Final Excavation at Abbey Farm
During the last two weeks of August, the eighth and final season of full excavation was carried out at the site of the Roman villa at Abbey Farm, Minster-in-Thanet. Under the direction of Keith Parfitt, assisted by three other professionals, Emma Boast, Ges Moody, and Barry Corke, and supported by Mel Woodgate in the finds tent, some 40 volunteers took part. These were mostly KAS members but included students and others from all over the UK. One participant even picked up the details off the KAS website from her home on the island of Reunion in the middle of the Indian Ocean!
Despite interruptions caused by occasional heavy rain, the excavation exceeded prior expectations with the discovery of unexpected features on three areas of the site.
During the 2003 season some signs were found of a feature, thought to be of 4th century date, in the middle of the villa estate walled enclosure. In the event, this appears to be the remains of a large building - possibly built with thick daub walls - enclosing a double chambered corn drier or, more probably a malting kiln (figs 1 & 2).
Another target this year was the building to the west of the boundary wall. It had been thought that most of this building had been excavated in 2003, but not so. Further excavation this year uncovered the remains
Figs 1 & 2. Excavation in progress of the malt kiln, left to right: (Ges Moody), Paul Hart, Meggy Redmond, Andy Woodgate, and Steve Clifton.
of additional rooms, some of which would have been cut below the foundation level. These included rooms that may have originally enjoyed hypocaustated heating systems and two drainage systems suggesting that there may also have been a couple of baths. One of the drainage channels contained an intact length of ceramic pipe – a quite rare find (fig 3).
During the two weeks at Minster the opportunity was taken to carry out a further geophysical survey of part of the field using the new resistivity meter recently purchased by the Society. This survey appears to have identified the remains of a 40m diameter, circular feature, surrounded by a sub-rectangular enclosure. A trial trench across the circular feature suggested a deep ditch, but further explanation would depend upon an opportunity to revisit the site.
Eight seasons of excavation at Minster have now been completed and a good many of the secrets of the high-class villa estate have now been revealed. We must, first of all, thank Jack Clifton, the owner of Abbey Farm, for his patience with the diggers and interest in the dig. Thanks are also due to Dave Perkins, Keith Parfitt, Emma Boast and the other professionals for the guidance they have given to nearly 200 different amateurs who have participated in the dig. For many of these, Minster was a first experience of archaeological excavation, meeting the KAS objective of providing an opportunity for members to dig.
Participants in recent years will also feel that thanks are due to one of the regular excavators (who prefers to remain anonymous) who has kept up the morale (and the waist lines) by the copious supply of cake!
Chris Pour
Fig. 3 Building of drainage pipe.