Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Bermuda 2006

Members of the Ironbridge Archaeology team will be setting out for Bermuda in April for a two-week excavation project. Further details are available on the Bermuda blog, which will be regularly updated as the field season progresses.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Pottery from Wednesbury

Pottery recovered from the excavations on Wednesbury High Street (see below) is now being cleaned and processed.

Some of the finds laid out to dry. These trays probably represent 5% of the total assem- blage.



The assemblage overall seems to date from the 13th to the 18th centuries, although the main area of interest is the large quantity of sherds associated with pottery manufacture near the site between about 1500 and about 1700. Unfortunately during the present excavations we were unable to locate the kiln, but wasters and saggars were recovered, as well as a large deposit of burnt clay (probably the lining of a kiln).

Cistercian-type two-handled pots which collapsed during firing.
Slip-decorated black-glazed earthen-ware.







Apologies for the poor quality of these photos, which have been taken in the excitement of the ongoing finds processing. 'Proper' photos will be taken and uploaded here once the finds are dried and marked (and after Simon has taken off his marigolds!).

Friday, February 10, 2006

Lower High Street, Wednesbury

Recently we have been excavating and recording a possible medieval pottery production site found during development work in the heart of Wednesbury.














More information can be found in the article published in the Birmingham Post.