Day 1 - Wednesday June 21st 2001.

The Archaeologists "Cage" around the Burial Ground.

12.30pm
Digging out "Buster's" Wall. We have removed rows of limestone
blocks from the top of the wall. Next job is to trowel away the mortar
and degraded limestone layer.
Finds: Broken Jam Pot Lid, Sherd of Flowerpot, Pieces of Animal Bone.

3.30pm
On this side we are coming down onto a more gravelly section.
On the opposite side they still have a foot or more of compacted
silty material to get through. Thus the gravelly section slopes downhill
away from us. Could this be a ditch which once ran around the burial ground?
Finds: Large sherd of Northern Reduced Ware with Green Glaze (17C), Clear Glass (Modern), Sherd of Brown Pottery with runny glaze (19C?). The glass proves that this wall is quite modern - no wonder the mortar seemed almost concrete-like in places!

A little bit more trowelled off.....

The other 2 "trenches". We are looking along what was a straight
diagonal trench, which links the 2 main trenches. This has had 2
square digging areas imposed upon it. The younger students have
got down as far as the protective fabric which was put over the
whole area originally disturbed by the demolition of the Academy
nightclub. The whole area was then covered in what was the spoil
from the 2 main trenches which were left open, and then the whole
area was levelled.

The more important archaeologists must be locked up at all times!

The black material covers graves with skeletons in situ. (from
last years dig)

Jane has photographed several items of interest, Alex is tidying up
equipment, and Jenny is making notes. The students? I think somebody
mentioned Coffee, Biscuits and other more exciting things!!!

MOVE ON TO DAYS  3 & 4

(c) David J. Radcliffe 2001