Excavation

Once, when I was about seven years old and still living in Felixstowe, we had a school trip to the site of an anglo saxon settlement. It had been recreated with the little huts and models of children dressed in authentic clothing. There were lots of remnants lying around of original tools and living items that had been excavated at the site. I was awestruck!
My love of history continued from there but it was always the tangible that excited me. I was gutted to find myself on an A'level history course examining political history. Looking at various *yawn* leaders and their *yawn* policies. I like to see the real - the evidence I suppose that what the books say happened years ago - really did happen!
So, to bring things up to the here and now, I have been excavating in the soil left around the demolition area in Balfour Street/Tintern Street etc.

I have found some fascinating stuff. It is amazing how under large areas there is absolutely nothing in terms of pottery waste and then under a particular area, obviously a specific waste location, there was just so much I couldn't have picked it all up myself.

One of the most exciting finds was a piece of waste clay that someone has, whether intentionally or not, squeezed with their hand and left immaculate finger prints embedded on the surface.

I have found lots of handles and hundreds of these little conical things that I think were used as kind of supports for other items in the kiln. I am hoping that when they go on show in Burslem someone will soon give me a definite on that.

Here is a few of them on my kitchen drainer - not a great photo but more to follow. I am currently embedding them into felted knit.

View Larger Map