Hunting Hall Archaeology Blog
A daily account of our Hunting Hall dig.
24th June 2025 : Dig Diary Day 23
Another great day today. Lots of volunteers setting about their final week tasks and three young archaeologists trying their skills for the first time, one of them even managing a find. She now has her name in our archaeological record. I’m sure they enjoyed themselves. More finds from around the trenches including a significant lump of Iron Age pottery, more animal bones and another probable rubbing stone. The large mandible reported yesterday was finally lifted though it was so fragile it broke into three pieces. This was found deep inside our perceived palisade ditch. Maybe the bone might give us an idea of the age of the palisade. Is it older than the surrounding ditch and bank system or did it exist at a similar time to enclose the main domestic and industrial structures?
We’re also now at that stage when we are sectioning the various pits and postholes, examining them for ‘cuts’ and taking soil samples for flotation and analysis over the next few months. Some of the cuts are difficult to spot without the trained eye. We’ll just have to take Kristian’s word for it!
Another important day for us when we shall receive the children from Bailey Green Primary School in Killingworth, North Tyneside. We always look forward to their regular visit to our digs when we have a range of activities planned. Photos in tomorrow’s diary. Our archaeology will continue as normal though and with only five days remaining there’s still lots to do. There from 10.00 as usual.
