Day 8 - and on it goes, and on and on.......

Today we were able to dig in both trench 3 and 4. In trench 3 the robbed wall alongside the cobbles was opened up further, but in this area it seems to be present as rubble, rather than an empty foundation trench. Further investigation is needed to work out the relationship between the wall in trench 4 and this wall. The cobbles and wall seem to be on the same alignment, but the floor level may be lower in trench 3. This is not surprising as it is down the slope, and other buildings in the general area have this kind of split level arrangement.



In trench 4 more of the flagstones are appearing. Some of them are very fine. The wall appears to have been demolished on the other side from the door jamb found earlier in the week, but the cobbled surface is continuous along the outside of the building. A curb running across the building may imply the edge of a threshing floor or the position of a partition. It seems that this building was not domestic, but that interpretation may change as more of the floor is revealed. The uphill side of the flagstones is a hard compacted surface and a sondage revealed that this continues for at least 20cm depth. It yielded no finds.

Todays diggers - Jemma, Ed, Mike, Charlene, Richard, Mark, Christina, James, Callum, Rosie, Debbie and Jan

Day 7 - careful what you wish for!

Rain, rain go away come again another day.

It started well, but as the weather deteriorated we changed plan and took a "moral boosting trip" to a nearby site to see a more complete farmstead that was probably abandoned in the 19th century.

The morning saw the greatest number of diggers in one day so far and also the first significant rain. We needed it, but it did not take long for the trenches to turn claggy. The main question now is where are the ends of the building and what is its function. The finds are mainly parts of the structure rather than the diverse collection of cultural material (the so nicknamed pot factory explosion) that was coming up thick and fast at the start of the dig.

Having extended the research by visiting a farmstead called Gwern Y Coed (PRN114470), we then spent the remainder of the afternoon viewing the interior of another well known local building of some antiquity, to discuss all we had observed.

Digging crew - Jemma, Mike, Charlene, Ed, Richard, Jan, Debbie, Mark, Christina, James and Callum

Day 6 - I can see clearly now, the rain has come.

Well almost. Its soooo dusty, but at times today the ground was wet.

Trench 4 got bigger and the wall revealed on Friday really is a wall, and it lines up with the robbed wall in trench 3. There is an area of flagstone floor, a cobbled area outside the door way (rather bigger cobbles than the surface found next to the wall in trench 3) and one of the large stones at the base of the doorway has a large square hole for setting a pintel in (an old fashioned pivot type door hinge). There is less pot coming out, but loads of lime mortar and dressed building stone. Two large iron bolts or nails, about 0.26m long, with massive flat square heads were found fused together just above the floor level. If you have any idea of their function please send it via the comments box.

The spoil heap is taking on huge proportions, now needing a ramp to get to the pinnacle.

International colour was supply today by Charlene Hutcheson, who has joined us all the way from the USA.

Digging crew today - Jemma, Mike, Ed, Jay, Jan, Charlene & Debbie

Day 5 - Can you see what it is yet?

Yes - its looking so much like a long house. Then again...But also....

NO really, its beginning to look very much like a long house. That is a house with a barn or cow byre down slope, but joined on, with a fireplace either central or at the uphill end of the building. The building is oriented so that its longest length is from high to low on the hill, so it is probably early in date. Later houses tend to be built along the contour of the slope.

Trench 4 arrived today courtesy of Ed who lovingly cut turf from part of what will be another big trench (aided and abetted by Margaret). We hope to find the top end of the building here. In the event several huge stones emerged that are all in a line - wall I hear you say! There were also some curious finds, which may be sulphur which has been heated up on a fire and is now in an allotropic form referred to as "plastic" sulphur.

Our old friend trench 3 has had more than a few clean ups, but the dry and windy conditions make an immaculate finish rather hard to achieve. There is still medieval pot coming up and very white painted river pebbles (an early attempt to help people avoid them in the dark?). The cobbled surface is really beautiful, but the walls are missing. This is our first "robber tench" where stone has been removed and the evidence remaining is clear in the soil deposits as a grey coloured soil where all the rest is red. Adrian, Sam & Sue valiantly cleared the rubble from the collapsed walls and we hope to find the floor soon, although is may be some way down yet. A number of broken stone roof tiles were part of this rubble. If there is a whole roof here it will take ages to get under it.

Richard and Jay cleared the yard surface to the west of the building (this could still be inside if we have interpreted the masonry incorrectly) and the finds are lots of coal and cinder on a fine red clay soil. We have not yet reached anything resembling a surface here.

Today we have had a number of visitors to the site who are curious to see whats coming up. We welcome everybody who wants to see whats happening and we are happy to stop work and talk about it. If you are passing come on in.

Many thanks to everybody who has dug this week. Its a great start. The weather has been kind. Hopefully that will continue for the next two weeks.

If you would like to get involved call at the site or meet in the car park opposite the village hall at 9.30 any week day morning. We could really do with some pot washers as the finds are mounting up and its takes ages to sort them out.

Todays digging crew - Jemma, Jan, Ed, Adrian, Sam, Jay, Richard, Sue, Margaret, Debbie.

Day 4 - now you don't see it, and now you see it!

At the start of the day we welcomed four new people who had not dug before. They settled very quickly and got to work on trench 3. Jemma was anxious that the features were not resolving themselves quite as she would have expected and was in danger of getting dispondant. With just quarter of an hour to go a cobbled surface appeared from the east end of the trench and a significant drain which is probably the limit if the track from Claisfer Lane into the farm yard. The building appears to be around 8-9m wide which is probably about right for a barn or longhouse oriented down the slope. Pottery, lime mortar and metal work, including a very fine nail complete with stone roof tile were found.

It is a little disappointing to note that there has been some metal detecting activity in the field since we have started to dig. We would like to think that local detectorists would aid us with our work and be happy to come along and help during the day. That way we all benefit from what is a very worthwhile activity. It is safe to say that it is unlikely that anything of any value would be found here, but removal of metal objects, even if they prove to be nails, coinage or iron fittings are far more useful to an archaeologist when found in situ than they are to treasure hunter. It is also worth pointing out that detecting without the land owners permission is unlawful and anybody proved to be doing this could be subject to a substantial fine. At the very least it is a trespassing offence.

Digging crew today - Jemma, Ed, Adrian, Sam, Julie, Jay, Jan, Margaret, Debbie.

Day 3 - If in doubt "go large"

Trench three is coming along well, although the "wall" is not very wall like yet. The western end is dark and brimful of pot. Nice pipe bowl found today probably dates to 1840-70, just what we hoped. In an attempt find out which side of the building the wall shows (i.e. which side is the inside and which side is the outside) the trench was extended. Nasty stone rubble finally ran out and red soil became grey. As we are not out of the plough soil yet we are hopeful that we will get to the bottom of it tomorrow - in every sense of the word.

Digging crew today - Jemma, Ed, Sue, Jan, Debbie & Rosie

Day 2 - now we are getting down to business

Late post - due to history society walk and two hungry ladies who needed to go to Crickhowell for Chinese food!

Jemma arrived early and sanitized the trench after midnight cow marauders. Trench 3 was extended. There are lots of ceramics as well as metal, glass and cinders. Most of the pot is late C18 and C19, but there is an occassional bit which could be medieval. A hint of things to come perhaps.

Digging crew today - Jemma, Mike, Ed, Debbie, Jan & Margaret.