Pipe Dream

As we carried on digging slots through the large ditch we were hoping that more dating evidence would emerge, and it did, all medieval pottery. As we dug down to the base of the ditch we found... a pipe! After the crying had subsided we then realised that this pipe was not on the same alignment as our ditch.

The pipe is heading off to the right and out of the trench, whilst our ditch is heading due south (this view is from the north.

So, we will continue to dig the other slots in the knowledge that we are not working on a modern feature! 

 

A day at the office

With our HLF fund we now have a new gazebo for use on site. It make for a nice place to sit and have lunch, shelter from showers and a temporary office for the paperwork. In windy weather we can have the walls in place too. 

As can be seen, it is not far from our trench, so that we can run for it when it rains. Here's Elaine digging Ditch Slot IV through the large ditch running south-north. 

Nice pottery continues to turn up. This is Ditch Slot I. We are digging four slots through the ditch.

 

 

 

Making an impression

One of the best things about archaeology is that you can make contact with a person from hundreds of years ago, simply by finding  piece of pottery. This small fragment has finger/thumb impressions on it, to make a nice decoration on the rim of the vessel. You can't get that feeling from reading a book.

 

Life's a Ditch

One thing that archaeologists are is resourceful. When we had a busted leg on our gazebo, rather than just stand around in the rain, we had to think of a way of supporting the thing. This was our answer. It worked very well - for now. 

In the meantime, we have started, at last, to dig the ditch in the main trench! The rain had done its job. We were not disappointed. As we chased the edge, it came down on to a very clean fill, so we hope that as that material is taken out a very nice profile of the feature will be had. Also, it is the last of the fills in the base of a ditch where, generally, finds are to be had. Fingers crossed.