©National Museums Liverpool
My four days on site had started with good weather and very hard work. The physical demands of opening two sizeable trenches, without a mechanical digger, should not be under estimated. However, the job was soon completed and even us less youthful diggers survived the experience! The great thing about this dig was the quantity and variety of the finds. Even the top soil produced trays of pottery sherds, many with decoration and some almost complete. A highlight of my second day was Liam’s discovery of a decorated chafing dish, in pretty good condition. Since I was working next to him when he found it, I think it only right that it should be described as ‘our’ find!
Although the finds were interesting in themselves, the most exciting aspect of the dig was the mounting evidence that we had to be close to the kiln itself. Not only was there large quantities of discarded pottery, but also we found an area of baked kiln bricks and a layer of compacted clay which extended about six metres. Although this clay layer was damaged in parts, probably by ploughing, Rob thought it may be the floor of a workshop or building, with a kiln at one end. So, gradually, layer by layer, we uncovered more of the clay, and found more evidence to support this theory, including bits of coal/charcoal and the first of the ‘plinth’ stones – which I found near the kiln bricks.
This was a terrific dig and I really enjoyed sharing it with a great bunch of friendly and amusing archaeologists.
Ed
Although the finds were interesting in themselves, the most exciting aspect of the dig was the mounting evidence that we had to be close to the kiln itself. Not only was there large quantities of discarded pottery, but also we found an area of baked kiln bricks and a layer of compacted clay which extended about six metres. Although this clay layer was damaged in parts, probably by ploughing, Rob thought it may be the floor of a workshop or building, with a kiln at one end. So, gradually, layer by layer, we uncovered more of the clay, and found more evidence to support this theory, including bits of coal/charcoal and the first of the ‘plinth’ stones – which I found near the kiln bricks.
This was a terrific dig and I really enjoyed sharing it with a great bunch of friendly and amusing archaeologists.
Ed