Another year another area. We are here in Blacklands for another season of excavation working on two new areas. One area is located to the north of the track leading from the villa enclosure and the other is located next to the big trench (Trench 2600) opened last year to investigate the rest of the timber building and the enclosure boundaries. The geophysical survey showed extensive activity in this area and we hope to find evidence of earlier occupation here. The plan below shows the position of our new trenches as well as previous areas. The trenches we will be concentrating on this year are 2900 and 3000.

We have had some really glorious weather this week, which was a real bonus considering the summer we have had so far, but already the ground is drying out too quickly making it hard work in the clay soil. Despite this good progress has been made on Trench 2900. The area has been fully cleaned to expose the mixture of surfaces and natural stone cut by an angled ditch. Planning will take place in the coming week in this area so that the features that have been revealed can be excavated. We believe this area may be part of the working farm attached to the early villa found in previous years. The picture below shows the excavation of the narrow extension to Trench 3000, located to sample the ditches of the enclosures.

Geophysical survey has begun in the field to the north of Blacklands. Both Resistance and Magnetic survey will be carried out during the excavation, adding to the increasingly bigger area we have surveyed. Trainees have had opportunities to use both instruments. The picture below shows the TR/CIA Resistance Meter in action.

Week 1 ~ Week 2 ~ Week 3 ~ Week 4 ~ Week 5 ~ Week 6 ~