CAER: Chester Amphitheatre Environs Research Project

Jack E is finding a bit of rain makes things easier in trench 8… Rain has finally graced us with its presence. After many days of harsh sunlight, excavation can now continue at a somewhat normal pace. With the soil now removable at a faster pace Team A has finally begun to enter the next context. Showing brick, bone and clay, things are looking promising in the trench. Morale is good because of the progress being made, so throughout the trench things are at an all-time high. It's Friday - ending the week on a high! The archaeology in trench 8 looking super clear as Dan gives his end of week round-up. Kayleigh reports from trench 4… Today started off gloomy with light rain but this was followed by a sunny afternoon, so waterproofs and sunscreen were both needed! Me, Connor and Abby started to excavate in between the ditch and the Roman Road to reveal yet more of the road. Whilst Holly M, Kimberley and Jess worked hard by cleaning a huge section of the trench revealin...

The first day of the week, and it has been a great start. The sun has been keeping us company the whole day and not a cloud to be seen. Up until now most of the work in trench VIII has been about mattocking, shovelling, and getting the dirt out, then cleaning the surface before repeating the process over and over again. Today, however, seemed like the proper start of the excavation itself. Planning frames were put out and areas of interest drawn and recorded and we have so far started to excavate two potential postholes. Today was also our turn to clean finds, and I would like to ask: How can it be that so many stones find their way into the finds tray? Almost half of mine were filled with slate and sandstone! Nevertheless, it was fine sitting in the shade of the gazebo, which arrived at the site today. And the tray also contained a wide array of pottery, bones and metal. So, all in all, a good tray and a good start to the new week.    Maiken