Test Pits at Coven

 

 

In pit number 1 a strong linear feature found at around 35cm depth proved to be a channel cut for a tile drain  which may be an old feeder to a herringbone drainage system. As can be seen, the drain is made up from tapered tubes of about 4 inches diameter which are a simple push-fit. Putting a date on these tiles is tricky - they could have been laid at any time between the late 1700s and the mid 20th century.

Our second pit also revealed a dark band at around 40cm although this seemed to 'change course' suggesting it was something other than a drain. A number of stones seemed to be packed together near this change in direction. It's possible that the feature is the remnant of some structure but we had no more time to investigate. Tantalisingly, a single piece of iron tap-slag was found just below the interface between the plough-soil and the natural but it could have been forced down by the plough.

 

A dark band running right to left (under the trowel handle) across pit #2

We hope to dig more test pits in the field before the next crop is sown and a full report into our investigations will be produced and available on our Reports page in due course.

 

Expert Analysis of Oak House Finds

 

Expert analysis of pottery finds from our recent dig at Oak House sits well with the earliest days of the existing house. Potteries Museum archaeologist Jonathon Goodwin examined all the sherds recovered and thought that most were from the late 16th or early 17th century. The house is known to have been in existence in the 1630s so the finds were probably associated with the earliest residents, the Turton family.

A partially re-constructed jug from the museum showing the hole for a bung or tap at bottom right

The objects mostly came from functional wares such as those used in the kitchen, buttery or brewhouse. A couple seemed to be from vessels which had a hole to insert a bung or tap to draw off the contents, while another may have been part of a jar used for storing butter or another foodstuff (image at top of this page). A few very fine fragments were most likely from delicate multi-handled cups having a bowl shaped upper part with a waist below. It's often difficult to visualise the complete vessel from tiny potsherds dug out of the ground but Jonathon was able to show us examples of such containers from the museum's substantial pottery collection.

A fine multi-handled cup from the Potteries Museum collection

We anticipate a return visit to Oak House in the near future to look for traces of an earlier building. A 'behind the scenes' visit to the museum for all members will also be arranged in due course.