News from Day 3

We managed to get quite a bit done today although the task ahead is still a bit daunting - we have a small hardworking team, but a big trench!  Hopefully  a few more volunteers will turn up this week to help us tackle some of the cleaning back.

The main objective was to clean back over the 'small enclosure' to help define the features in advance of planning.  We have a really clear entrance to the enclosure, which may have some pits or postholes around it.  We also clearly have features inside the enclosure; one of these looks like a ring ditch (the remains of a small timber or turf and timber house).  The other main feature in the trench is a bit puzzling at the moment - we have a few ideas and we'll be eager to excavate some of this feature to get an idea of its use.



The SE corner of our small enclosure - looks amazing! You might be able to just see that it cuts what looks like another ring ditch structure (on the right).

The afternoon was spent planning - these are the measured drawings we do before we excavate.  The students and our volunteer Tom did a great job.  They were all guided by Leaf - an old archaeology friend who is great at training and getting people motivated.  We even had our first find today.  It didn't come from any particular feature, but when we were cleaning up the small enclosure area this morning.  We think it is slag - a type of metalworking debris - and it is very green in colour, which might suggest copper present.  A dinner of veggie haggis to look forward to for me - and maybe a wee whiskey tonight.