The Big Dig 2021 — Day 9

Progress Report. Day 9.  

After a week of clearing the disturbed layers in Trench 10 round the Sanctuary Stone, the diggers have now uncovered relatively undisturbed in situ burials, including a surprising number of children.  These will be excavated very carefully.  A primary aim will be to secure the Petrous Bone in the inner ear from which a tiny bone sample will be removed for DNA analysis.  Careful trowelling in the western part of the trench is revealing a medieval dwelling (hearth, and post hole for supporting the roof).  It looks as if people lived in the area after it had ceased to be a place of burial.

In Trench 11 in the wet area of the glebe, progress has been made in uncovering what we think is a Bronze Age roundhouse, but it is a continuous battle against encroaching water from the surrounding peat.  At present it is difficult to interpret the archaeology in the far end of the trench, which includes an extensive area of burning, probably in medieval times.

The main story of the Dig so far has been the great range of finds:  flint, slag, pottery, silver coins, copper alloy strip, and a stone carved with early Medieval keypattern decoration.  Clare Ellis has displayed the highlights of each day on her Facebook pages, linked with the CELM Facebook.  Today, the diggers in Trench 10 added a medieval knife, a Jew’s harp and nails, and Trench 12 revealed a quernstone.  We hope to display several of these at the Open Day on Saturday.