Day Two – Coins and toothbrushes

Day two dawned bright and sunny, the turf and top soil had been removed and there was a  new trench to open. We were ready for the romans and to go further back in time as the day progressed. Our volunteers were happy and all boded well for some good finds.

Liz one of our happy volunteers – we could not achieve some much without them thank you one and all

In the north bath house trench Rob cleaned the modern gravel from the area we left unexcavated last year to reveal the roman floor from the last phase of the baths. The line from the old trenches are clear to see as they are filled with yellowish brown soil and the unexcavated roman floor is reddish-brown

Rob in the middle cleaning the top of the original roman surface

Trench four was opened with Alex and Lois doing the hard job of digging through many roots to get under the turf.

Alex and Lois next to the Nympharium – water shrine

With all four trenches open we now had some trays of finds for washing, which provided an opportunity for visitors to help us with our finds work.

Three very good pot washes from left to right Verity, Lorel, and Elsie

Pictured above another great tile and pot washer was Stefan who hopefully will be back to do more

Oh! I nearly forgot the coins. We have found many coins already it started with some 1 and 2 pence pieces from the 1980s and then we had a sixpence from 1951 followed in another trench by a  three pence coin from 1945 and finally ending with a 1911 penny! So we are definitely heading the right way!

Modern coins from the top soil, not in very good condition to say they had not been buried long!

The sixpence

The three pence piece and the 1911 Penny

As there is rain in the forecast, the third day will be a busy one trying to get as much done as we can and with hope that the rain will always  come in the night to soften the ground, and the sun will  smile on us in the day time.