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Public archaeolgy in action (and me – my curiosity only just survived)

For most people in this area, those that don’t yet know about the marvels and wonders of the Prescot Street website, the white hoardings around the site could hide all manner of things… The rumblings and grindings and arrival and departure of plant give the impression that something huge and impressive is under construction behind the white boards, all to be revealed at a later date… Some local residents that grew up in the area, or those that study or work close by, can perhaps remember the previous incarnations of the site as housing, bomb-damaged site or car park.

But what about the archaeology? Would anyone consider that?

And doesn’t it make them curious? What else is going on?

Using information boards is one of the principal methods of communicating the past to the general public. The content of this type of communicative text is hugely significant – for most observers, this will be the only information they recieve about the history and archaeology of the Prescot Street site. A website is all well and good (very good I think), but your average internet attention span is low – and not everyone has internet access. So for all local residents, office workers, passers by, lorry drivers, rear view mirrorites, hotel visitors, lost folk looking for Tower Hill Tube Station, church goers, drinkers, curry aficionados and school-drop parents I give you….

The Prescot Street Dig information boards.

Design by Paula Carvalho

Text and images created by Guy and myself.

With the kind support of Grange Hotels

Feel free to drop by and have a nosy.

prescot, 75 Photos

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Context [2008] possibly a ditch with an urn A Georgian wishing well (1920) Anies & Tomasz and tomb burial (1839) Across site looking north west Looking South West across Zone 4 South east end of site in Zone 4 Zone 4 South East Across site, looking east Working shot looking south east Looking south across Zone 2 A spot of light (expertly supervised) machining... Gary was hypnotised by the big yellow machine... [1222] Pit with votive offering Anies actually does work sometimes too. Chaz holding the prism for David H Pooley shovelling technique #1 #2 #3.  Ionut remains unimpressed. [1222] being dug by Liz Greg and Adrian [1222] and Liz [1222] and Liz Site shot looking south south-west Claire, from our Chester office, getting a piece of Prescot action View across site looking south Top part of an amphora, from Greg's big pit Greg doesn't look too pleased about his amphora [1169] Zone 2 north end Site looking north west Gary Adrian and Greg helping the metal detectorist David planning a nasty splodge Disc mouthed flagons Disc mouthed flagons Disc mouthed flagons Disc mouthed flagons Disc mouthed flagons A Poulaine Shoe Leather offcuts Shoe sole and vamp Shoe sole and vamp Trench 3 Trench 2 Pits in Trench 2 Trench 2 After the Dig Shoe and Trowel Shoe and Trowel Shoe and Trowel Trench 3 Trench 3 Trench 3 Trench 3 Trench 3 Trench 1 Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 1 Trench 1 Trench 1 Trench 2 Trench 2 Trench 2 facing south east Trench 2 Trench 2 Basement Trench 2 Basement Trench 1 Roman burials from 2006 evaluation Last remaining building on site - now demolished Last building Prescot Street Site Hut Medieval leather shoe sole and vamp Leather shoe Diggers at work CIMG0425.JPG