Part of a series of bulletins from the BAS excavations at Wickham House
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Attendees: James P, Hazel, Judy, Julian, Geoff, Peter C, Bob, Björn, Susanne, Stuart and Keith
A day of mixed weather forecast – so work began as soon as we arrived on site to make the most of the dry overcast conditions while it lasted! In Trench 4D Geoff, Peter C and Björn continued to dig down to the archaeological horizon which was achieved just at the dark clouds started to gather – but revealed a horizon of clay to the east of the 2m x 2m trench, a dark linear 0.3m wide aligned with building #1 and a dark brown/orange horizon to the west of the trench. So far this supports the geophys survey suggestion that this rectilinear feature may be the eastern wall of another building, but more work will be needed next week to confirm this initial interpretation.
In Trench 4B Hazel and Judy completed the recording and planning of the current horizon of features that have been explored in detail this week. Unfortunately the weather closed in before these feature could be explored further, but the current interpretation is of a Roman period roadside building alongside Ermin Street and the lane branching off to the north.
In Trench 2 Bob and Susanne continued to remove the occupation layer lying above the cobbled surface revealed yesterday. This deposit contained lenses of mortar, bone and pottery, however the forecast heavy rain intervened before this could be completed. Alison & Stuart in Trench 2 continued to explore the gravel deposits on the north side of the Roman road where they adjoin the occupation deposits seen to the north – but once again ‘rain stopped play’….
In Trench 4C Julian and James started a sondage at the south end of this 6m x 1m trench across where the Roman road ditch is expected to pass which made good progress. However, instead of the expected deposits of pottery and bone seen within the Roman road ditch in Trench 2, the road ditch in Trench 4C was full of large flints with only a small amount of pottery within the uppermost level. Once again work had to stop when the forecast heavy rain started at lunchtime.
However, Julian wisely made sure the trench was covered over to protect it from the heavy rain, and after it was decided that we stop early for the day, stayed behind talking shop over a coffee. Unexpectedly, the dark clouds parted revealing blue sky and bright sunshine, so despite only Julian, James P and Keith remaining it was decided to carry on with Trench 4C for an extra couple of hours. This revealed the full extent of the northerly end of the Roman road ditch in front of building #1 to be filled in with large flints. To the north of the ditch heavy trowelling is yet to reveal a surface or the south facing return of the building, but Julian did discover a 4th century AD copper alloy Numus coin close to the edge of the ditch which was a great end to the day!
