Day 13 – 9 October. A reduced workforce finishes recording features in Trench 2 and more finds are made in Trenches 5 and 6.
Day 14 – 10 October. Trench 5 reveals a section of pebbled floor with iron slag debris fused to it, which Derek Hurst thinks may indicate part of a Roman smithy. Trench 6 continues to produce pottery, including several segments of a small Severn Valley ware pot. Cleaning of finds from Trench 2 continues.
Day 15 – 12 October. Rain washes out any activity on the 11th, so work continues the following day after bailing out waterlogged pits. Large quantities of iron clinker emerge from both trenches, reinforcing the view that this was an industrial site in Roman times. WI teas make a welcome break.
Day 16 – 15 October. The last day of the Hanley community dig was a mix of sunshine and showers brought to a fitting conclusion by a spectacular rainbow over the site. Over the course of the dig, around 60 volunteers worked hard, often in very muddy conditions, learnt much about the job of being an archaeologist, found hundreds of pieces of Roman pottery and iron-working slag, unearthed ancient tracks, ditches, gullies and the floor of a possible smithy workshop, and helped cast light on the activities of the Romano-British people living 1800-2000 years ago near a crossing of the River Severn at what is now Quay Lane in Hanley Castle. The archaeologists will spend the next few months analysing the bags of finds, soil samples and records in order to produce a report on what they think the dig has revealed about the site. Watch this space.
For news of Week 1 click here.
For news of Week 2 click here.
Click on any of the above pictures to view a larger version or watch on the slideshow below.