Category: Mosaic (Page 2 of 3)

Boxford ‘s Mosaic is now sleeping peacefully under a thick duvet of sieved soil before the trench was backfilled.

Steve and Paul barrowing and spreading whilst Mark was shovelling.

And Scud finished off with the back fill.

Hope you all have a copy of the Newbury Weekly News where the exploits of the last couple of weeks is described ……with plenty of Chris’ photos.

Yesterday many of the sponsors, who made the dig possible came to see the villa and were stunned to see the mosaic. Today many have written to say how amazed they were that the mosaic had been uncovered so professionally in 10 working days. Some achievement! Well done to all of you and thanks to the CA team for guiding us so well.

Just in case you missed the sponsors’ board at the entrance to the site:

• The Headley Trust
• The Ardeola Charitable Trust
• The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust
• The Englefield Trust
• The North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust
• The Greenham Common Trust
• The Good Exchange
• The Council of British Archaeology
• ASPROM
• Newbury Building Society
• Many other generous individual personal donations

The last couple of days have been busy recording the villa for Anthony, Matt and the team and busy for the finds processing team of Joy, Jenny and John.

What was particularly thrilling was to find that tesserae were still present and in formation under the damaged floor level where roof tiles had punched the floor into the softer than expected sand screed layer.

It has been very windy at times and some of the team have made the most of being in a hole!

Photos today from Richard

Thanks to all our photographers – Richard, David and Chris – who have made such a huge difference to the recording of the excavations and the life of a community dig. A tremendous thank you too to the Cotswold team led by Matt who have been good natured and patient with everyone…….. in all circumstances!

Strangely quiet today. Work has started on the recording of the villa. But one thing the BHP wanted to record was a very BIG THANK YOU to our visitors to the Open Day last Saturday. We did not charge an entrance fee but asked for a donation ………. which we have been counting ever since and the Grand Total is £4,500!!! How wonderfully generous of them – so thank you again visitors and we are so pleased you enjoyed it that much. It will help to fund the conservation of finds – particularly metalwork.

There’s nobody there! We are closed in spite of what it says in the Daily Telegraph

A hectic day of cleaning before the Open Day. We also welcomed Radio Berkshire who did a live 3 hour programme from the site! But first the team photo!

A man happy in his work

Oh what a lovely mosaic!

Some special finds from the 3 Roman Mattockeers!

Photos today by Matt and David

The story of the mosaic is revealed! Anthony Beeson saw the key to the puzzle when he saw a lynch pin in the mosaic. It seems that one object was the key to the discovery that the main mosaic panel was the mythical Greek story of Pelops.

Today was the story of clean, clean and clean again in preparation for the Open Day on Saturday.

How many times have you cleaned the kitchen floor with a toothbrush?

Water was an issue

Even the walls had to be cleaned straight and level

And all day a mound of soil was sifted by Mark which will eventually be used to re-cover the mosaic

Lunch was a welcome break

Tomorrow is the last day of the dig – Radio Berkshire will presenting their afternoon show live from the site between 13.00 – 16.00
Thanks to you all for your hard work which has made it all possible.

Anthony Beeson being interviewed by BBC South Today (to be screened on Friday)

Freya

Matt

Joy

Fay and Emma

Washing the floor for the first time in 1700 years

A visit to the site today by Alan Baylis and his wife Margaret. Alan and his family had farmed the Mud Hole field for many generations. It was he who pointed out the true location of the villa in the field

Some of David’s photos below of the “workers” yesterday when it was so hot.

Whilst some took a moment or two to chill!

Matt and Tina carefully extricating the metal hoard found in the wall yesterday by Alex.

Photos above from David and Richard

Coin photo and research thus far by Chris

At the beginning of the day Matt set the diggers a task of removing the last of the debris from the mosaic……..by the time of the morning break! It focussed minds and all heads were down and working hard.

But we did it!

Next it was down to fine brushing in preparation for several sponge downs!

In the meanwhile, Alex had found a metal stash in the mosaic room wall – who put it there? Was this at the end of the Roman era, from someone using a derelict villa to hide it, in a chaotic cashless society when bartering would have been important?

Hook or earring? Made of copper so possibly the latter.

This tool was also found but is it Roman? Possibly Victorian left by the farmer putting in the land drain.

A message across the centuries – one that we still have to decipher!

Photos today from Richard and Chris

Brilliant shot of the site

Some Roman put his foot in it – you can see the hobnails

Absolute miracle that this ring came to whole considering the mattocking!

Some of the finds processing team

Anthony happy in his work cleaning and deciphering the images on the mosaic

Patiently cleaning back the mosaic

Photos from David and Richard with thanks

Considering it’s only day 5 (week 1) of the dig, it’s really amazing just how much has been accomplished. Thanks to all diggers, sievers, washers and recorders for all they have done over the past week – it has exceeded expectations. By the end of the day, nearly half the mosaic had been exposed – thankfully in pretty good order and the finds processing team has kept up with what has been coming out of the ground. People found themselves stopping work and gazing at what was being revealed but we will have to resist that temptation if we are going to be able display the mosaic in all its glory and to Matt’s satisfaction for the Open Day on Saturday 31st August.

The Boxford contingent

I am sure there was a wall there!

Without the sponsors we would not be here

A Telemon appears with eyes, belly button and all!

Photos today from Mike, Joy and David

Despite a very warm day Matt was well pleased with progress. Everyone headed for shade at lunchtime.

Mortarium pieces?

Rather grisly selection but there have been a lot of bones!

and sadly some of these tesserae – that should be in the mosaic.

Photos from Joy, Helen and Liz

Morning briefing from Matt

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Thanks to David for Friday’s photos