Experimental archaeology 11: here are some she made earlier ...

Perhaps Dr Cleal can remember whether this was the triumphant result of the experimental potting which she did in either 1988 or 1989? They certainly look very fine, but it's hard to tell (for me at least) what stage in the process had been reached when the Chronicler took this picture. And what's she doing? Singing into an imaginary microphone? Examining a broken nail? The legs on the left behind Ros belong to Steve Vaughan.

Experimental archaeology 10: baking potatoes ...

Perhaps Ros Cleal will recall what she was actually doing in this photo sent to me by Manda Jones: getting ready to fish out the baked potatoes? Measuring something - temperature? Figuring where the pots are under the heap? Probably from 1988 or 1989.

Experimental archaeology 9: rampart destruction 1970

Two splendid pictures from 1970 from Lydia Savage: Baz Roscoe, assisted by Dave Fine, created a rampart section and set fire to it to see if the meringue effect could be reproduced, during the 1970 season. It proved harder to fire than you might think. In the lower photo, Phil and Sonia and Christopher Hawkes who were visiting the site.

Experimental archaeology 8: Dr Cleal the Potter part two

Ros looks as though she is feeling her way gingerly around the edge of this pot searching for any cracks or weaknesses in the rim before consigning the pots to firing. There appears to be more than one episode of potting: this photograph was taken by Phil, but when you compare it with the picture which I posted some months ago taken by Dr Phillpotts she's wearing different clothes.  Then again she is wearing the same clothes as she is in the Dixon photograph in this other Phillpotts shot.  Perhaps Dr Cleal can remember whether there was more than one potting episode in 1988 or 1989, - whichever year it was - or whether she did a quick change during the course of the day?

Experimental archaeology 7: 1970

This morning a cracker from the Dixon vault. Phil has very kindly unearthed and sent to me this shot of Baz Roscoe and Dave Fine engaged in reconstructing the building of the rampart. Doubtless Phil will be able to tell us whether or not they set fire to their handiwork after they had completed the construction in order to simulate the demise of the rampart and demonstrate whether or not burning resulted in red and grey burnt limestone. From 1970.

Experimental archaeology 6: a watched pot never fires ...

Waiting for it to happen: Steve Vaughan, Nick Snashall and Ros Cleal hang about, in Steve's case hopping from foot to foot while pouring tea from his mug on the ground behind him, whilst waiting for the pots to fire.  This is the latest in the 1988 or 1989 series showing various experiments.  Nick seems to be half way through a sandwich to pass the time and Ros seems to be sucking a lemon.  I suppose it may just be that the colours are fading in Dr Phillpotts's original photo and it's an orange ... perhaps Ros can enlighten us?

Experimental archaeology 5

Back to the Phillpotts 1988 or 1989 experimental sequence.  Here, L to R, Terry Courtney, Nick Snashall, Ros Cleal, Arwel Barrett, ? and Phil Dixon watch intently to see whether the pots, which appear to have attained their finished state, are going to move of their own accord ...

Experimental Archaeology 4: but what is Julie doing?

I can't figure out what Julie Fissenden is doing in this photo: it looks as though a fair-sized log has been upended and then had a fire built around its base.  It seems to have been burned about half way through without falling over.  And what's the whiteish thing that Julie is adding to the fire? There are a couple of other similar items on the right side of the fire.  Magnified they look like bones or scrolls.  General mystification.

"Come come, Crickley Man, it is all very clear. Julie F is stoking the fires (by throwing on a billet) around a make-believe house post, to see whether the burning of a house would cause posts to char below the level of the ground surface. Postholes, you see, regularly have charcoal in their infill. The answer, however, is probably not. The charcoal must derive from other sources, rather than the burning of the post itself. Clear?  Phil."

Clear!

Experimental archaeology 3: Dr Cleal the potter

Clay, tempering, water, and Cleal are the necessary requirements for these pots which Ros made for the experimental archaeology open day in 1988 or 1989 - Dr Phillpotts is unclear about which year - can anyone recall?  Having enlarged the photo I can see that Ros is applying some fingertip decoration to the pot in her hands.  I think I can see, but it may just be a trick of the light, some colour applied to the pot sitting in front of her.   

Experimental archaeology 2: John Gale having a knap ...

Another Phillpotts shot from the 1988 or 1989 experimental archaeology open day - here's John Gale, sitting on a rubber bucket, flint knapping with the aid of a piece of carpet, a lump of limestone as a board and a rather fetching pair of gloves.

Experimental archaeology 1

I will have to rely on those present (L to R Joanne Milroy, John Gale, Steve Vaughan, ?, Ros Cleal, Rebecca Chambers & Arwel Barrett) to give an account of the objectives and the achievements of this tableau from the Phillpotts archive, as I was not around: Chris thinks this was 1988 or 1989. So what were you all up to? Carving? Chiselling? Firing pots? Baking potatoes?