Today marked the half way stage of the dig, and a very busy one too. Pupils from Middleton and Peasenhall primary schools came for the morning, and took part in the now normal range of activities helped by both volunteers and professionals, whilst the rest of the crew carried on with the main dig. We had 26 volunteers on site. Radio Suffolk came to interview key people, and Natasha also took the chance to question some of the children about their experiences.
Later on we were delighted to welcome back Aline & David Black, members of Colchester Archaeology Group, who had made the original magnetometer survey of Barbers Point in 2005 which first identified the ditch enclosure pattern - and so lead directly to the various digs. They were fascinated to see how the story of the site has moved on with each successive excavation - often their 'geophys' surveys simply rest on file, adding to public knowledge, but not opened up for detailed examination. Then in the afternoon Mary Wyllie, a local retired dentist, came to the site to give us an informal appraisal of the teeth now visible in several of the skeletons being excavated. The apparent ages of the bodies startled some - the largest 'Georgie' (gender has gone back to uncertain) may only have been 17 to 21 years old at death; the child buried with the metal disk about 7 to 8; and the one found nearest (so far) to 'Georgie' perhaps just over 12. A tooth found in the fourth grave was similarly young, maybe about 10 at death, but with no associated skull yet found we cannot assume anything about that skeleton.
All across the site major excavation continued on the trench features, and in some new areas where the professionals judged there was evidence of 'something going on'. Another fragment of the yellow glass has appeared, plus an array of nails and iron objects, and the spoil heaps are becoming impressive; the second half looks likely to be just as interesting as the first.
Later on we were delighted to welcome back Aline & David Black, members of Colchester Archaeology Group, who had made the original magnetometer survey of Barbers Point in 2005 which first identified the ditch enclosure pattern - and so lead directly to the various digs. They were fascinated to see how the story of the site has moved on with each successive excavation - often their 'geophys' surveys simply rest on file, adding to public knowledge, but not opened up for detailed examination. Then in the afternoon Mary Wyllie, a local retired dentist, came to the site to give us an informal appraisal of the teeth now visible in several of the skeletons being excavated. The apparent ages of the bodies startled some - the largest 'Georgie' (gender has gone back to uncertain) may only have been 17 to 21 years old at death; the child buried with the metal disk about 7 to 8; and the one found nearest (so far) to 'Georgie' perhaps just over 12. A tooth found in the fourth grave was similarly young, maybe about 10 at death, but with no associated skull yet found we cannot assume anything about that skeleton.
All across the site major excavation continued on the trench features, and in some new areas where the professionals judged there was evidence of 'something going on'. Another fragment of the yellow glass has appeared, plus an array of nails and iron objects, and the spoil heaps are becoming impressive; the second half looks likely to be just as interesting as the first.
Our two stars today are Anna West (seen here showing an appreciative Simon how to fill a bucket) and John Bradley. Anna has worked for Suffolk Archaeology for 9 years, and was a volunteer on the Barbers Point 2006 dig. She did her degree dissertation on this site, and of course was a key part of the team in 2010. However, her best 'find' so far was in a pit in Ipswich - a late Saxon ice skate, made out of an animal bone shaped as the runner, with 4 holes drilled in it for tying to a shoe.
John Bradley lives in Aldeburgh and is on his 1st dig. He missed the 2010 event with a bad back, and is delighted to have had this second chance. He's a retired solicitor, having worked in places like Gray's Inn, and his red 2CV is the most distinctive vehicle on site. John is enjoying every bit of this novel experience, but has been particularly pleased with the reaction of the school children, whose thirst for knowledge shows in their 'lit up' faces