DAY 1
Tuesday 24th August 2004

Surveying

John Duffy showed the Blue team the elements of surveying using a TST (Total Static Theodolite). This uses a form of remote surveying to create a 3D contour map of the area. It will pick up hints of the past still showing on the ground. It is then possible to overlay various maps and aerial photos in the computer to find out as much about the site as possible.

The team were taught to locate the TST over a stake with a nail in it. Once the TST knows where it is on a specific site, it can work out all other details itself. Its position will eventually be linked to a GPS position. The site identifier is BARB and the first point is S1.

Sodding

The team is clearing an area 10 metres by 30 metres. We are attempting to position this over the known position of some walls or ditches, as located by previous work and based on Tom Loader’s gut feeling. The turf has to be saved and re-laid at the end of the dig as the site is of scientific interest to English Nature.

Once the first layer of turf has been cleared, the digger will be able to lift the soil very accurately, directed by an archaeologist, David Gill, who will stand by the bucket.

Finds

A small rectangular pale item, found in the eastern trench.

Some bits of slightly red pottery (?) found at the Little Japan end.

Some lumps of hard clay found in the western trench, but David Gill decided these were probably just clay spoil.