We are still processing the finds from our excavation at Solly Farm. Two of our volunteers Kathy Collins and Emma Batten have written blog posts about their experiences with this excavation and the finds processing. Their posts are below:
Post-Medieval Farmstead – Katy Collins
Surveying.
Following on from the training undertaken at St. Georges Church in Ivychurch members of the Fifth Continent Project met on site in East Guilford to put the knowledge gained to practical use.
The site had been identified from the 17thCentury Tithe Map and early Ordinance Survey Mapping as the possible site of a Post-Medieval Farmstead and it was decided that a non-invasive survey would confirm the map information. To allow a more expansive survey it was decided that both magnetometry and resistivity surveys would be undertaken.
Grids were put in place measuring twenty metres square and the magnetometer calibrated before we started the survey and members of the project took turns in traversing the grids. After the magnetometry survey was completed we moved the resistivity survey.
The initial ‘on the day’ results looked promising and the information collected by both methods were analysed and circulated to the group. They confirmed that the original mapping did indeed contain evidence of a possible demolished building and it was decided that further investigations were needed and a date was set to undertake a small excavation of the site.
Excavation.
The following month, volunteers met once again on site on a bright morning to investigate further the evidence provided by the geophysical survey. It was decided that initially we would open a few test pits and then expand these should tangible evidence be found of the building. It was clear however after three or four test pits had been dug that linear features appeared to join up and it was decided that a more open investigative approach was necessary.
As there was sufficient volunteer turnout, several large trenches were opened up and the possible foundations of two or more walls materialised, along with a substantial amount of small finds. This clearly showed that the dimensions shown on the early maps were surprisingly accurate and the hunt was on for all four walls. A possible well which appeared on the Ordinance Survey maps was also excavated.
At the end of day one much had been achieved and we reconvened on day two to very different weather. Despite this excavation continued and the search was on for the still extant walls as these had not been found by the end of day one. In between rain showers the excavation continued and by the end of day two we had uncovered much of the structure of the building but two walls still evaded us. More small finds were also found and it was decided that we would be a little more selective as the find’s trays were becoming overburdened with roof slates and construction material
As the weather for day three was forecast to be substantial downpours the decision was made to delay the final day for a week or so to allow the weather to improve. We finally met to record the excavation and to backfill the site a couple of weeks later. Again, sufficient volunteers were available to allow the expansion of the trenches and it was decided that backfilling would not take place until the afternoon which allowed the optimum amount of time for the recording to be undertaken.
At the end of the project’s first excavation we had confirmed the existence of the farmstead and finds had given us an idea of the historical timeframe. Further investigation of the finds will doubtless give more information in due course.
Finds Processing – Emma Batten
In March, the Fifth Continent volunteers spent three days on a dig to discover the foundations of a farmhouse near the wind-farm on the Kent/Sussex border. As we unearthed old walls of brick and stone, various finds were collected and placed in bags which were labelled according to where they were found.
A few weeks later volunteers met at the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre in order to process the finds. We spent hours with our hands in bowls of water, using a toothbrush to brush earth off crockery, metal and shells; pieces of wire and small tools were handy to remove the dirt from the teeth of long-gone sheep, and nail brushes removed mud from bricks and tiles. It may sound like a miserable job but with good company and some interesting objects being revealed, everyone found the experience rewarding.
The next job was to take all the bags labelled with the same numbers (indicating where they had come from on the site) and to separate the finds according to type. Bone, iron, pottery etc. were then all weighed, each piece was counted. Anything which looked unusual or special was placed in its own bag for further inspection by the experts. For the volunteers this gave us a chance to exclaim over previously unseen finds and to learn from the others in the team.
It has been really enjoyable to be a part of the process so far. I wonder what we’ll be doing next…?
For more information about the project: Visit the Heritage, Geomorphology & Land Use project page.
