Aspull Ring Ditch Excavations
The discovery last month of a curved alignment of stones has been quite exciting, but has meant we have had to open up the whole of the area on the northwest side of Trench 1b. This has consumed earlier Trenches 1c and 1d but has shown the curved alignment continuing. We now believe this to be the remains of an earlier kerbed cairn. Encompassing the northern sector are cobble stones rather than the usual small flat rectangular ones we generally find in this central area. At the focal point of the curved alignment is a deep collection of stones which could well be another cist burial (F22) although, as yet, there has been no signs of a burial inside.
Our first Urn is also now ready to be lifted, having had almost all its internal material micro-excavated out. A layer of material has been left in to help support the vessel which is now looking quite fragile. The material has been taken to the Bolton Archive facility for processing with the rest of the cremated bone from the site.
Aspull Urn1
Last month saw a visit to the facility from Sam Walsh, the osteologist from UCLan. She seemed generally pleased with our procedures for processing the cremated bone. She did mention though, that to carry out a proper analysis of any particular burial, she would need the whole of the remains from it. This means that our strange Feature F4 (the feature we now believe is a clay lined pit) will have to have all of its contents removed. The intention had been to rebury this feature with about a third of the cremated material intact, to be examined by some future archaeologists. However it will now be reburied empty with just a backfill of sand to protect it from collapsing.
GMAAS Visit
We have also had a recent visit from GMAAS's Ian Miller. He brought with him Sam Rowe, who has recently taken over from Sue Stallibass at Historic England. After being given the usual site tour of the ditch trenches, they were introduced to the current work in the central area and our fantastic discoveries. This produced a number of wows from both Ian and Sam. We were later able to discuss the plans for the future of the site and what they could do to helps us.
As always you can find the lasted progress on our dig diary here.
Greater Manchester Archaeology Day
After missing a year, this event is back. There will be more details to come but we do know that it will be on Saturday 29th November at the usual venue i.e. Salford University's Peel Hall.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 1st October at the Real Crafty on Upper Dicconson Street starting at 7.30pm as usual. Our speaker this month is Ben Dyson from the GMAAS. Ben has been helping us with the lifting of our cremation urns. In 2017 he was involved with Archaeological Research Services Ltd (ARS Ltd), who were commissioned to undertake the excavation of a Bronze Age barrow site near Clitheroe. This was in advance of a private housing development at Higher Standen Farm, just to the southeast of the town. Their findings produced a c.20m diameter ring ditch with a central barrow containing nine cremation burials. Four of the burials were placed in collared urns, whose form and fabric placed them in the Early Bronze Age (c.1950-1500 BC). This date puts them more or less contemporary with our site, so it will be absolutely fascinating to hear what Ben has to say about the project. Hope to see you then, BA.
