July 2005
The extension to trench 7 is now complete, revealing many interesting features and as usual is posing more questions than answers. The back wall of the villa can now be clearly seen, outside which was found a bronze brooch. The brooch was found lying next to the outside of the wall, is in very good condition and has been provisionally date as being from the 1st or 2nd century. The floor and back wall of the stokeroom have been defined, the floor being indicated by a deposit of charcoal. A possible series of steps leading down to the stoke room has also been identified. There is a clearly defined flint and tile feature which would make a good top step and a flint bottom step. The infill of the back of the stoke room continued to produce a variety of finds mainly of a domestic nature.
The south western extension to trench 7 is continuing to provide a variety of finds including bases of a selection of vessels, glass, large bones, tesserae, smaller decorative stone tessarae and oyster shells. One of the bases has been provisionally identified as belonging to a Nene Valley fineware beaker.
Bronze brooch - trench 7 extension
Nene Valley beaker base
The site was open to the public on the 24th as part of the CBA's National Archaeology Week. Unfortunately heavy rain during the morning meant we were unable to uncover the whole site and prepare it to the standard we would have liked. However around lunchtime the rain cleared and visitors started to arrive and we were able to give guided tours and some were able to try out excavating and trowelling in some of the trenches. Altogether it was regarded as a great success and hopefully we will have gained a few more enthusiastic diggers.