Today I spent some time on the dig site with Godolphin’s artist in residence Nicola Tilley. Nicola has been recording life on the archaeological site daily. She is capturing the orchard as a moment in time, and recording the site as it is before the trenches are filled in, and the landscape changes again.
Below are some of Nicola’s sketches from the site…
Josiah by Nicola Tilley
Alex and Pam by Nicola Tilley
In trench D the pottery kiln is still being revealed, and many bricks and other kiln furniture have been discovered today. We are still thrilled to have uncovered so much in this trench, despite it being the newest artefact the archaeologist James has ever excavated!
Kiln furniture close to the chimney stack.
Bricks and kiln furniture.
Progress has also been made today on the Cider House ramp in trench F, although the ground around the ramp is full of roots, making excavation difficult. We hope to leave the ramp exposed, as when work begins on the Cider House conservation project, it will be useful to understand the original ground level, and the way the landscape has developed around the building.
Progress is made revealing the ramp.
Today the medieval Breage to Trescowe road has been uncovered in trench E. This is excellent news, as we understood the road would have covered this part of the orchard, however this is the first piece of evidence we have found on site to support it. Tracie is very pleased with this discovery…!
The medieval Breage to Trescowe road.
Other interesting finds on site today include a bucket handle, possibly from a bucket that would have held the cider apples, and a very impressive quartz crystal. Fingers crossed for lots more finds and some dry weather tomorrow!
The bucket handle.
Sandra with the lovely quartz crystal.
Reblogged this on Lily Does Archaeology and commented:
I absolutely love the artist’s watercolours; and the archaeology at Godolphin!