The Barcombe Banana

Foundation Slab (1/7)

Foundation Slab (2/7)

Foundation Slab (3/7)

Foundation Slab (4/7)

Foundation Slab (5/7)

Foundation Slab (6/7)

Foundation Slab (7/7)

A Pilgrims Progress

The Holey Orders

Section Drawing

Cleanup After Bulk Removal

Site Overview -12/06/2004.

Site Overview -12/06/2004.

12/06/2004 - NE Excavation Area.

Southern Excavation Area

MSFAT Excavation Area (Looking East)

General Locale

Ironstone and Chalk Foundations.

Wall Foundation Section

Wall Sections

Excavation Area (Facing North)

Excavation Area (Facing North)

Supervisor Training

Methodical Excavations

Flint Cleanup & Removal

Continued Excavation of BV03 Features

27/06/2004 - The banana shaped feature in this shot continues to be an enigma. Here we see it being measured and planned. The photograph is taken facing roughly North-West.

Ref: BV04-270604-002

27/06/2004 - During the excavation of a wall section, a large chalk block was found with a small void beneath. Here we see John Funnel cleaning the area as much as possible prior to lifting the slab.

Ref: BV04-270604-003

27/06/2004 - A closer view of the chalk slab prior to lifting.

Ref: BV04-270601-004

27/06/2004 - Here Chris and Dion begin to lift the chalk slab. Matocks and shovels have any number of uses beyond their original design.

Ref: BV04-270604-007

27/06/2004 - All chiropractors please look away as Chris is assisted by John and Dion.

Ref: BV04-270604-008

27/06/2004 - "It's a hole".

27/06/2004 - Despite the crowd it's a hole to a-void, or should that be a-void to a hole?

Ref: BV04-270604-011

27/06/2004 - Despite the lack of finds under the chalk slab, the descussion soon gets underway as to how the void was formed. It was hoped that the slab entoumbed a ritual offering.

Ref: BV04-270604-012

27/06/2004 - Keith continues his quest to find the extents of this cess pit. On this occasion the pit has yeilded some fine pottery and a pottery disk with a hole punched in the center.

Ref: BV04-270601-001

13/06/2004 - Keith continues to excavate a cess pit that was discovered in 2003. Keith has been here for some time is a regular feature of this pit. He may be seen on our site tours that run at weekends at 11am, 12pm, 2pm, and 3pm. We ask that you refrain from feeding him.

Ref: BV04-130604-002

13/06/2004 - MSFAT is keen to promote all practical excavation skills among its members. Here Sue is taking careful measurements for a section drawing.

Ref: BV04-130604-001

12/06/2004 - One of the bulks from BV03 was removed and here we see the cleanup operation in progress.

Ref: BV04-120604-001

This picture shows the general excavation area as of 12/06/2004. The left-hand side of the picture shows the main focus of MSFAT activity, whilst the right-hand side shows pits excavated in 2003. The picture is taken facing the South-East.

Ref: BV04-120604-002

This picture shows the general excavation area as of 12/06/2004. The picture is taken facing the South-East.

Ref: BV04-120604-003

12/06/2004 - Here we see MSFAT members excavating the North-East part of the site that includes the sunken circular feature (center of picture).

Ref: BV04-120604-004

12/06/2004 - Here we see the southern end of the excavation. This area is being excavated as part of the UCL and FAU training courses. In the Center of the picture we see a wall running SE. There is no sign at this stage that this wall has rooms on either side, it is though to be courtyard wall.

Ref: BV04-120604-005

12/06/2004 - Here we see the focus of the MSFAT excavation area.

Ref: BV04-120604-006

12/06/2004 - In the background we see the proximity of the site to St Mary's, Barcombe parish church. It is thought that building materials were removed from the villa site to supplement construct of this church. There is no evidence however that dressed-stone has been taken from the villa to incorporate into the fabric of the church.

Ref: BV04-120604-007

12/06/2004 - Here we see UCL students excavating wall foundation in the South-East area of the site. Unusually, the foundations comprise of both clalk and sandstone encased withing ironstone deposits (ferruginous sandstone).

Ref: BV04-120604-008

12/06/2004 - Here we see a UCL student excavating a section of the wall foundations. The majority of wall foundations of this site comprise of flint and chalk. This section of the wall is in the South-East area of the excavation, and runs in an east/west direction.

Ref: BV04-120604-009

12/06/2004 - Here we see the wall in the previous picture that runs east/west (ref: BV04-120604-009). Sections have been excavated to learn the construction method.

Ref: BV04-120604-010

12/06/2004 - This is a general picture of the excavation area taken from the South of the site looking North.

Ref: BV04-120604-011

12/06/2004 - This is a general picture of the excavation area taken from the South of the site looking North.

Ref: BV04-120604-012

12/06/2004 - Here we see Michael (left) and Bruce (right) in a typical site supervisor training scenario. Bruce shows Michael the finer art of mattock-leaning.

12/06/2004 - Here Liza takes time to carefully excavate and area down to the 'natural'.

Ref: BV04-120604-Liza

06/06/2004 - Barry and Mark cleanup flints and prepare for removal.

Ref: BV04-060604-001

General Cleanup and continued excavation of sunken feature from BV03. This sunken feature has still to be interpreted, but possibilities include sunken dwelling/storage structure or even landscaping features.

Ref: BV04-060604-002