| Entry: | Pitgraveburrow had bones in it, but no grave cut to speak of.
Today was rich in photographs. Let me refer to my notes (opens up notebook)...
Grave. Feature number 2415: was on the southern edge of the site, about a meter in or so I'd say. I looked at it and said 'Sorry, I can't see anything here, could you point out where the grave is' to which Eva drew out a very small oval shape and I realised that this was not the big person sized grave I was looking for. Then I looked at the sketch and everything came clear, so probably worth noting that looking at sketches helps figure out what I'm supposed to be photographing. Anyway, that one was redeposited loose bones, could be modern, could be Byzantine. So, unit number 14229 was the grave cut for that one, just for reference.
I took another 'after the removal of' shot, that has the little grave featured. The unit that had been removed was 14220 and was part of the Baulk across the middle of the site.
My favourite photo of the day was of the two clay balls found on site. Much excitement was associated with this find, as in hushed tones the words Chacolithic, never before and Neolithic were bandied about, with lots of noised along the lines of don't get too excited yet, wait and see. During my interrogation on the finds I got the following quotes
Tell me about the clay balls: - "Very round."
How do you feel about this find: - "Gleeful"; "I feel like a real archaeologist"
And best of all "He's a ball buster" - re: the fact one was broken. But I liked these photos because I thought they looked pretty true to life, or true to death I suppose would be more appropriate considering it's archaeology. The colours and all that match what I saw, that's what I mean.
F2403 - another grave, neighbouring the redeposited bones. Featured mud-bricks (U13725). The photo was much easier to do than the plan, which I didn't quite get my head round. I did like planning though, so yeah, hopefully can do some more at some point, but could do with some help on technique.
Final photo was U14225, after removal of the clay balls. Not very exciting.
Incidentally, archaeologists are at points not the most clear communicators. This goes for absolutely everyone on site. At some point when faced with the question
"What would you like me to photograph?"
They say "Well, we've got this unit number 12345 here, and well it goes kind of from over here to over there," pointing vaguely at an area from the side assuming I'm laser pointing from their index finger to the ground and see perfectly what they mean. That's ok though, I'm developing a list of questions that I keep in mind to figure out what's going on. Like "Could you show me exactly the area that you want to appear in the photograph" and "Explain exactly what's going on here." And stay quiet until they've got to the end, then check again what I thought I heard.
Also, I forget that I have to ask if I want tools out of the shot. I get this indignant feeling of humph, why you want a trowel in this photo is beyond me, but I'll not complain. I think that's an 8am feeling, you know, when your powers of being a rational human being fade somewhat. Anyway, figuring out that no-one gets annoyed if I politely ask "Could you move that trowel/wheelbarrow/yourself out the shot, please" has been useful today, if not always employed.
Fun story for the day: forgot the whiteboard marker and found myself walking back across the scorched planes. Then I heard this noise that was difficult to place, and being one of an over active imagination decided it must be the sound of one of the famed vicious sheepdog. On my way back I heard an almost unequivocal bark, and legged it towards site with images of rabid dog the size of a horse mauling my face. People were amused.Entered By: N. Christie |
