Final week at Brignall

Fieldwork has now finished at Brignall.

The trenches have been backfilled and the field handed back over to the sheep.

The extra final week proved essential for completing work in the trenches, allowing us to properly explore a number of unanswered questions. It also enabled us to collect further artefactual evidence which should hopefully help with the dating of the various elements of the site.

Before backfilling, a final excavation plan was drawn of each of the trenches, as well as sample sections, creating both a vertical and horizontal record of the site to help identify the sequence of deposition at Brignall. We also had the opportunity to do a little bit more geophysical survey in one of the garths adjoining the site. This may help determine if there are tofts preserved on the north side of the hollow way, as well as provide a further opportunity for our volunteers to get to grips with using the resistivity equipment.

Now the fieldwork has finished, work will begin in earnest on the post excavation processing. First all the records taken on site will be checked and indexed and a brief summary report written. Meanwhile, all of the finds will be washed, dried and, where appropriate, labelled. These will then be sent away, along with the summary report, to our various finds specialists who will analyse the Brignall pottery, bone, ceramic materials and iron. The specialists will aim to date the pottery from the site, possibly providing a date for the foundation and abandonment of the village. We should also be able to secure a broad date for the prehistoric pottery found in trench 1.

 

We will aim to keep you up to date with progress on the post excavation work. Keep checking the blog and the Facebook site for further information, including any opportunities for you to get involved in post-ex.