On Saturday 18th April, members of Wyre Archaeology visited the fields south of Cockerham church to put to rest several stories surrounding the area. Where Roman mosaics really seen in the field? Was there a dead sheep covering the mosaic? What was the purpose of the worked stone wall in the middle of the field? Some answers resulted.
Fortunately, with the help of a digger, a large deep trench was cut across a feature previously pin-pointed by a GPR survey. Within the trench there was a further cut at right-angles to the main trench filled wth stone.
Cut within the alluvial layer this appears to be a very early field drain.
The above photo shows the well/drain/sump/cattle trough prior to removing the debris.
The feature was used as a cattle trough but it was definitely over-engineered for the purpose.
The above two images show a very substantial door jamb. Difficult to see on the image but it is chamfered on two of the sides. Found at the entrance of one of the fields – it must have come from an important building.
Group photo of members on the site.