Slow starts

Work starts an hour later on a Sunday, and first tea-break comes round very quickly. It is a time to be savoured – the sun was out, the tea was hot and there were plenty of digestive biscuits.

Field School Trainees in their natural habitat

Discoveries! Trench G

Trench G was located over the possible site of a spring head within the henge; and so it proved! Water sprung in the far south-east corner of Rose’s trench….it sprung with a whimper rather than a bang, but nonetheless this was an exciting and positive discovery.

An early springhead, sealed by Neolithic levels and rising up through the natural greensand

Tool of choice in Rose’s trench: the much underrated hoe

Valeria demonstrating her newly acquired mattocking skills!

Discoveries: Trench H

In Edoardo’s trench we are chasing gravels: are these deliberately laid as a pathway through the henge entrance and down to the river, or are these pockets of natural gravels utilised by the henge users as a convenient hard standing for a routeway? Time will tell.

Edoardos’ team have made a wonderful job of exposing, cleaning and recording the gravels

DigFarewells

The saddest thing about our site Sundays is that it is our week’s end- and people leave us! Today it was the turn of our DigVenturers. We very much enjoyed their expertise, hard work and enthusiasm and we hope they will keep in touch with the project.

Hilary and her Skills’ Passport – duly signed!

Italian charmer! The white trousers have it! With Karen (left) and Hilary

And so we have survived Week 1 of the Archaeology Field School….

AmandaOut