Dig Diary – desperately seeking signs of summer!
Day Six
Monday, July 1, 2024
Your diary writer is not a huge fan of hot, sunny weather. Anything over 15 deg C and he starts to wilt. But today, he was not alone in looking skyward and pleading for warmer, drier conditions.
The day had dawned grey and misty as the diggers gathered on site. Among them were new arrivals – a mix of old and new faces all ready to get down to the archaeology.
So into the trenches we went – to uncover floor surfaces and get on with the work. But it wasn’t long before the forecast rain and strong winds set in. And out came the floor coverings again before everyone trooped out of the trenches to seek shelter.
Kudos to the day’s first tour group, who, led by Sigurd, battled through some atrocious conditions before departing absolutely drenched. Ditto to the groups of Kirkwall Grammar School pupils (although the second contingent had an altogether more pleasant experience after the rain cleared around 1pm).
Fortunately the drier, brighter conditions allowed a return to the trenches and after the second mopping-up operation of the day, work was able to resume.
As well as work inside the buildings, records were checked and double checked as supervisors reacquainted themselves with their buildings and the delights within.
The weather disruptions mean there’s not much to report today, but fingers crossed we’ll get a full day of digging in tomorrow.
Back on site today was Jim Rylatt, Structure Twelve’s supervisor. Jim’s return saw the building’s floor uncovered (briefly) in the morning before the improving weather in the afternoon allowed him to come up with a plan for this season.
As you might remember from last year, the situation in, and beneath, Twelve got incredibly complicated. A narrow sondage inside the building revealed multiple features lying underneath, and pre-dating, Twelve.
Although one definitely related to Structure Twenty-Eight, Twelve’s known predecessor, the others were slightly more perplexing and included what may be part of another earlier building, Structure Twenty-Four, voids potentially relating to the trench-spanning “mega drain” and assorted masonry.
Clearly there was a lot going on in the area before Structure Twelve was raised around 3100BC, but exactly what could not be fully understood in such a small window.
Things were further complicated by the appearance another wall section emerging from the floor of Structure Twelve and running across the middle of its northern section. This wall does not fit the footprint of known earlier buildings so what it represents remained unclear.
By close of business today Jim had formulated a strategy and briefed his team on the goals for this season. The investigative work will kick-off properly tomorrow (weather permitting!)
Before signing off for today, we’ll jump back to yesterday and the welcome visit from members of Orkney’s Young Archaeologists Club. Site director Nick gave the youngsters a tour of the dig before they tried their hand at some excavation at the top of Trench T.
Now, before I trudge off in search of dry clothes, a reminder that a series of tours of our exhibition in the Orkney Museum gets under way this week. Each free tour is open to a maximum of 20 people and need to be booked.
Click here for more details and booking links.
See you tomorrow.
