Ancient artifacts!

During our survey day, while some focused on bugs and others on mosses, I walked around looking, like a child, for pretty stones.

There are some advantages to looking out for anything rather than a specific thing.

Where we were, there had recently been work digging some ponds, so the soil at the surface could once have been buried feet down. And, of course, the area was disturbed in the 1950s when the reservoir was built.

I found these.

There were also some bones and bits of pottery.

Lisa joined in the hunt and by the end we had quite a collection.

Mischa was quite excited. I mean, OK, it doesn't compare with the icthyosaur discovered at nearby Rutland Water, but not every nature reserve can hope to boast something like that.

The tooth though. It's probably a horse*. Yet, what if it's an aurochs? Or a mammoth!!! I think it's a horse. Still, it was a long ago horse.

*My archaeologist friend says sheep. Somewhat disappointing.