Digging up Saxons

We stopped

2009-06-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

The dig has closed

Too cold to dig

2007-02-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

Not even going to try any digging in this weather.

New Volunteer

2007-01-11T04:30:00.000-08:00

Heard from a potential new volunteer yesterday which is great as we need more diggers.

If you would like to join us call 01753 854595

Quiet Summer

2006-08-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

This year there has been only one Sunday of digging so far due to back injuries and family comittments. We need more diggers. call us 01753854595

One hour's archaeological excavation produced

2006-02-12T01:19:00.000-08:00

Last time I was at the site, one hour's archaeological excavation produced:
2 potboiler stones
thumbnail sizes flake of flint
9 fragments of ceramics from 9 different ources. Mostly shell or grit tempered stuff. One thumbnail sized piece seems to have a light slip on one side and a dark residue (slip or burning) on the other.

Come and dig near Windsor in Berkshire

2006-02-12T01:12:00.000-08:00

We could do with a digger or two to help on sundays in wraysbury during 2006. If you already have a little experience then please consider joining us opening a new trench which will reveal anglo-saxon treasures beyond your wildest imagininings (or some bits of broken pottery). email me for more info please.

Windsor and Wraysbury Archaeological Group

2006-01-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

Windsor and Wraysbury Archaeological Group was founded in 1974

Thames valley Archaelogy

2006-01-19T22:40:00.000-08:00

Crossrail produced a report on the impact of the crossrail scheme which includes a good deal of archaeological background on the thames valley around our site in Wraysbury.

What was it?

2005-07-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

After painstakingly removing a 1 metre square mass of broken pottery and non-specific material that we were clueless about, one of our number proudly annonces that he still doesn't have a clue what it was. Time may tell, but personally I still think it was a midden that we excavated around leaving the contents as a vertical column of shite.

No time to dig

2005-06-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

The present is encroaching on the past. A trip to Croatia and a Glastonbury ticket mean I won't get to spend time on the dig for ages. The problem is that we only dig every other week because there are so few of us and Victor (our grown up) lives far away.

Shell tempered ware

2005-05-24T05:25:00.001-07:00

Two of the fragments I dug up last week were shell tempered ware. The potter had crushed shells into the clay which produces a stronger pot after firing. This temper provides archaeologists with a great way of differentiating between pottery styles.

In acidic soils lime tempers are washed out of the clay leaving honeycomb holes. However, from the Wraysbury site, the potsherds are coming up with the white flecks of shell still in situ.

Nothing but bone

2005-05-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

Two hours produced nothing but 2 bits of bird bone. Very dull.

However the following week I recovered some pottery sherds. I will wash and photograph them and upload them later in the week.

A bit of background

2005-05-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

Old Windsor was home to Saxon kings of England, and I have joined a dig close to Runnymede Island which has been excavated by the Windsor and Wraysbury Archaeological Group for many years now.

Where are the Saxons?

2005-05-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

My particular Saxons are buried near Windsor, Berkshire