An 11th-12th century metal strap-end, showing two dragons with interlaced tails. Found in the Kinecroft trench.

Selection of clay pipe stem fragments, from Castle Meadows.

Oyster shells, from Castle Meadows.

16th-18th century clay pipe bowls from Castle Meadows.

Sherds of willow pattern pottery from Castle Meadows.

Display of finds.

A selection of metal objects.

A 20th century flick-knife with bone handle from Castle Meadows.

Some of the finds are very small and delicate, such as this pin found at Kinecroft.

nail with corroded bolt attached.

two sherds of 13th century pottery fitting together to form section of rim. It has been decorated with thumb marks.

two sherds of grey medieval pottery with incised pattern.

glazed late medieval pottery found at Kinecroft.

a glass marble found at Kinecroft.

A selection of buiscuits consumed by Simon at coffee break (kindly donated by Wallingford Museum).

Animal bones

A possible late Saxon pottery sherd, from the Kinecroft trench

A sherd of medieval pottery decorated with a rope pattern design, from Kinecroft

a horn core (the middle of an antler, tusk or horn), found at Kinecroft

the jawbone of a horse or cow, found at Kinecroft

a small bone button, found at Kinecroft

the only coins found - one is Victorian, the other dates from the reign of George V.

green glazed sherd of medieval pottery

fragment of animal bone which appears to have been worked. The end is shiny and note the small hole in the middle.

fragment of an early post-medieval pot

sherds of medieval cooking pots

a small rim sherd of Roman Samian ware from Bullcroft

a mystery object - made of glass?

Friday 1st August

Day off from finds processing!!

Thursday 31st July

SUMMARY OF POTTERY FINDS (For the identification of pottery, Simon is extremely grateful to Cathy Keevil)

Most of the pottery recovered from the topsoil at both Castle Meadows and Kinecroft is proving to be really interesting. The Kinecroft site has revealed a good late 12th to 13th century tripod pitcher sherd, 12th to 14th century OXAG/Wallingford gritty sandy fabric cooking pot and mid 13th century Brill Boarstall jug sherds (and also sherds of 16th - 17th century Surrey wares). From Kinecroft, there was one sherd of possible Saxo Norman date (but this is not certain at this stage). Most of the early pottery from Wallingford is shelly and limestone gritted ware which although distinctive, is not quite like Oxford types. It is possible that the gritty sandy pottery sherds may be from an earlier date. The Bullcroft trench has produced a disappointing number of finds, but significant amongst them, was a small fragment of Roman Samian ware. The Castle Meadows trench has produced a significant amount of pottery from the topsoil (including fragments of gritty sandy fabric cooking pot, and quantities of Willow pattern ware.

Is this a fragment of Stamford Ware?

Fragments of glazed medieval and post-medieval pottery

Kathy and Simon working on the finds

Wednesday 30th July

There is a large amount of ceramic building material being recovered, particularly from the Castle Meadows trench. Most of this consists of brick, roof tile and floor tile. This material is difficult to date precisely, but is most likely medieval and post medieval. One small fragment of glazed floor tile from Castle Meadows is perhaps indicative of a high status medieval building in the area?

The finds team at Wallingford Museum (with the finds tardis behind Harry)

Tuesday 29th July

My thanks as usual to the hard-working pot-washing team, particularly the volunteers from Wallingford Museum. The finds HQ seems to have developed into a particularly mobile unit, we are getting better everyday at setting up the gazebo at the entrance to the Kinecroft trench (and having to work in extreme weather conditions - finds processing is tough work (just joking!)).

The expert pot-washing team of Lesley, Kayleigh and Simon

The even better pot-washing team led by Harry

Monday 28th July

Never want to see a fragment of clay pipe ever again! Counted over 300 fragments of clay pipe stems and bowls today, the majority of which have come from the Castle Meadows trench.

Sunday 27th July

There are a large number of bone fragments being recovered from Kinecroft. Many of the bones have butchery marks on them, and many appear to have been split open in order to recover the marrow inside. The majority of bones appear to come from either the leg or head regions of the body, with fewer bones from elsewhere in the body. Maybe there was tanning or leather production on or close to the Kinecroft site? Tanning was a really smelly industry in medieval towns, and perhaps this craft and the people associated with it, were banished to the borders of the town.

Pottery sherds on a finds bag

Saturday 26th July

Another day of finds washing admirably carried out by Cecil, Harry and Jane (and assisted by a horde of young Wallingford amateur archaeologists!). Simon has started to catalogue all the finds that have been washed, by sorting into small finds and bulk finds. Pottery is being sorted into type ready for dating. I can tentatively reveal that we may have some 11th/12th century pottery sherds coming out of the Kinecroft trench, and a very small fragment of Roman Samian ware has been recovered from the Bullcroft trench. Again, many thanks to those members of the public who are providing us with information about the history of the town, it is much appreciated.

Friday 25th July

Day off today to explore Wallingford.

Thursday 24th July

Finds processing continues apace, as material starts to arrive at Finds HQ from the trenches at Castle Meadows, Bullcroft and Kinecroft. So far, the majority of finds are of post-medieval date including over a hundred fragments of clay pipe from Castle Meadows. A large number of animal bone is being recovered, including bone from cow, horse and sheep. There seems to be a large amount of Willow pattern pottery sherds turning up as well. Geri and Kayleigh have done a sterling job with the finds washing, and as usual the response from the public has been really good. We are really pleased that the people of Wallingford are responsing so positively to what we are doing - thank you!

Wednesday 23rd July

Today was the first full day of finds processing work. At Wallingford, as at other excavations, most finds need washing (except for metal objects, charcoal and fragile fragments of bone or pottery). Armed with two bowls of water, one for washing and the other for rinsing, and an all important toothpaste, Kayleigh and Gill spent the day cleaning fragments of clay pipe, pottery and bone. Finds HQ has been set-up adjacent to the Kinecroft trench, and is open to the public to view. The response from the public has been really positive.