Penk Valley Archaeology was formed in 1982, the aim was to investigate the archaeology of the valley and surrounds of the river Penk in Staffordshire.
In 1984 a multi period site, dating back to at least the Neolithic, was discovered at Acton Trussell, a village to the south of the county town of Stafford.
The excavation has not been able to place any of the many post holes and gullies to this late stone-age period, but decorated pottery and many flint tools, as well as flint wasters or flakes, show occupation during the late stone-ages.
A small amount of microliths however suggest that that was at least activity in the area during the earlier Mesolithic age.
Most of the many post holes and gullies belong to the Bronze and Iron-Ages, as the Iron-Age family farming at Acton Trussell became romanised towards the end of the 1st century, and, has their wealth increased with improving farming methods, we see the first rectangular buildings appear.
Two of these 17m long timber building have been identified within a ditched enclosure, there are possibly more inside the confines of the churchyard.
In the 2nd century, these timber buildings are replaced with another, still timber, but now sitting on stone foundations, most of this is inside the confines of the churchyard, however the north-east corner of the building protrudes into the excavation area, the old ditched enclosure is reduced in area, widened and made deeper to accommodate the new building.
In the later 2nd century a semi-hexagonal wing, with apsidal inner, was added, again in timber on stone.
During the 3rd century the west leg, together with the western ends of the north and south legs, of the enclosure ditch was deliberately filled, this allowed the villa to be extended westward, and would include a bathhouse, possibly not the first.
In 2010 the group carried out a watching brief in the churchyard, covering the installation of a water supply and sewage disposal pipework for the installation of toilets and tea making facilities in the church, evidence of the villa extensions was found during this observation.
This extension allowed the original build and wing, now old circa 150 years, to be demolished and rebuilt completely in stone, sometime after 340AD.
Digging is now temporarily suspended whilst the group investigate another Neolithic/Bronze-age site just one mile to the south-east.
There is a permanent exhibition of artifacts, photos and drawings on site, but prior arrangement to view must be made, use the contact form.
In 1984 a multi period site, dating back to at least the Neolithic, was discovered at Acton Trussell, a village to the south of the county town of Stafford.
The excavation has not been able to place any of the many post holes and gullies to this late stone-age period, but decorated pottery and many flint tools, as well as flint wasters or flakes, show occupation during the late stone-ages.
A small amount of microliths however suggest that that was at least activity in the area during the earlier Mesolithic age.
Most of the many post holes and gullies belong to the Bronze and Iron-Ages, as the Iron-Age family farming at Acton Trussell became romanised towards the end of the 1st century, and, has their wealth increased with improving farming methods, we see the first rectangular buildings appear.
Two of these 17m long timber building have been identified within a ditched enclosure, there are possibly more inside the confines of the churchyard.
In the 2nd century, these timber buildings are replaced with another, still timber, but now sitting on stone foundations, most of this is inside the confines of the churchyard, however the north-east corner of the building protrudes into the excavation area, the old ditched enclosure is reduced in area, widened and made deeper to accommodate the new building.
In the later 2nd century a semi-hexagonal wing, with apsidal inner, was added, again in timber on stone.
During the 3rd century the west leg, together with the western ends of the north and south legs, of the enclosure ditch was deliberately filled, this allowed the villa to be extended westward, and would include a bathhouse, possibly not the first.
In 2010 the group carried out a watching brief in the churchyard, covering the installation of a water supply and sewage disposal pipework for the installation of toilets and tea making facilities in the church, evidence of the villa extensions was found during this observation.
This extension allowed the original build and wing, now old circa 150 years, to be demolished and rebuilt completely in stone, sometime after 340AD.
Digging is now temporarily suspended whilst the group investigate another Neolithic/Bronze-age site just one mile to the south-east.
There is a permanent exhibition of artifacts, photos and drawings on site, but prior arrangement to view must be made, use the contact form.