The dig in 2009 where we found nothing but a single Roman nail

Somewhere in a field outside York, 3 days of rain, 14 volunteers, and all we had to show for it was one corroded iron nail. The site survey said there should have been a villa foundation. We found a nail. The local pub landlord joked we were digging for ghosts. That nail ended up in a drawer at the museum and honestly I still think about that week more than the big finds I've been on since. Has anyone else had a total dud dig that stuck with you for some reason?

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angela_harris19h ago

I used to roll my eyes at people who got all mystical about digs that came up empty. Seemed like a waste of effort to me. But then I had one where we spent two weeks chasing what turned out to be a Victorian trash pit, and honestly, I still remember the quiet of that site better than the actual finds. It kinda rewired how I see the whole thing.