. The purpose of the bone is not know, but it has been suggested that it could possibly be a toggle of some sort. Another penannular brooch was uncovered today near the ‘banjo’ ditch.  The fibulae discovered a few days ago have been cleaned and it is evident that these two brooches were similar in shape, size and pattern. Thus it can be suggested that the two brooches and pots recovered in the neighbouring burial graves were similar in style which could have possibly been placed with the deceased at about the same time time.

Even though the weather has stopped play on many occasions, it is clear that work continues apace.

Day 17: Many new artefacts