Day 6: Birds and Buttresses

Following the successes of last week, we were hoping for more of the same. Today was a no less exciting day in terms of progress. Read on to find out more about how we got on today...

At the end of last week, I mentioned that we had uncovered the remains of a hearth feature in Trench 2A. With more cleaning, this feature is beginning to take shape and look more convincing. This discovery is a good indication that this room was quite possibly a kitchen, adding weight to the theory that we might have discovered the kitchens that would have serviced the 12th century hall. One brand new discovery made today further supports this this idea. An in-situ buttress was discovered at the north-western corner of Trench 2A. From the chamfer marks and shape it has been dated to the 12th/13th century and might represent the corner of the original exterior wall of the 12th century great hall. A wall extends from this. Altogether, these features are beginning to reveal the shape and nature of the original rooms which would have serviced the earliest hall. Through the discovery of these spaces and hearths we are hoping to recover environmental remains which might provide important insights into the lifestyles and diets of the medieval bishops.

In Trench 1, we made some very exciting finds today. Three finds stand out in particular. The first of these was a pyramidal medieval lead weight discovered by our resident metal detectorist. Later in the day, an enamel brooch, possibly depicting a kneeling woman, was also recovered. The stand out find came at the end of the day however, and was found from the square-shaped room beneath a fallen roof tile. This fragment from a glass window depicts a bird pecking its own breast. Presently, we are exploring the option that this bird might link to Bishop Fox who often used this bird iconographically. Period wise, this glass has been dated to the 15th/early 16th and is therefore consistent with Fox's episcopate.

Tomorrow we look forward to whatever new finds come our way. To check up with our progress throughout the day, be sure to follow us on social media!