June 2005
Work has continued on the trenches opened earlier in the season as well as the ditch in trench 9. The north eastern extension to trench 7 is turning out to be quite complex in nature and has now revealed a flint structure which could be the back of the villa and also includes evidence of the back wall of the stokeroom. Part of the trench also consists of the remains of a Roman rubbish pit containing a large amount of domestic waste such as pot sherds and animal bone.
Painted wall plaster from trench 7 extension
Finds (mainly animal bone) from trench 7 extension
Having reassesed the location of the back wall of the villa in light of the finds in the trench 7 extension, another recent resistivity survey shows two parallel areas of high resistivity running away from the back of the villa at right angles for some 15 metres. New trenches are being marked out to explore this area over the next few months and hopefully gather some more information about the ever expanding boundaries of the villa.
After several weeks of trowelling off the topsoil from a south western extension to trench 7 the patience of the diggers has been rewarded with some exciting finds including three, probably 4th century coins, and possibly some copper or bronze jewellery. There is still some way to go with this area and there looks to be lots of potential for more similar finds.
As digging nears the end in the ditch a collection of approximately 25 sandal studs have been found within an area of about 10cm by 10cm. Although individual sandal studs have been found around the site these are possibly the remains of a complete sandal discarded in the ditch, though none of the fabric remains.
Wilf removing the sandal studs from the ditch
If you've been following the progress of the dig and would like to get involved please contact us.