Building A is the structure excavated at Thirlings that was chosen for the experimental (re)construction in our Gyrwe’s farm in Jarrow.
The archaeological remains of the building’s perimeter consisted of two continuous 0.7-0.8 m deep trenches which hosted posts for upright timbers. It was possible to identify 31 negative traces of timbers with an average diameter of approximately 0.3 m. The two trenches defined a slightly irregular rectangle of 12.16 x 6.20 m ca., and were detached from each other in the middle of the long sides of the building, where a pair of opposed doors were opened. In situ traces of one of the doorpost timbers provided a radiocarbon date of 538-655 CE. The timbers were connected by wall planks that left 0.08 m ca. wide negative traces in the filling of the trench, up to a depth of approximately 0.2 m. Inside the structure, 6 postholes of varying diameters were found. Their depth ranged from 0.2 to 0.1 m ca. Another 9 smaller pits were found inside the buildings, 5 in the western section and 4 next to the eastern wall, together with an oval pit that was probably later. Finally, small pits mostly arranged in two rows were excavated outside the long walls of the structure, 17 to the North and 13 to the South.
The excavated site is within an agricultural area that underwent ploughing, and all the superficial levels of the structures have been destroyed. This means that there is no archaeological evidence on the floor of the buildings or on the possible presence of hearths.
