The press release is now out and so I can finally share with you all some wonderful news! We have found the seal of John Campbell of Cawdor! With an engraved date of either 1598 or 1593 (the jury is still out), this seal is an exquisite archaeological find that is both rare and highly informative. Either date would corroborate […]

Students from Reading and Highlands Universities joined visitors and locals alike, creating a community for the breaking of ground at Dunyvaig. Tens of people turned out to help de-turf two trenches laid out inside the castle walls. The day was a huge success and marked the beginning of the first season of Dunyvaig’s Archaeology Field School. Since the 12th August, […]

And so let the second half of Archaeology at the University of Reading Field School commence! Our next instalment is one close to my heart. Islay is a wonderful place filled with an archaeological kaleidoscope of sites. All periods from the Mesolithic to the Second World War are amply represented in landscape, monuments and ruins. On this, my 5th visit to the […]

After the first half of Archaeology at the University of Reading Field School 2018, it’s clear to see that Silchester was a booming success. Three trenches filled with multi-phase archaeological features and masonry, with wonderful finds and environmental preservation to match, the bath-house was a site that just kept on giving. These photographs show the final weeks of the excavation, including the […]

Wow! What a week! We have had so many wonderful discoveries this week, so let’s get to it! Trench 1: This trench has indeed revealed three columns in total! All three sit in a carved stone plinth, with two being ruined and one where only the base remains. Amazingly, the carved bases still remain and although the uprights are unfluted, […]

  Complete bone hair pin – Trench 3 Carved bone knife handle – Trench 2 Carved bone thread separator for weaving – Trench 2 Roman pottery base with (later?) graffiti – Trench 1                             Jet bead – Trench 3   Copper bracelet fragment (twisted) – Trench 3 […]

All three trenches are now open and have had two weeks of excavating students uncovering their archaeological remains. Trench 1: Has uncovered the suspicious decorative tiles in the south side to reveal an intact archway at the end of the latrine. Large amounts of standing masonry has also been uncovered, the alignments of which suggest multiple building phases of the […]

The first week of this excavation has uncovered some amazing archaeology. The targetted Bathhouse is survived by both architectural ruins and material culture such as: A latrine of standing walls, archways and plinths. A hypocaust system of structural walling and pilae tile stacks. A possible changing room and adjoining structural features (still to be identified). Tiles with kitten paw prints, […]

There has been an awful lot of activity occurring already at this year’s Silchester branch of the #UoRarchaeologyfieldschool. The tents have been pitched, the trenches are exposed, the spoil is tidy and the kettle is on. There have been some fantastic finds and discoveries already so watch this space for weekly updates on the excavation and information on open days where […]