Dig Updates
Follow all the archaeology action from onsite at Sudeley Castle as it happens.
Farewell to Sudeley Castle for 2025!
We’ve reached the end of our 2025 dig exploring the lost medieval village of Sudeley in the grounds of Sudeley Castle, and what a dig it’s been!
Fuelled by hints of unusual medieval buildings, walls, pottery, and even remnants of meals, our goal this year was to gather more evidence about Sudeley’s mysterious settlement lost to history.
While we can’t yet confirm that we’ve uncovered the village itself, our finds have added incredible depth to our understanding of medieval life in Gloucestershire.
It’s a great reminder that you never know what you’ll uncover until you start digging!
Finds including pottery and metalworking waste, animal bones and horseshoes, the remains of stone buildings and even the base of a possible windmill have offered a vivid glimpse into daily medieval life, hinting at farming, grain processing and food production happening here.
Now, our team of experts will study each find to learn more about its age, origin, and what it can reveal about life here from the 11th to the 15th century, and we can’t wait to share what they uncover!
The curious case of the cat in Trench 21
A particularly interesting find from this year at Sudeley is this pair of cat tibia (lower leg bones) from Trench 21.
These little legs are more insightful than you might first think, helping us to build our understanding of the site here at Sudeley.
In medieval settings, cats were common companions and pest-controllers, so this find fits with our growing picture of a domestic or perhaps farmstead environment.
We wonder if this cat was a beloved pet, a hardworking mouse catcher, or even a wild cat drawn to stored grain or livestock?
Final Day Finds!
It may be our last day here at Sudeley for 2025, but the finds keep on coming…
Here’s a fab bone flute, found by Melissa and Sarah!
More pottery puzzle pieces!
It’s exciting to uncover even more pottery, but this season at Sudeley has been especially rewarding, as we’ve been fortunate to find lots of pottery sherds that fit back together – helping us to (literally) piece together the past!
Here’s Jessica with two matching pieces from Trench 21 (and a third that was found later!), and Paul with two joining sherds from a cooking pot – all cleaned beautifully!
Our last Finds team of 2025!
These lovely Venturers mark our final Finds team of Sudeley – and of 2025!
We love it when a good 'pot' comes together!
Here’s Shawn with two pieces of pottery that fit together. How satisfying is that!?
Join our Sudeley Castle livestream tomorrow at 12pm!
You never know who might make a guest appearance…
From prehistory to pottery!
Today in the Finds Room, we’re traveling through time – from Helen’s ancient fossil, to Heidi’s beautifully crafted pottery piece!
Follow our progress
Follow the latest archaeology action from Sudeley Castle as it happens.
