Friday 18 October 2013

Our final day on site, but a busy day!  Ruth & Ann began by photo-cleaning the southern end of the trench, while Lynne & Peter continued where they left off yesterday – levelling off the central area and finding yet more bone suitable for dating.  Meanwhile Maggie was photo-cleaning the northern end.

We were joined mid morning by Chris Gaffney and 6 students from Bradford University, who having looked over the site, began to survey the area in the northern field, which had revealed some interesting features on the geo-phys. 

Lots of activity - cross-section planning, discussion & geo-physics (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

Apparently Chris has some new equipment, which he wanted to try out – the glimpses of their activities which we had from our trench all looked very intriguing!

Gently does it, Ruth! (c) photo by Lynne Primmer 

Vena and Vera arrived at noon, and were quickly persuaded to do some drawing, Roger having finished his photography. Vera and David recorded the profile of the west side of the trench, while Vena, and Alison plotted the cross wall. 

Measurements were taken by Ann, Lynne and Maggie – all done in rotation, while everyone took a short break for lunch.

Maggie demonstrates the relaxed art of cross-section plotting (c) photo by Ruth Spencer

This all having been done to Roger's satisfaction, we began the process of back-filling and re-turfing. Alison & Ruth volunteered to retrieve the pegs and return the stones used to build the cairns for these, to the edge of the two fields. Why did we use so many large stones for this........?

As the rain had started mid afternoon, and gradually became heavier, by the time we had finished, Alison commented that we all looked as if we had mud-wrestling!

Cold? Noooo-oooo....  (c) photo by Lynne Primmer  

Finally everything was packed away in the land-rover, Vera and Peter very nobly volunteered to help Roger unload at the other end so all that was left was the hole in the wall, waiting for the stone-waller.

So that is it for the field-work – reporting, etc, still to come. 

Many thanks to all the volunteers who have taken part in the surveying and the excavation with great good humour and in all sorts of weather. Also our grateful thanks to Roger for his guidance and tolerance in what I trust has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all.  

Ruth Spencer