By the time they arrived rain was in the air, although only light at this stage, a decision was made on the size and the position of the trench based on the flags I had placed earlier and the JCB set about taking off the top few inches ready for me to get in with my detector. After about an hour detecting behind the JCB all I had to show was a collection of nineteen rusty tent pegs and a couple of bottle tops. The rain was getting heavier by this time and I decided on a cup of coffee and a change to a more waterproof jacket. Shortly after restarting a strange signal with varying numbers came up on the display and as it showed over six inches deep I thought it prudent to dig it. The result was a broken Robert II penny from about six inches and was probably too deep for the machine while the top level of grass was intact. This aroused a good bit of interest and made the rain seem less, I set to work again and immediately got a sort of double signal within a metre of the first find, again showing six to seven inches depth, this turned out to be a Robert II Groat. I now had an audience as I dug the other part of the double signal, this only showed itself detecting from one direction, and this turned out to be a half groat again from about six inches. There was nothing further on this first day and as the weather and light had deteriorated it was decided to end the day with me just going over the last area that the JCB had cleared. This was when the rain started and continued all night.
There was a late start on the second day, no one was keen to get going as it was so wet. The trench was half full with water and I suggested that the JCB could dig a channel from the lowest corner to let the water drain away, this worked but just resulted in a stream running through all day but at least it was under control.
The plan was made for the level to be lowered about three or four inches at a time and for me to detect over each level. I actually got going somewhere around 11am and shortly unearthed a broken Robert II penny, this aroused some interest meaning a lull in the detecting, the restart produced a Robert II Groat which was quickly followed by two more. With this Collection of Seven medieval coins it was beginning to look as if there were no Roman coins left to find, but the detecting gods were just teasing. It was now nearing lunch time and I had progressed to the end of the cleared area when I found a Denarius, Archaeologist happy!! and off to lunch for a change of clothes as I was completely soaked, but so what when you are finding the goodies.
After lunch dry and refreshed and relatively warm I faced the rain again. The field was in large puddles by this time and was draining through the trench, exiting through the gully the JCB had made. The whole trench was a sea of mud and it was difficult keeping balance in it.
I almost immediately found another Denarius, quite near the previous one, and the technique to dig these was to build a small dam and the uphill side of the signal and scrape a channel for the diverted water to run away leaving the hole relatively clear of water, unfortunately there was no way of stopping the rain falling into the hole. This Denarius was followed by six more and within a small area. The next signal was different and turned out to be another Robert II Groat and about three feet away yet another, this was turning into a fantastic day -- What rain?? And who would care with these finds. A quick stop for coffee and another change of clothing, it was a good job I always have two sets of spare clothing in my van, and back to work.
This next period delivered four more Denarii and the time approaching 6pm and down to the base level it was decided that I should just over the area again in case anything had been missed. This produced an anomoly, a Groat down about five inches into the sub soil, was this the actual base level or not? However a dig showed evidence of a tunnel made by a mole or another animal and obviously the coin had been carried down into it. I put in a suggestion that the trench be extended on the third day as two of the Denarii had been found right at the base of the end of the trench. I was lucky on the way home as I passed through quite a deep flood with the Fire Brigade in attendance, shortly after the road was closed and someone else from the dig was sent on a lengthy detour.
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| Work in the excavation on the third day |
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| Area where most of the Denarii were found |
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