The Roman building is gradually revealed
Time frame: End of March 2014
Continuing updates from the Blackfriars archaeological dig in Leicester
All Blackfriars site updates »
Feature image: North-western corner of the Roman building at Blackfriars in Leicester.
Apart from a couple of foggy mornings, the weather has continued to be excellent of late, allowing good progress.
A foggy start to the day at Blackfriars
The focus has continued on the northern area of the site with post-Roman pits being excavated to give ‘windows’ into the underlying archaeology. At the same time, the collapse/rubble layer identified inside the Roman building is being removed to reveal floor layers.
Exposing floor layers in section in the Roman building
Evidence for the status of the building continues to be found with large quantities of tile and painted wall plaster being recovered.
Fragment of painted wall plaster from the Roman building
Interesting finds of unknown date have been recovered from disturbed layers. These include:-
- a bone disc of unknown function which may be a gaming piece, a spindle whorl or a decorative item of clothing or jewellery
- a whetstone for sharpening knives and cutting tools
- and an oyster shell with a square nail hole. These can be found on Roman and medieval sites and it has been suggested that the nail holes derive from the shell being used to patch up damage to roofs.
An oyster shell with a square hole
A bone disc with a hole drilled or cut through
Excavations down to the natural sand and gravel reveal that the alluvium containing Iron Age material at the southern end of the site is also present, being preserved under the Roman archaeology at the northern end of the site.
There appears to be a depression inside the Roman building into which the layers and floors are sloping, which may indicate an earlier feature such as a pit that over time has been compressed leading to small-scale, localised subsidence. Alternatively, the layers may represent dumping into a large feature with the materials representing attempts to backfill and stabilise the ground.
High quality student accommodation is proposed at Blackfriars
Developers Watkin Jones are enabling the safeguarding and cataloging of all developments and artefacts on the site. When the dig has finished, attention will turn to the proposed development of the accommodation.
Watkin Jones have created well over 25,000 student accommodation units in prime locations at key university sites nationwide since 1999.
North-West Elevation of proposed Watkin Jones student
accommodation
Watkin Jones who are developing the site for proposed student accommodation, are funding the excavation and in agreement with the City Archaeologist will be sending out regular updates on the progress of the excavation and on the finds which are being recovered via
The aim is to ensure that information on the excavation is put into the public domain and that the local community, as well as the wider public, have an opportunity to share in this interesting archaeological project.
