Now established down in Kettlewell was ‘the base camp’ at Ghyll Cottage, so this allowed two of the students to start work examining the soil samples taken the previous day.
On site the last small area of de-turfing was rapidly completed and the excavators were occupied, trowel in hand, carefully cleaning the top soil to reveal what lay underneath – a process that kept the Finds Team active with a steady flow of small finds, animal bone, ceramic finds, pipe stem and even fragments of coloured glass.
Roger demanded that everyone earned their luncheon by carefully moving the poly-tunnel framework upslope from the grassed area and over the now exposed section, ready for whatever the elements may hold in store.
“By the centre, lift and wait for it… carefully and together… move forward…” (photo by Phil Carroll)
Having pulled the huge sheet of visqueen over the hoops and fastened it securely a well-earned lunch was declared for all.
Excavation operations for those on site could now start in earnest and the tasks of removing further top soil and the loose small stones continued as Roger had predicted, the weather turned increasingly inclement.
Dark banks of cloud blew in from the west and the site was treated to a number of short sharp showers – a pattern of weather, which once more demonstrated how varied the conditions could be in such a small area of Upper Wharfedale .
Whilst it rained over Grassington, it held off at Chapel House Wood and vice versa – soon the poly-tunnel began to earn its keep and the approval of those digging – work progressed so well that a halt was called half an hour earlier that usual.
“Under the welcome shelter of the poly-tunnel excavation continues…” (photo by Phil Carroll)
Phil & Pat Carroll
