Tuesday 27 August 2013

The next step!!!!

The next step will literally be the field walking which we can now say will take place this Saturday.
Hopefully the weather will be kind but I intend to go prepared with waterproofs and sun tan cream!
Sunrise 06:14 Sunset 19:56

 
Weather forecast details for Saturday 31 August. Each column contains hourly forecast details for weather conditions, temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, visibility and pressure.
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Happy days - it looks as though the weather might be kind to us, but there's still 3 days to go.

I haven't been field walking for a while...for a very long time actually, so I'm hoping that our bags will be over-flowing with goodies at the end of the day.

Kev and Paul will be going out tomorrow to plan and mark-out the transects. This will basically be poles set at intervals around the edge of the fields. The field walkers will use the line of these poles to wander along and pick up pot and the like.

Roll on Saturday!

Sunday 18 August 2013

The following Saturday saw us back at the Broadwell Victory Hall for the Roman Pottery and Roman Small Finds workshops. Both of these workshops were very popular. Jane Timby had been brought in a couple of weeks ago to assess the finds already collected. Her report will be made available in due course.


It was a fascinating lecture covering the basics of pottery identification: what can pottery tell us, from what is it made, inclusions, uses etc. She then reported on the Broadwell assemblage. The 3000+ sherds were categorized into late prehistoric, continental Roman imports, regional Romano-British imports, local Roman, Medieval, post medieval and CBM (ceramic building material).






Of the total assemblage, 89% was classed as Roman ware, and 84% of that was grey ware; your common and garden, everyday crockery of the Roman household. Of the Roman imports, she commented that unusually no amphorae had been found, but hopefully that’s still out there to find. 

Jane answering questions on the Broadwell pottery.
At the end of the session, we were able to look at some of the Broadwell pottery and also at some Jane’s reference collection.












In the afternoon, we were supposed to have had Ian Meadows come and talk to us, but despite best laid plans etc, that was not to be and the session was run by Paul Mason and Bryn. Ian has been responsible for assessing all our small finds, which has included everything that wasn’t pottery, including the metal detecting finds. In order to help us understand and recognize what we may find on our field walking and metal detecting workshops. 

Paul and Bryn had devised a quiz. There were 4 teams of 6 and 4 tables of finds to look at. There were 2 tables of Broadwell finds and 2 tables of Roman finds from other sites. It was great fun and an invaluable exercise as it made people think about what they were looking at, and try to identify the material and possible use of the items.
Do we know what it is yet?




Well, it's Roman!


A much need half at the dig pub!
     

Wednesday 7 August 2013

2 down!!!!!

Two workshops successfully completed on Saturday and very interesting they were. The first, project design, sounded a bit staid, but afterwards, I was just itching to get on all the websites that Paul introduced us to. He explained what it involved very well, using the BAIT project design as an example. The task he set us at the end of the session was really useful as each group had to take an element of project design and brainstorm what it might mean. Our group had health and safety and it was great to see everyone involved and contributing.

The afternoon session was all about desk-based assessment. After the project design, it's the next thing which evolves in an archaeological project. A large part of DBA is looking at aerial photographs, documents and maps and it is the latter which excited us the most I think. I just love maps, especially old ones and Ian Soden pulled out a bucket load of different maps to show us, including trench maps from the 1st World War. My favourites, however, are those done in the late 1700's by Matthias Baker and the Board of Health maps, commissioned in the 1850's.


He finished the afternoon off by splitting us into groups and tasking us with creating our own maps, using the Green at Broadwell. Half the groups had to produce really useful maps, and the other half, really un-helpful maps. It was a beautiful afternoon and a really excellent way to end off the afternoon.



I have to admit that I spent the next 3 days on an archaeological spree. How lucky was I!!!

Sunday saw me join the metal detectorists in the morning. I paired up with my friend who has all the equipment and spent a happy 3 hours being shown the ropes. It's something I've always wanted to have a go at and now I have...and I think I have the bug!!!! Unfortunately I was only wearing shorts and t-shirt, and by the time we got back to the car after the rain had started, I was absolutely soaking!! Serves me right. For all those who join us on the fields for a bit of metal detecting with the experts (when the crops are off), you are in for a treat.

Monday, I was back volunteering at New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. I have been involved in the Dig for Shakespeare for 3 years and was sad to see the end of the project last year. But, I was lucky enough to get a spot on the 2 week dig they have on at the moment, where 3 professionals (Will, Liz and Eilidh) are digging 3 trenched to try and join the dots of previous archaeology. Us volunteers are mere sievers and finds washers, but it was great to be back.
                                      The stunning knot-garden at New Place.

And finally, Tuesday saw me at the Lunt Roman Fort, where they had called for volunteers to help paint the Gyrus with wood preserve. What a thoroughly messy but fulfilling job that was. It looked fantastic when we'd finished.  

Friday 2 August 2013

A small diversion!!

The Lunt Roman Fort is not a million miles away from Broadwell and on Monday and Tuesday next week, they're calling for volunteers to come and help paint wood preserve on the ramparts and Gyrus.
The site is really in need of a bit of TLC and ASDA have very kindly donated some dosh and bods to help.

A small cafe will be open on Tuesday, and did you know that there will be a free talk by one of the guides on the Trajan frieze which adorns the walls in the granary. Did you know that the actual column in Rome was originally painted? Can you imagine what that must have been like?

Well there's 3 good reasons to come along this Tuesday. Gates open 10:30-11. Bring you lunch and water, and if it's anything like today, a hat and sunscreen, and if not....an umbrella!!!!

The cafe and Trajan talk will be every Tuesday with the talk starting at 1pm.

Like I said, it's not far from Broadwell, probably a mere half days march by your average Roman soldier!

See you Tuesday!