| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 |
On Monday 16th June 2008 the Bamburgh Research Projects summer season at Bamburgh castle got under way. Trenches 1 and 3 in the castles west ward are the only ones being worked at the moment. The Bowl Hole dig finished at the end of last season, for the time being at least. There are about 16 students on site at the moment.
I have been known to say that nothing much of interest happens in the first week; then had to eat my words! This year there have been a number of significant finds in both trenches 1 and 3.
The majority of finds still come from trench 3. The iron object show on the left is thought to be a key!
Small finds have been in short supply in trench 1 for a while so it’s nice to have a collection of related objects that are possibly decoration from horse harness. This group of finds comprises a number of small circular plates that are like 'studs' and a larger rectangular plate made of copper alloy. The small pieces at least had been gold leafed. They were found distributed in an arc suggestive of having been attached to the leather harness strap when abandoned or lost.
A number of 'stycas' have been found in trench 3 during the course of the week, a large number of these small copper coins have been found over the years, leading to the possibility that they were being produced at Bamburgh.
Rings of copper and iron have been found, in the case of the copper ring, is large enough to be a finger ring. Though rings were used in harness and clothing as well. A particularly personal item is a copper clothing hook.
A small piece of gold that was remarkably like one found 2 years ago caused a bit of a buzz! It's tiny just a few millimetres, but has been worked with an intricate pattern.
A group of 10 iron rings that could well turn out to be 'mail' came out of trench 3 and have been sent off for expert analysis.
Trench 1
The early part of the week concentrated on clearing back the cobbled area prior to recording and photographing it. The cobbled will then be lifted to expose the layers of archaeology underneath. The only small finds coming out of trench 1 during this period were iron nails.
Trench 3
Although not in the quantities of last week, trench 3 has produced some small finds. A rather rough and ready bone toggle that lacks any decoration, that would be found as a closure for clothing or a pouch, bag or similar. Another bone item; a net weight that has rounded ends with a central hole to thread it onto the net. A single copper 'styca' that is somewhat the worse for wear; a little disappointing considering the quantity of 'stycas' that were found during week 1!
Trench 10
On Monday afternoon of week 2 trench 10 was laid out over the lower part of what was in 1971 Hope-Taylor's 'Cutting C'. Cutting C started high up on the windmill mound and extended over to the boundary wall on the north side of the west ward. As it came onto the 'flat' it widened at the base to produce an inverted 'L' shape. BRP's trench 10 is concentrating on the wider area of the 'L' and is being executed in two phases. This year from the base of the mound to approximately the half way point and next season the other half will be excavated. This so as not to totally block access to trench 1.
Other news
A floatation tank has been setup to separate environmental material from the soil samples kept for the purpose. Water is forced up through the sample and light material such as seeds, charcoal etc. are then trapped in the filter. The water is then pumped back to the top tank and reused.
Trench 1
Nothing much from trench 1, but that is not unusual as far as small finds are concered. There was however what was described as a 'bead cap' a copper cup shaped object with a hole in the center that held the beads in place on the string.
Trench 3
Many more finds came out of trench 3 during the same period. They include a tiny glass bead, a large bone pin or needle, a copper pin and another styca. My favorite is a lead disc that is thought to be a 'jeton.' Jetons are a coin or medal like disc that were used by merchants from the 13th to the 17th centuries, as a counter on a lined board, like an 'abacus' or as a money substitute in gaming.
A new trench was opened in the later part of this week, designated trench 7a. It is not in the west ward but in the inner ward, hard up against the north wall of the chapel. It was not a planned trench. David Dun one of the castles ground staff found the top of a wall in the flower bed that runs all the way around the inner ward walls inclucding the chapel.It had been decided to fill these beds with gravel as the flowers never made much of a show because of the very poor quality of the soil.
Several years ago 2 trenches, 6 and 7, were opened within the chapel walls in responce to some very interesting geophisical results, so it follows that the new trench is 7a because 8 and on have already been used.
Trench 1
A rather fine iron spur was recovered this week from trench 1. A very heavy piece of iron that could possibly turn out to be a sword tip. And a piece of worked bone that might have been used as a knife hadle if it had been finished.
Trench 3
A pivote stone is the largest of this weeks finds fron trench 3. An iron blade and a couple more stycas were recovered.
Trench 7a
The wall that was first unearthed in this trench is now known to be older than the medieval chapel and could have been part of the defensive wall at some time. The walls that stand above the soil level are mostly an 18th century folly, it is now known that the folly is sitting exactly on the 12th century foundations.
Trench 1
A copper plate of unknown purpose, and a copper buckle are the notable finds from this trench for this week.
Trench 3
This weeks small finds also include a copper plate, as yet its purpose is not known. A Pivot stone that would have been at the bottom of the back edge of a door and was in effect the lower hinge. More copper stycas. A spindle whorle fragment some worked bone and a roe deer antler, this would have been used as the raw material for toggles, dice, knife handles etc.
