Ovingdean

Ovingdean

One of BHAS's new projects this year is located in Ovingdean, just north of Brighton. Situated in a field shared with rescued horses, next to a charming 13th century church, Ovingdean is a medieval enclosed site (for some reason I was under the impression that it was a Roman site before I went up there last Saturday).

My section.

Post Hole

Ladies busy at work.

It has been under excavations for the past twelve-fourteen years or so by the BHAS. Geophysics suggest an enclosed area that once contained a large house and possibly barns and/or workshops.

Our mission was to look for post holes and rubbish pits. There was a nice sturdy post hole in my trench slot, but I got as far as uncovering two rusty nails, fragments of pottery and tile, a snail shell, debitage and other interesting flints.

John Skelton, the director, assisted me with brushing up on my skills to identify different types of soil. Part of this included taking a soil sample in the palm of my hand, adding a bit of water, and rubbing it around to see if it would create a ball or crumble from all the inclusions in it. My sample formed a neat ball, concluding that the soil I was working in was of the "clay loam" type due to its slightly gritty nature. This information is useful in the cataloging of soil deposits in this particular area.




I am hoping to continue excavating on and off this season! Will keep you all posted on exciting finds and discoveries.

Church next door.