Going deeper

Last week we found that the western edge of the plateau constituted of thick layers dated to the 18th and 19th centuries. We found it plausible that large parts of the plateau in this area were constructed quite late. Now it seems like the first assumptions were both right and wrong. Whether the entire western part is post Viking age is still not determined. But it does seem that we have a large cellar in this area. The upper layers are post early 18th century. But beneath we find 17th century layers (with a Kristina coin) and further down emerges perhaps 16th century pottery.  Medieval settlements from Gamla Uppsala have so far been almost non existant despite that we know that the village was the largest in Uppland, an Early Medieval archbiscopal site etcetera. We do not have a definite medieval farm in the trench, but the evidence is accumulating. A high medieval buckle, pottery and the probable cellar pit indicate that we are close to a medieval forerunner of Kungsgården.

Before a heavy rainfall stopped us in the afternoon, some highly interesting layers emerged beneath the floor layers of the post medieval house. Dark layers with lots of soot, coal and sintrified clay show that we have reached the Vendel and Viking period. We will spend the next two days removing the final late layers and get an overall picture of these layers. It more and more seems like we have at least one burnt down house from the Vendel period and some so far unknown kind of Viking age/medieval activites. The next few days will show if this interpretation is correct.