The first day, Sunday, was mainly taken
up with getting everything set up – the dig 'incident' room was
made ready, we got some training on the new GPS, and I gave everyone
an overview of the island's history and archaeology. There is also
the important process of getting to know the island- where does the
best coffee? [Pilgrim's Coffee House] What's the best beer in the
Crown and Anchor? [Secret Kingdom] What on earth is 'broon fish'?
[battered smoked haddock!] Anyone who has ever been involved in a
running a dig will also be familiar with the almost obsessive
checking of weather forecasts and looking fretfully at cloud cover.
Visibility during my walking tour of the island was so poor, we
couldn't even seen the mainland, let alone the Farne Islands or
Bamburgh Castle.
On Monday, we finally began the topsoil
strip. Watching the JCB slowly take off the topsoil and the bucket
reveal the first site of underlying layers there is always a sense
that this is the moment of truth. Truthfully, I always veer between
wild optimism and complete pessimism. Particularly in a crowd-funded
research excavation, one can't help feel the pressure of expectation
from the dig team and the other supporters of the project. It's hard
not to feel a little disappointed when the strip fails to reveal
perfectly preserved, clearly early medieval structural remains, even
though you know this was never going to happen.
Happily though, there are 'things' to
be seen; there are confused patches of rubble, spreads of shell and
clusters of stone hinting at walls or floors. We don't yet know their
date or function, but there is a sense of relief that we do have
something and the volunteers will
have something to excavate over the next fortnight.
Today,
finally we started with the main dig team, mainly comprising our
crowd-funders, but also a handful of Durham students. Again, there
are new names to get to grips with and new dynamics to work out. Some
have dug before, some have never been on an archaeological site in
their lives. Once we get them in the trench, we start to see their
different approaches. Some people are nervous and tentative, worried
they'll damage the archaeology. Others can't wait to get properly
stuck in and move spoil on a large scale. We need to chivvy the slow
one and reign in the enthusiasts. Slowly, but surely, the surfaces
start to get cleaned and finds made. Some pottery is clearly 19th
century, but some looks earlier, perhaps medieval; there are bits of
animal bone, and excitingly a couple of human teeth. There is enough
coming up to keep people enthusiastic and engaged during the long
afternoon.
One of
the distinctive aspects of this project that is already making itself
apparent is the public engagement. One of the main footpaths across
the island is straddled by two of our trenches. There is a large
footfall, with almost all the passers-by stopping, even if only
briefly, to look over our fences. Some just stare and move on,
others leap in with questions- what are you looking for? Why are
you digging here in particular? How long are you here for? Most are
visitors, but we've lots of interest and support from the islanders
too. As the day goes on, we really start to appreciate the challenge
of talking and engaging with all the people interested in our work,
whilst also keeping an eye on volunteers and the archaeology itself.
Tomorrow,
we're back in the trenches, the project will start to get into its
rhythm. Workers will know where to go, who to speak to when they are
stuck – the dig will start to hum.
