Test Pit 7 - Flambards Green

This pit, together with test pits 8 and 19, was dug within an old moated area off Flambards Close that was once the site of a manor house.  The moat was filled in when the houses were built, c. 1970.


The Finds

This pit produced exceptionally large quantities of medieval pottery, showing that people were living here at that time. The earliest material suggests that occupation began around the time of the Norman Conquest, and perhaps even a little earlier.

The other finds from the pit included a modern clear glass bottle, a metal mincer part and other metal objects, daub, coal, fragments of oyster and mussel shell, stone and clinker. An amber bead appears to be of modern date. The faunal assemblage included bones of cow, sheep/goat, pig, horse, chicken, a wader bird and some other unidentifiable remains. The most remarkable find from this test pit was a pewter mirror case of later 13th or 14th century date, found in context 2.

The finds from this pit and test pits 8 and 19, which were dug nearby, suggest that the site was in decline by the 15th century, and was then more or less permanently abandoned. This ties in with research undertaken on our behalf by the Melbourn and District U3A Group.

For an overview of the site and finds, please click on the image of the exhibition poster which is the first image in the gallery below.

For detailed analysis of the finds, please see the results sheet for this pit, which is available as a download at the bottom of this page.

The conservationist’s report on the mirror back, which includes a photograph.  Click here

For reports and maps relating to all of the test pits, please see the documents available on our results page.


Site Diary

Day One

We had a very good first day with some exciting finds in the early contexts. We were told we may have found a pilgrim badge which we were all very excited by! Then the finds slowed down a bit, but overall a very good day.  Up to Context 3, dug 30cm.

Day Two

A cold start to the day but lots to find in the first context dug of the clay. A large bone was found and what we thought was a boar’s tooth. We then on the next level found what looks like an amber bead with a hole through the centre, pulled out of the pit by Jack Sell. We were all excited by this and hope it is of importance. A very successful dig and lots of fun had by all the adults and children who were helping.


Photo Gallery

Please click on a photograph to display a larger image.

Downloads

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