Field Walking Begins Again in Sunny Lancashire

Yesterday, we began our our new field walking season in superb sunshine.  Where was this in May when we were excavating?

Our first project is too look closely at one of the two medieval Barrowford vaccaries that we identified a few years ago.  We walked about a quarter of the vaccary, recording features etc. but, as expected, few artifacts were found.

We did find an old gatepost (left) which we dated to the post-medieval period.  Though, it appears very small with just two post-holes showing, there is a third post hole beneath the ground, so its real height is a little over 1 metre.

We also had fun trying to date a Georgian farmhouse; was it pre or post 1800?  We eventually settled on the former and subsequent checking has proved us right, the building was erected before1770.  Nice to know that we can get a few things right!

Field Walking Begins Again in Sunny Lancashire

Yesterday, we began our our new field walking season in superb sunshine.  Our first project is too look closely at one of the two medieval Barrowford vaccaries that we identified a few years ago.  We walked about a quarter of the vaccary, recording features etc. but, like Higham vaccary surveyed in the spring, few artifacts were found.

We did find an old gatepost (left) which we dated to the post-medieval period.  Though, it appears very small with just two post-holes showing, there is a third post hole beneath the ground, so its real height is a little over 1 metre.

We also had fun trying to date a Georgian farmhouse; was it pre or post 1800?  We eventually settled on the latter and subsequent checking has proved us right, the building was erected before1770.  Nice to know that we can still get a few things right!

With the final sod placed on trench 10 the dig was at an end

On our last day, we continued to find more pot but, like Time Team on day three, we had to let go and close the site down.  We now have to carefully check out the finds and make some sense of what we have.





Here is the record of the day...
https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/with-the-final-sod-placed-on-trench-10-the-dig-was-at-an-end

Rewards of a late stay....

Bonus points to Alex and Paul today for refusing to leave until they had found a little more pottery on what is a  miserly site with regard to finds. We can also thank them for providing the daily photos and text for the week's web pages.  Click here for Thursday's report...
https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/rewards-of-a-late-stay

We almost certainly have found the ore store

Too much rain!  Wednesday was a bit brighter but on Thursday we only got an hour in.  We have been focusing on the higher part of the slope where the preparation of the ore would have taken place.  This seems to be confirmed in what we are finding, see:

https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/14-we-almost-certainly-have-found-the-ore-store

A day of dead-ends

At last, the weather began to improve.  We found more pottery and opened a new trench but it was really a day of dead ends.  See, https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/15-a-day-of-dead-ends

Still on the wild side

Due to the weather, we packed up early again but we did make some progress in between the storms.  See,
https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/16-still-on-the-wild-side?pageMoved=SABDEN%20FOLD%20BLOOMERY

Rain stops play

These weren't used much today, see....
https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/19-rain-stop-play

So far, the signs are promising...

Hello Everyone,

Today, we opened up two new trenches at the site, extending the area investigated last year. So far, the signs are promising with large quantities of slag from an iron working site.
Click the link below for more:
https://sites.google.com/site/archaeologygroup/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/18-so-far-the-signs-are-promising

Back Again for More!

Despite originally being a quick excavation, by popular demand, we are back again at the Sabden Bloomery site.  Excavation begins 10am, next Saturday, 21st May.  See how the advance party got on yesterday before the rain came down....
http://www.archaeologygroup.org.uk/home/sabden-fold-bloomery/12-back-again-for-more