The 2009 season saw us put in a small trench (4m x 1.5m) into the centre of the mound area alongside where we had excavated the cremation urns two seasons ago. The purpose was to see if there were any other meaningful signs of burial or activity. Apart from some charcoal deposits it seemed not, so we back-filled and moved on to our second objective.
In the woods to the north east of the seventh golf green we sank numerous 1m x 1m test pits to see how far the pottery finds of previous excavations extended. The answer was not very far. But just as we were closing for the season one particular test pit, just into the tree line to the north of the seventh green, began to reveal both pottery and several metal deposits, some of which seemed to be part of a small blade, as well as a coin from the period of Tetricus II we think. This was the first of the 50 or so coins from the site that we have found by traditional excavation methods as opposed to the use of metal detectors. Then it was another oyster shell and another coin. Finally, what appeared to be a hypocaust tile was unearthed. Our humble little Romano-British villa/farmstead therefore just went up in status.
Our thanks, once again, to all our volunteers, whether teachers from a wide range of schools in the area, museum staff, undergraduate students, A-level students or those attached to local archaeological organizations. Once again we are very appreciative of the guidance and expertise given by members of the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology, and in particular to Amanda Clarke, the Silchester Field Director.
This was a relatively short but very useful season’s work. Over the course of the next year we hope to have the whole site surveyed again using more up to date geophysics equipment as part of an undergraduate project with the University.
Felix Beardmore-Gray
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