The Big Dig

Today I went to a field lower down the hill from the main site where some new geophysical surveys are currently taking place. It is due to this type of survey that our main ‘banjo’ enclosure was found. The two main methods used are magnetometry and resistivity, both of which are non-destructive. Magnetometry is based… Read more » about Day 14 – geophysical survey

While digging continues apace on site, environmental samples are put through the flotation device every day. This includes a tank that is connected to a fresh water supply with material mesh placed inside; into which the environmental samples are placed. The samples are broken up by hand which causes the water inside the tank to… Read more » about Day 13 – flotation

The end of the second week (and so half way through this season’s work) has come very quickly and good progress has been made on the site as a whole. This morning Miles Russell, the excavation director, started the day with a site briefing and discussed the progress and ongoing interpretations of the site. In… Read more » about Day 12 – half way there?

Today in Area G, recording is taking place of an oven or perhaps kiln. Although it is in the vicinity of the Roman building it is thought to be slightly later, around 350AD, at a time in which people started moving outside for industrial uses. The oven consists of a ring of scorced flint and… Read more » about Day 11 – animals everywhere

We have been very fortunate with the weather today and the sun has even made an appearance this afternoon. A Roman housing platform has emerged in Area F. Samian ware and black burnished ware, both types of pottery, as well as some flint and a horse mandible have been found within the housing platform. Michael… Read more » about Day 10 – more than just digging