A rainy and windy Saturday at Oystermouth Castle today is day 13 of our dig and one of the most challenging yet. Our volunteers for the day ranged in age from 10 to retired, all were eager and willing to lend a hand on one of the less commodious days we have experienced so far in this community led dig.
Our finds specialist Andy Sherman took charge of a group of three youngsters Alice, Luke and Adam and their dads Andrew and David who had come to Oystermouth to spend their day washing and sorting finds. Andy and his team washed and sorted throughout the morning and after lunch working through the rainy conditions to carry out this important task that helps us date the archaeological features we have been excavating and allowing us a glimpse into the past.
Rob Dunning our Project Director guided our volunteers around the site this morning filling them in on all that had been done so far and what he hoped we would achieve today and explaining the archaeology that has already been uncovered in Trenches 1, 2 and 3. The volunteers were divided into two groups and assigned tasks for the morning, Rob decided that we would focus our energies today on resolving some issues in Trenches 1 and 2, that had been left over from the preceding days. Ian and Lynne were working in northern end of Trench 1, attempting to clean up the stone rubble which we suspect is overlying the square base of the west drum tower (similar to that at Chepstow Castle), whilst John and Michael we doing hard labour, finishing off digging out and cleaning up the sondage which had been begun earlier in the week to provide a slice through the archaeology in the middle of the trench.
Julie, Elise and Charles were working in Trench 2 and under Rob’s supervision they cleaned back and dug off the remaining rubble and subsoil spread, which was overlying the natural bedrock. Unfortunately, Rob had to leave us in the afternoon and was unable to see the good work that was achieved despite the downpour that eventually ended our days work an hour early.
Cloe Gerrard, Archaeological Planning Officer GGAT and supervisor for the day.
Arrived on site Saturday 11 July on a grey drizzly damp morning - feeling like an old relic looking for old relics.The afternoon ended early due to a torrential downpour that left me soaking wet , tired and muddy. Loved every minuite of it. So much so that I came back on the Sunday to glorious sunshine this time with the added excitemnet of the Red Arrows fly past - were they really doing an aerial display or checking out the dig? Thank you all for a fabulous weekend with good company especially Chloe - who was encouraging through out. Hope you get bette soon Rob - All the Best - Lynne Mcbride
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