With unpleasant weather forecast for the afternoon the morning rush kicked in a lot sooner than normal. Throughout all trenches it was a race against time to get as much done as possible. Like normal all equipment was carried towards their respective trenches and work went underway.
The students throughout the week have been undertaking many archaeological techniques. Today they we're taking part in a digital survey, graveyard survey (see part 6) and a palaeoenvironmental survey. Below are a list of sources for further study in Digital Surveying techniques.
Trench 12:
Excavating in trench 12 began with further excavation of the possible plough furrows. On the western section of the trench the possible ditch as picked up by the geophysics is being investigated. Bulk samples of the feature appearing on the eastern section of the trench were taken earlier in the morning. Photography was also carried out throughout the day with extensive recording of all possible features.
Trench 11:
As the final week of excavations come to a close Trench 11 continues to expose various features and produce vast amounts of small finds and samples. Burnt animal bone and charcoal continued to be the main samples taken from the eastern end of the trench as features that could potentially be post-holes. Work continued in the search for the western stone lined wall of the ditch which has been potentially located but appears to lie interfere with another feature, however it is not possible to continue research on this feature in the last stages of the excavation. The western end of this trench was cleaned back once again for a mid-ex photograph to show the post-hole and stake-hole, this led to the appearance of another two stake-holes that were then excavated and recorded.
Trench 10:
Trench 10 today began with a further investigation of the stone structure which dominates the centre of the trench. The stones were brushed off carefully to avoid any fake patterning in the soil. The eastern and western sections of the trench have been thoroughly excavated in order to identify any possible archaeology as well as to reach the natural soil underneath. While this trench is still plagued with mystery we are rapidly coming to a greater understanding as to any possible archaeology there.
Debates have been taking place as to whether our trench has to do with the tea house. Towards the bottom of the trench there is a large amount of what appears to be dark, natural soil. A lack of change in the soil colour between the 'stairs' and area around it make for a quick interpretation that the stairs and tea house are found elsewhere. The large stones however create confusion as they appear to be dislodged and disturbed. Hopefully the few remaining days will reveal the last pieces of information needed to better understand the trench.
By Emily Geoghegan
Brandon Walsh
Below are a list of sources which aid in the study of GIS.
Lake, M. & Conolly, J. (2006) Geographic Information Systems in Archaeology. London:Cambridge University Press.
Chapman, H. (2009) Landscape Archaeology and GIS. Stroud : The History Press.
Wheatley, D. & Gillings, M. (2002) Spatial technology and archaeology: the archaeological applications of GIS. London : Taylor & Francis
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