Fragments of pottery and broken clay pipe have already been retrieved from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveries about Shakespeare in decades.

　　目前，考古人员已从现场的一个泥洞中挖出一些陶器碎片和残破的黏土管，他们称这些东西可能会引出几十年来有关莎士比亚的一些最有意义的发现。

　　The dig focuses on three areas of the property, which Shakespeare bought in 1597 when he returned to his home town from London having achieved fame – including the so-called knot garden at the rear of the building.

　　这次挖掘主要集中在“新居”的三个地方，其中包括房子后面的“花结园”。“新居”是莎翁功成名就后于1597年从伦敦回到家乡时购置的。

　　Dr Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which owns the site, said: “We do not know if the knot garden was an area used by Shakespeare – it may have been a yard simply used by his servants.

　　这处地产的所有者“莎士比亚出生地基金会”主席戴安娜·欧文博士说：“我们不知道莎士比亚是否使用过‘花结园’，可能只是他的仆人们使用过。

　　“But this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the cesspit was located.”

　　“但这的确会引出一些惊人的发现，尤其是如果这里曾是垃圾场或粪坑所在地。”

　　Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology, added: “Through documentary evidence we know Shakespeare lived at New Place but we have very little information regarding the layout of the house and gardens at this time.

　　伯明翰考古队的凯文·科尔斯说：“通过文献上的证据我们知道，莎士比亚曾居住在‘新居’，但我们对于这所房子和花园的布局知之甚少。