Day 8: Mike and his marvellous machines

The star of today’s blog is Mike, who takes care of the majority of hi-tech equipment we use on site. Having finished his Masters last year, Mike has worked in commercial archaeology during the last 12 months and is planning to start a PhD in the future. He is always on hand to aid and assist with the plethora of devices we use on site to investigate, record and analyse the features and finds we uncover. These include:

Resistivity Survey

Resistivity Meter

This year we will complete a geophysical survey of the entire monastic precinct, the first time this has been achieved. In addition to being extremely good exercise, walking up and down a field all day with a moderately heavy machine helps inform our interpretation of the site and is also essential in making sure our trenches are located in the best possible locations. 

iPads (other tablets are available)

The excavation aims to be as paperless as possible, and as a result most of our recording, including writing context sheets, is completed on iPads. Although they may take some getting used to, the use of iPads enable records to be backed up easily, changes to be made quickly and the onset of rain does not result in context sheets being transformed into papier mâché.

Total Station and GPS

Every find uncovered during the course of the excavation is plotted in three dimensions using a Total Station or GPS. This will enable future researchers to investigate particular scatters of material and interrogate depositional practices in a particular area. They are also essential tools when drawing features, as they mean are plans and sections can be located precisely on the ground rather than floating around in unlocated space.

 

Recording finds using Total Station (right) and GPS (left)

Quadcopter

This is our newest piece of kit, and definitely the coolest. By attaching a camera to our radio-controlled drone we are able to get aerial photographs of our trench which would otherwise be impossible. We are currently also working on ways of manipulating the resultant material to analyse the interpret the remains and, judging by the youthful smile of our directors when they operate it, it is also quite fun to fly!

View of Trenches N and P, courtesy of the quadcopter

Work has progressed well today, with a number of interesting finds including a lead mount in the form of a flower. However, for further details you will have to read tomorrow’s blog! 

Day 7: Some things are not what they may first appear...

In archaeology, you have some days when the Fates appear to smile on you. Contexts are clearly defined, pot sherds await your every trowel stroke and every hypothesis you make about the remains before you is promptly proven. Then there are the other days, in which trenches lie frustratingly empty, finds are few and far between and your theories are consistently confined to the spoil heap. This has been one of those days. 

Trench N

Cleaning in Trench N to reveal more rubble

Trench N does not appear to have an undercroft. Two sections excavated over the large depressions at the western end of the trench have revealed yet more rubble. However, this is identical to the surrounding rubble and is also fairly compact, which is not what you might expect of a rubble-filled, void-riddled undercroft. As a result, we are currently revising our theories about the building within this trench, although in reality only further excavation will answer our questions fully. 

The Trench P floor

Trench P

The rubble in Trench P has been planned and is starting to be removed from the trench. This has revealed a broken tile floor in the southeastern part of the trench, but in the southwest has raised more questions than it answers. Walls which formerly appeared to be clearly defined appear to be more rubble than structural, and in places seem to disappear altogether. Although perplexing, now planning has been completed we should be able to resolve our difficulties quite quickly as the removal of building debris will hopefully reveal the structures beneath.

Trench R

Trench R is beautifully clean and utterly, utterly empty. Removal of the linear rubble revealed an equally linear robber cut which had presumably been excavated to purloin the stone and bricks from the building that once stood on the site. This was achieved so successfully that the few stones which were visible a few days ago were the only structural material remaining. However, in the eastern return of the robber cut were large fragments of medieval pottery, including the base of at least two Humberware jugs and a cistern complete with spigot hole. Despite this, the rest of the archaeology in the trench is apparently absent, with a single orange layer now visible across its entirety. Having planned this, we will now begin to remove the layer in spits to check that there is nothing of archaeological interest underneath.

Uncovering the wall in Trench S

Trench S

Trench S has received (yet another!) extension in order to reveal more of the wall running north-south within it; however, in contrast to initial impressions, it is composed of chalk rather than limestone and is thus similar to the first wall we found. Removal of the rubble in the western part of the trench has also revealed the foundation course of the wall running east-west, which demonstrates that, following its disuse, the building has been robbed thoroughly. As a result, there is little remaining of the original building and, therefore, it may be impossible to ascertain its former use.

It's nice, but is it a drain?

