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This section contains the latest news from the Field Unit, as and when it occurs. New sections are added as and when to show the progress the Field Unit are making during the year. * Original Information * added 3rd July 2010 Rocky Clump 2010 (May Report) The new season of excavations at Rocky Clump began in March. The days currently being worked are Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10-00am till 5-00pm. The season has focused on the 'bones trench' where a flint cobbled surface was uncovered last season. The flint floor was literally covered in butchered animal bone, and other artefacts that included brooches, Roman glass and a finger ring. The area is being cleaned and it has been observed that during the winter months a circular section of the floor has 'sunk' a few centimetres. It is possible that the feature is a Roman well and it is planned to cut a section through to seek evidence to confirm this. In the east trench the area has been expanded and has revealed a large collection of sarsen stones, which appear to cover a pit of some description. Finds from this area have so far included quantities of bone and oyster shell, and a number of pieces of Roman samian ware. A new trench is currently being opened inside the copse of trees. The new area measuring 8 metres by 4 metres is to seek out other graves not found in the early excavations. Any new graves will hopefully provide grave goods to effectively date the known cemetery. The cemetery was believed to be Saxon by the previous excavators, but this is based on topographical evidence only, with no actual supportive archaeological evidence. A new area is about to be surveyed using a RM15 resistivity machine. A new trench in this south field will seek evidence for the settlement associated with the other rural and possible religious features already uncovered. The excavations will continue until early July. The new season of excavations began in March and the main focus of investigation was on the flint cobbled floor and possible well. The excavations removed more fill and revealed a continuation of the flint surface. The trench was extended 4 metres to the east where the floor finally terminated. However, it does continue, under the baulk and below the spoil heap going southwards. The well was excavated down to flint level and then planned and recorded. The removal of part of the cobbled floor beneath a section that had noticeably sunk over the winter period showed that the feature was not a well, as it came down onto a natural layer of orange/yellow clay. The large sarsen stone lies at the westward end of this feature. Finds from these lower depths, above the geology, have included Roman pottery and copious amounts of butchered animal bone. Among the bone finds were large cattle leg bones and a cow pelvis. The final recording and drawing will be concluded before the bones trench is closed down. One particularly annoying feature was a solitary double post hole found beneath the cobbled surface. New trenches have been opened up within the trees at Rocky Clump seeking a previously untouched burial, which would be extremely useful in producing carbon dating for the remains. At present none has yet been revealed, but one area is located close to the previously excavated cemetery and has some potential. Work is continuing in this location. The east trench has now been completed and has been prolific with its finds which have included several pieces of samian, which may be one vessel, and large amounts of oyster shell, and these are still eroding from the trench side. A small extension to this trench is planned before we move off to the excavations at Varley Halls. A geophysical survey of the field to the north of the bones trench produced a number of interesting anomalies. A number of small test trenches have been cut to examine the features and already one expanded trench has revealed a new large Roman ditch running northwards, and cut into this ditch a flint packed post hole. Clearly the archaeology does continue in that direction. The current excavations at Rocky Clump in the north field will gradually wind down as we begin the excavations at Varley Halls and Peacehaven. BHAS do intend to return to Rocky Clump in October when the excavations will begin in the south field. The new dig will seek evidence for the settlement associated with the farming activities found in the north field.
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