I became aware of the Council for British Archaeology in the mid-fifties. Reading through one of their publications I saw a request for volunteers to assist with a dig at Canterbury. I didn’t think twice, my holidays were settled. I would spend one week assisting a team of archaeologists and enthusiasts unearthing an already active excavation. The year was around 1955.
Much of Canterbury had suffered war damage and the purpose of this excavation was to map out as much of the area as was possible before rebuilding, repairs and such like commenced. The work was time sensitive and this particular site was taking place under the shadows of the cathedral.
My first impression was one of amazement. In order for me to join the group of workers I had to descend by ladder into a trench many feet deep. Everything was neat and the walls of the trench clearly showed (by the different strata colorings and rock formation) the approximate historic levels that had been unearthed. We were working below the Roman era.
Part of my amazement was the realization of just how much the earth sinks over the decades and how vegetation and growth so quickly can cover and hide wonders of the past. I was lost in another world. Everyone was so helpful to me for this was my first ever exposure to the real thing.
One day I became really excited, for by gently easing my trowel along the wall edge I felt the promise of a treasure trove. I tirelessly poked, brushed, scraped and gently eased a fairly large size of pottery from the trench wall. It seemed to be a fairly large chunk of a plate. Hastily I gave it to the excavation leader who took a quick look and told me to add it to a certain pile of pottery. Learned eyes scanned the item and probably considered it quite mundane but to me- well, not really a treasure trove but a find of some importance nevertheless.
Those piles of pottery had to be washed, labeled and documented; all part of daily work. Every day I learnt something new. Under the direction of experienced tutorage I/we found the site of an Anglo Saxon cesspit, and an area that probably was used as a fire hearth complete with a few bones lying around. We discovered where the posts of a house might have been, picked up lumps of wattle and daub and generally mapped out in our minds what kind of people had lived in this very spot.
The excavation was still ongoing but my week had come to an end. It was a splendid experience. May I say thank you Council for British Archaeology for being the catalyst for part of my interest in history. The wonderful memories of this dig have stayed with me all my life.
Elisabeth Quinton Leduc, Alberta, Canada
