October was a busy time at Fulham Palace with the start of our Community Archaeology Dig. First the big digger moved in to take off the topsoil and open up the two sites.
We were hoping to find a Tudor Dovecote, shown on early maps but so far elusive on the ground. What we did find was chalk remnants; could this be related to the Tudor Dovecote? Then we found tiles, bricks, decorated plaster from an earlier building, pottery, clay pipes and even some bones (including the more unusual find of a full dog’s skeleton!). We also found bits and pieces of metal, probably dating from World War I. All of these found objects tell the story of Fulham Palace; of the building itself and the past lives of those who stayed, visited and were here before.
What did we learn from it? We gained plenty of practice with mattock and shovel, and new skills: recording, planning and taking levels, how to read the earth. We collaborated together to work through issues and had good companionship. I enjoyed seeing the school parties getting involved, and having hands-on opportunities to handle the finds and feel the past.
Our next step – figuring out what we have found, what does it mean? It’s like a jigsaw, figuring out how the pieces fit together to tell a story. We feel like detectives telling a story, learning how to interpret the evidence (a whodunit!). Digging is not just about the items that are found, but also about the people who made and used them. We’ll keep you posted!
Pauline St. Leger, Archaeology Volunteer