Dig the Lunt Roman Fort - week 3

This week at the Lunt we opened up a sondage in trench 1. Basically this is an excavation within an excavation just to see what we can expect under the rest of the bricks. It was hard work for John and Ken who did most of it.

John mattocking the brick layer

The sondage at the end of trench 1

We came down on what looked like lime mortar. Further scraping revealed an earth layer similar to that being trowelled in trench 2.

In trench 2, we were beginning to expose a layer with fine gravel, and amongst this we were finding medieval and Roman pottery. However, the further down we went, the stones became larger and the finds non-existent.

This week I brought along my metal detector. I have to be honest in that I've had it a year but not used it!!! I brushed off the cobwebs and turned it on and aimed it at the spoil heap. I felt a bit conspicuous, but that's presumably because I hadn't got a clue what I was doing. (Note to self: must join a club). Cut a long story short, I detected my first find...a hand made nail. How excited was I!!!!

First metal detecting find

Further wafts over the spoil revealed another nail. Well we all have to start somewhere and I now have a better understanding of the detector. All good fun.

Over the day Paul taught the students how to plan using the planning frame, and everyone had a go.

John and Ros planning the bricks

Our resident artist Debbie having a go

Me, I was left sieving the soil from trench 2. It's a laborious task but has revealed an abundance of pottery - Roman and Medieval. There's still an awful lot to sieve at the next session.

  

Pile on the left still to sieve

We were lucky with the weather all day with the occasional light shower and sunshine. We finished at 4, and after putting all the tools away, Paul did a summary of the day in the car park. The heavens opened cutting that bit short! I can't speak for the rest, bit I didn't half sleep well that night. Roll on the next session......

Roll up! Roll up! It's time to get your trowels dirty!!

Welcome peeps to the new blog from the Coventry and District Archaeological Society, or CADAS to save time!

I’ve blogged before, but for my own pleasure. This time it’s trying to let all you people out there know what’s happening archaeologically wise in Coventry.

We’ve gone from no projects last year, to a possible 3 this year. Our first outing wasn’t exactly a project, more like me volunteering to be teaching assistant. Let me explain.

The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum are running a summer course “Dig the Lunt”. Yes I’m talking about the Lunt Roman Fort. Ok …. Don’t get your hopes to high, it is only the car park at the moment. It’s the one area which hasn’t been dug and the course aims to take you through all the different disciplines of archaeology: de-turfing, bit of gardening, trowelling, finds processing, drawing, photography etc.

Training in the field

We’ve opened up 2 trenches and we’ve gone down about 10cm. In the smaller trench (trench 2) we’ve found slipware, Nuneaton Ware (similar to Tudor green) and 5 bits of Roman pottery…RESULT!!

Trench 2

Some of our Roman Finds

In the large trench (trench 1), we've come down to a brick surface. This was put down in the 1970s as hard core before the carpark was metalled. At our next session, we're going through the hardcore to see what lies beneath. 

Trench 1

Some of our other finds

It is a 4 day course, held on Saturdays, and days 1 and 2 have already come and gone. But you still have the opportunity to come along to the last 2 days. Just contact the Herbert and pay for 1 or both of the 2 remaining sessions. No experience necessary and any age is welcome, although anyone under 16 will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

It’s great fun and even though archaeology is my passion, I'm still learning.