Trench T

To our great disappointment, Trench T may not contain a drain. Removal of a soil layer to the north of the collapsed structure revealed more soil, not the collapsed drain vaulting we hoped we might have. Despite this, there is still a vaulted structure within the trench, as evidenced by the collapsed masonry which is mortared together and has an arched appearance. It has been suggested that it may be a bridge, although its location makes this moderately unlikely. However, tomorrow we will start to investigate the rubble around the feature to try and understand this feature further and we should hopefully have some more answers soon.

At first glance, today’s post may appear to be slightly downbeat, but there is still cause for optimism. All our trenches have interesting archaeology in them, even if doubt has been cast on our hypotheses about them. As straightforward trenches can be quite boring, in many ways we should probably be celebrating their mysterious complexity! In any case, we still have plenty of time to fully understand the remains we have been presented with and it shouldn’t be too long before we come up with some more theories about the origins of the structures we are currently uncovering.

A beautifully clean and empty Trench R

Day 6: The View from the Trenches

Today marks the end of the final week, and a chance for everyone to gather their thoughts and gird their loins for the challenge of the weeks ahead. Therefore, it is a perfect opportunity to hand the blog over to some of our excavators for them to comment on their Thornton Abbey experience.

The Thornton Abbey Week 1 Team. Thanks for all your hard work, dedication and deturfing skills!

Fin Chesterman, Surrey

This has been my first ever archaeological dig and it’s been fascinating. I was excited to becoming on the trip and it has not been a disappointment. It has been an eye opening experience into the world of archaeology, provided by a welcoming and friendly community from the University of Sheffield and many others. My sincerest thanks goes out to all involved in making this trip happen as I leave at the end of the week.

Victoria Yuskaitis, Sparta, NJ (USA)

Digging in fabulous, sunny weather is unbeatable! After surviving the wet dreariness of yesterday, the warmth, fluffy clouds, and blue sky were especially beautiful. In all seriousness, archaeology is hard work; digging isn’t easy. But it is wonderfully invigorating to work outside all day long (I enjoy using a mattock in particular), then to be able to stand back and see all the progress you have made. I never fail to feel an immense pride and satisfaction when I can step back and see a job well done…Indeed, when I can see history literally becoming unearthed, and know that I am a part of that discovery.

Guy Trevellyan, Surrey

Recording Trench S

This trip has been an excellent opportunity to uncover the mystery that is archaeology. I have gone from the joy that is de-turfing to uncovering hidden Saxon walls to being moved to the main trench to uncover even more miracles. I thoroughly enjoyed the camping experience of having my tent flooded 3 times which was eventful but none the less made the trip feel more adventurous. I loved meeting new people who came from Sheffield University and some from the US and Canada, it was very enjoyable especially some of the very funny conversations but overall the experience of actually digging and finding various mysteries and camp life really made this trip special  and one that I will remember for ever.

Jonathan Rose, Highland, ILL (USA)

So far I am really enjoying myself here in merry old England. The food is great, the people are really friendly, and the history is amazing. I still can’t believe I’m really here digging on an actual medieval dig site (I must be dreaming). But it hasn’t been all sun shine and rainbows, as a matter of fact the weather can be quite problematic. However this does not slow the crew down, we persevere and finish the job the following day. I feel really privileged to be here and I can’t wait to see what the next weeks have in store for me.

Cleaning Trench P

Ryan Milton, Kinburn, Ontario (CAN)

The dig thus far has been a blast. Apart from the occasional rain, the atmosphere on-site and in camp has been great. The professor and the supervisors are available to answer questions, no matter how small, any time and will take the time to ensure that you understand. With such a deep history here at Thornton Abbey, and in the whole of Britain, this dig allows you to see history in first-person, uncovering the past one trowel scrape at a time. Good times in good company.

Tim Ayling, Surrey

The excavation at Thornton Abbey has been an interesting experience, cementing my interest in the past and the “mistakes” made by a man who saw himself as the “renaissance king”. It has been my first experience in theoretical and practical archaeology and I have come away with damp clothes and mud in rather strange places. However, I have really enjoyed this week, meeting new people, especially those who have travelled across the “pond” to trowel through “fire, wind and tempest”. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this wonderful experience!

The trench talks, in which supervisors discuss their trenches, draw each week to a close.