The final week begins

Meggen updates -

Today was a recording day on site - cleaning up, photographs and planning. This is all in preparation for doing some serious digging over the final three days. There are the two parallel 'ditch' features to figure out and a series of clay layers that don't appear to be the natural subsoil. Some of these areas have a very distinctive 'cobbly' surface, which might mean they were either dug into or perhaps trampled surfaces. After being quite happy thinking we had our boundary ditch, we are now not so sure ... only more investigtion will tell us the answer. And like the classic TV programme that shall remain nameless....we've only 3 days to do it!

Dean writes -

The end of the dig is in sight, evidenced by the fact our group started rather sluggishly today after having a sunny Monday off. We did manage to clean up the site for photographs, however, before a post-break planning session. After demolishing a foot-long Subway at lunch, we were back to the exciting task of cleaning and marking finds from previous days. However, one of the groups (who have not yet owned up to the crime) have clearly enjoyed toiling in the mud so much, that they have been puttings lumps of it in the finds trays, some of which is suspiciously brown and smelly. Nick W's gallant efforts of cleaning lumps of the substance with a toothbrush were to no avail, but have proven the metaphor to be correct, as it was physically impossible to polish a turd.

This is my last blog and so my final opportunity to say how enjoyable the whole dig has been from start to (nearly) the finish. There's been loads to take in, but everyone seems to have been keen to learn. Simon and his team have been great; although, I shall be reserving my final judgement until I know what mark they've given me! Roll on Friday, and a beer in The Falcon.