Pre-dig: Prepping the site for the student arrival and making discoveries...

The digger has been in, the topsoil and turf has been stripped away and the preparations for students arriving on-site on Monday are in full swing! Read on to find out more about what we have found so far...

In Trench 1 (the first to be opened up) we can already make out the remains of some substantial in-situ walls and ditches. So far, the clearest feature seems to be a wall running east-west along the southern extent of the trench. So far, we can make out (at least) two small rooms attached to this. Running parallel to this appears to be a large ditch.

At this point in time it is too early to try and date or characterise these features. However, their discovery just beneath the topsoil is a fantastic indication of the potential wealth of finds we might uncover as we dig further. Not only do these initial discoveries fill us with hope and excitement for the coming weeks, but they help us hone in on areas to target.

Overall, these are some really exciting first steps. Remember to keep checking back to follow our progress as we excavate further, and for instant updates remember to keep checking our social media feeds! Links are at the bottom of this page.

Newly uncovered wall features.

Close up photograph of the wall