We are now on our fifth trench on this site, and we've been able to confirm the presence of a ditch in four of the five of the trenches dug so far. As reported in our last Newsletter, we failed to find the ditch in Trench No.2, which suggests perhaps there was an entrance at this point. This is peculiar as Bronze Age barrows, which we originally suspected the site to be, do not normally have entrances. The size and shape of the ditch also does not correspond with the usual barrow arrangements i.e. small 'V' shaped ditches. As previously reported the ditch in Trench 1 is huge, coming in at 3.5m metres with a depth of 1.5m. It is cut into the bedrock with quite steep sides and a flat bottom. This style is repeated in Trenches 3 and 4. Trench 3 though, is not quite as wide at about 3m wide but is deeper at 1.65m. However, Trench 4 is even bigger than Trench 1 measuring 4m wide and 1.75m deep. It's early days in Trench 5 but we do believe we have the ditch there too. What is peculiar though with this latest trench is that the ditch seems to be metres away from the predicted circle.
Again, this does not conform to the usual pattern of a Bronze Age barrow. The only comparable example we've been able to find is a ring-ditch excavated by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. This was in 2010, at a place called Pentrehobin, south-east of Mold, in Flintshire. Here the ditch measured 4m wide and 2m deep, with an external diameter of around 44m (similar to ours which is around 43m) - the only difference being that their ditch profile was 'V' shaped. Dating evidence suggests theirs was constructed between 2400-2130 BC which makes it very early Bronze Age or even late Neolithic (but it was certainly a burial mound not a henge). We are hoping to get a date for ours from a charcoal sample taken from the bottom of Trench 1 which we have sent off for carbon dating. You'll have to be patient though as the result is only due in at the end of September. In the meantime, work continues on the feature, with a new trench planned for an area just south of the now back filled Trench 2. Recent coring work suggests there could be a southern terminus of the ditch in this area. More details of our progress as usual can be found on our website blog here.
Aspull Ring Ditch (Excavations)
Aspull Ring Ditch (Sections)
Burscough
Steve Baldwin has had to scale back his excavations planned for this summer at Burscough. This is due to his funding target not being reached and other commitments. He still intends to excavate throughout the month of August. This will be to re-examine the site to the south of the fort, where he excavated last year, looking for evidence of a possible vicus and bathhouse. He also intends carrying out further investigations in the field to the west of the fort, where geophysics has indicated features and the possible road leading west from the fort. If you want to get involved you can contact Steve at :- fortinthewood@outlook.com
Summer Trip
As mentioned in my recent e-mail, we have been able to arrange a guided tour of the Worsley Delph complex with Mike Nevell. The recent booklet in the GM Past Revealed series tells how this site was at the heart of the industrial revolution. Its miles of underground canal tunnels enabled coal to be delivered to the fast-developing industries in Manchester. This was via the Duke of Bridgewater's revolutionary canal which opened in 1761. The date for the trip is planned for Sunday 7th August meeting at 2.00pm at the Worsley Green Monument which is on The Grn. If you are interested in going and need a lift please let me know (we won't be going into any tunnels by the way).
Next Meeting
Wednesday 6th July - in our new venue, the Real Crafty on Upper Dicconson Street (7.30pm as usual). This month it's me, I'm giving an account of my excavation adventures up on the Roman fort at Vindolanda. My report in last month's Newsletter was just a taster but hopefully I'll be able to explain in more detail what I did and what was found while I was there, together with a history of this iconic site. Hope to see you then B.A.
