The Big Summer Dig - week 7

Week 7 of the Big Summer Dig

Trench 10 Soil stratigraphy - vitally important for fieldwork archaeology. Within the layers is the evidence of how and why they formed and their sequential deposition over time. Small finds recovered from within each respective layer can help date that layer and create a chronology of the sequence. Is that a post hole surrounded by clay in the foreground?

Colin S, Jill and Phil in meaningful conversation. Our summer digs not only provide volunteers with practical hands-on archaeological fieldwork experience but, equally important, is the sharing of skills and knowledge between volunteers coming from all walks of life. It works both ways!

Trench 1 Sarah using a drawing frame to record accurately a plan of newly uncovered features.

Jo using a beam compass to plot measured features onto his trench plan

This unusually large boulder, set at 90 degrees to the Craigwell Burn, looks interesting, but what was its purpose? As we continue to excavate the area, we hope to find the evidence to answer this and other such questions.