Ornate pottery and animal bone unearthed at Shrewsbury Castle dig
Ornate pottery. iron hinges and an animal bone are among the finds made so far on an archaeological dig at an historic castle.
A team of experts and students have been at Shrewsbury Castle, attempting to unearth clues about its history.
It is the third season they have been digging, and they are concentrating on the motte area.
Liz Painter, on behalf of student volunteers from University Centre Shrewsbury, said: "On day one, student volunteers, supervised by Dr Morn Capper, uncovered a mortar feature running from left to right across the width of the trench. Finds included glass, iron hinges and latches, as well as some glazed pottery. The team hope to uncover whether there were other features in the wall area near the postern gate."
One student uncovered an ornate piece of pottery, identifying delicate flowers and vines lacing around the rim as well as gold hand-painted bird-like decoration.
Dr Nigel Baker provided students with a quick lesson on how to complete and understand ‘context sheets’ in archaeology, their use in recording the layers of earth being uncovered and how the context sheets help to piece together relationships between the layers.
Similar finds were made on the second day, as well as some animal bone and a small spherical object which closely resembled a musket ball or shot. However Dr Baker felt could more likely be a child’s marble. This trench was placed to identify the possible remains of structures shown on an early depiction of the castle in an area never previously excavated.
