This time last week we interviewed three overseas students
on their time at Thornton. Now we get to know three current students at the
University of Sheffield who love being here so much they keep coming back for
more!
Name: Greer
Dewdney
Hometown: London
Why have you
returned to Thornton? Because it’s a very good place to get good
digging experience in a low stress environment. The fact that it’s a teaching
dig means that you can come back and learn even more, even if you’ve been here
once.
What do you like
best about digging here? The atmosphere. Everybody is really friendly
and pulls their weight, so you get a real sense of progression. If you come for
the whole month, you also get a chance to see the whole dig from start to
finish.
What do you like
least? Camping. I love the digging, I’m just not overly keen on living
in a field; coming from London I’m used to large buildings, not big open
spaces!
Which is your favourite
trench, and why? Trench N because I like church architecture and to
have found the eastern end is extremely exciting because that’s where the best
bits are.
Name: Rob
Usher
Hometown: Knaresborough,
North Yorks
Why have you
returned to Thornton? I enjoyed it a lot last year, I’m looking to
expand my practical field skills, particularly focussing on survey.
What do you like
best about digging here? People I’m digging with as everyone is very
friendly and helpful. Finding things is also quite fun too!
What do you like
least? The bugs, particularly thunderbugs which have a tendency to
stick to your suncream.
Which is your
favourite trench, and why? Trench S because it’s really interesting to
see how it has developed and how everyone’s theories have changed as the
excavation has progressed.
Name: Emma
Hook
Hometown:
Buckinghamshire
Why have you
returned to Thornton? You learn stuff here that you don’t in lectures.
And it’s fun!
What do you like
best about digging here? The variety of things; you have a lot of
different trenches looking at different things, such as a church, hospital and
stables.
What do you like
least? Shovelling, particularly after today! [we’re currently taking
spits of sand from Trench R, which is a lot of hard work!]
Which is your
favourite trench, and why? Trench R because I’ve been in it quite a lot
and it’s really interesting to see it progress.
The trenches are continuing to
progress, although there is still plenty to do. Find of the Day goes to Trench
R, for this silver penny dating to the reign of Henry III (1216-1272). It has
been minted in York and appears to have be unclipped, suggesting it was lost
very early in its life (if a coin is in circulation for a long time its edges
get clipped by individuals who want to use the silver for their own purposes).
As it came from the layer on which the building was built, it indicates the building
was erected no earlier than the mid-13th century. Hopefully tomorrow
will reveal even more exciting finds!