THE ground at New Place and Nash’s House, in Stratford-upon-Avon, was harder than first imagined as Prof Stanley Wells, chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, struggled to cut the first turf at the Shakespeare ‘dig’ on Friday.
After hearing advice from project manager Richard Kemp, Prof Wells tried to officially mark the start of the archeological excavation into William Shakespeare’s past.
The proceedings were temporarily halted as Prof Wells struggled to cut the turf and Mr Kemp stepped in to help,.
As Prof Wells made his second—and successful—attempt, pictured left, he declared it an exciting moment. He joked that he felt like the first gravedigger in Hamlet, but he was hoping not to find a skull—not even Shakespeare’s skull.
Until the end of October, visitors to Stratford will be able to watch as Birmingham Archaeology, from the University of Birmingham, unearth the foundations of the house which was demolished in 1759.
A team of archeologists and volunteers will be working on the dig seven days a week, to excavate the area where Shakespeare’s final home and courtyard stood. A view-ing platform has been installed for visitors to peek over the shoulders of those undertaking the dig.
Three areas are being excavated—one large trench will run from Chapel Street end of the property up to the end of the inner courtyard, a second will investigate the area currently occupied by the herb garden, as well as one quarter of the knot garden at the rear of the building.
Dr Diana Owen, director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, said: “We do not know if the knot garden was used by Shakespeare—it may have been a yard simply used by his servants, but this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the cesspit was located.”
Project manager Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology at the University of Birmingham, told the Herald: “This is a very unique opportunity, a once in a lifetime experience.
“We are excavating the site a little bit at a time, by digging just 10cm. This is going to be really slow, but all the soil will be searched and hopefully sieved. All the finds will then be washed and processed on site.”
Mr Kemp added: “I think this is the equivalent moment to when Howard Carter opened Tutan-khamun’s tomb.
“The world is holding its breath to see what the dig will uncover.”
Source: Stratford Herald
