Golden Hay Field Archeaological Survery

Week 1 - Monday to Friday 2nd - 6th March 2026

On site work has started with two diggers and dumper trucks arriving. Using knowledge gained from ground geophysical survery in recent months and archeaology analysis work started on the first of two primary trenches.

A geophysical survey is a non-intrusive method used to map and image features beneath the Earth's surface. By measuring physical properties like magnetism, electrical resistivity, and density, it allows experts to detect buried structures, voids, and geological anomalies without digging or disrupting the ground

The first primary trench is along the western edge of the field, with digging starting on nothernsite side and working south. The spoil from this is being transferrred by dumper truck to the other end of Golden Hay Field, behind the Village Club.

Archeaologistics have started to dig specific trenches within this, again based on the geophysical survey but also arecheaologist reading of the soil.

A site office in the form of an adapted transport container has been installed in the eastern end of the field. This will be the hub of operations and house the copious amounts of paperwork detailing each trench, its location and what "finds" have been made and where they were discovered.

The site has been made safe with metal barriers to protect the development and secure on site activity. This also includes the need to protect the roots of trees on the border of the site in accordance with the Tree Protection plan (part of Planning requirements)

Week 2 - Monday to Friday 9th - 13th March 2026

The western primary trench has been extended further east across the entire width of the field. Spoil is deposited along the southern edge of this trench and behind the village club.

The soil removed is to a depths of about 1 meter and more in some areas. This is to reveal the ground that was once the surface of the field in late Iron Age and the early Roman era. The Iron Age in Britain ended in AD 43. This transition occurred when the Roman Empire under Emperor Claudius launched a successful full-scale invasion of the island, which brought an end to prehistoric Celtic-tribal rule and transitioned the region into Roman Britain.

Activiy on site has started early, often at 7:30am, which is before the recognised start of 8am allowed under Planning rules. The Tewkesbury Borough Council (TBC) Enforcement was informed by email and telephone with photos/videos evidence.  The TBC Enforcement contacted Thames Valley Archeaological Services (TVAS) who, after a few more days complied with 8am starts.

Week 3 - Monday to Friday 16th - 20th March 2026

Work continues across the western trench to the south with more individual trenches across most of this primary trench. The trench across the norrthern edge now reaches most of the way to the northern corner which us used for access.

The pile of dug earth now almost fills the field behind the village club.

Week 4 - Monday to Friday 23rd - 27th March 2026

The week started with a number of individual trenches being marked with Red and Green flags within the western primary trnech and manual work started in the north eastern corner, in the second primary trench along the northern border of the field.

As the week progressed more Red and Green flags are being deployed and some samples (finds?) have been bagged up, presumably to be recorded.

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Week 5 - Monday to Friday 30th March - 3rd April 2026

On 27th March Thames Valley Archeological Services advised that there is about another 2 weeks of digging, and they plan to have an open day for the village with trips to view the finds and trenches for those able.

They have confirmed this lookls like an Iron Age / Roman period agricultural settlement with pottery and coins so far.

3rd April is Easter Good Friday Bank Holiday so this is a 4 day working week. The archaeologists have been busy working on inidivual trenches near the southern edge of the first primary trench. More samples, or at lease bags of soil have been taken away to to analysed.  There are blue markings adjacent to the individual trench, suggesting that the trench may be extended based on what they have deduced or found so far.

All the heavy machinery has left the site which suggest the two primary trenches are the area of investigation.

Over 30 villagers have expressed an interest in viewing the site and the finds and DCS are in contact with Thames Valley Archeological Services to help coordinate engagement with the village.

Week 7 - Monday to Friday 13th - 17th April 2026

Work in the western primary trench is coming to a conclusion with more surveying of the southern edge of this trench,  recording and cataloging. By the end of the week just one indiviual trench is left covered over the weekend to protect the work so far.

Week 8 - Monday to Friday 20th - 25th April 2026

Work has shifted from the western primary trench to the northern primary trench this week with only one individual trench being surveyed on the western boundary.

Week 9 - Monday to Friday 27th April - 1st May 2026

Work in the northern primary trench is well underway with inidivual trenches extending across the nothern boundary towards the field entrance.

Week 10 - Monday to Sunday 4th May - 10th May 2026

Work is progressing across the northern primary trench  and looks likely to continue into next week. 

The Thames Valley Archaeological Services (TVAS) team are running an Open Day on 10th May at the Village Club, as per poster shown here. 

The Open Day includes walks across the site and displays of "finds" with the Story of the dig.

The Open Day is being supported by the Dumbleton Conservation Society and we are thankful to TVAS, Centaur Homes and ADAS for making this possible and especially Helen Daniels the TVAS Regional Manager for arranging the event and engaging with the community.

Week 11 - Monday to Fridaay 11th May - 15th May 2026

Following the very successful Open Day on Sunday, work has continued in the Northern primary trench with the identification of another burial location. We know from the Open day there is work to do idenitfying more post holes for an iron age dwelling and futher work planned on the grain drier. The grain drier suggests that a higher ranking Roman was supplied nearby, and may also have been a supply site for travellers on the Salt Way, a roman road to transport salt from the brine springs of Droitwich, a place where salt naturally bubbled up from the ground at a concentration twenty times stronger than sea water. (See more details on the Open Day page)

Week 12 - Monday to Friday 17th May - 22nd May 2026

Work has continued to progress across the northern primary trench and is near the end of that area by the end of the week. The Grain Drier has been worked on with several bags of soil being taken away for detailed sifting and analysis. As few more areas have been marked out for the work next week.

Feedback from the Archeaological Regional Manager and site leader, Helen Daniel is that the work will complete next week.

The presentation of from the Open day remains in place and has been enjoyed by more visitors to the Village Club, for example during the regular Tuesday evening Fish & Chips event.

Week 13 - Tuesday 26th - 30th May 2026 (Monday 25th was a bank holiday)

As of Wednesday this week there is small area that has been pegged out to be excavated. Work on the grain drier is nearly finished. Pictures here show the current state with a clear channel to duct heat from a fire into the drier.  The fire impacts can be more clearly seen now as darkened soil and discoloured stone.  Several bags of material been assembled for further analysis off site. 

Week 14 - Monday 1st  to Friday 5th June 2026 

The archaeological team returned for a few days this week to finalised the work and clear the site, marking the end of the archealogoical site activity. Further work is being undertaken off-sire as the team analyse the finds and write the report.