Adze marks the spot?
Good things happen when the sun shines. And that was certainly the case today.
First thing in the morning Nicola and Yasmin were set to work in the northern cell of the Neolithic building’s western end chamber – the “proto-dresser”. And this afternoon Yasmin recovered the first ceramic fragments on site. They weren’t big and, as such, won’t give us a clue as to the type nor date of pottery, but it was a welcome find.
So far, pottery has been notable by its absence – a strange situation for a possible house. Yasmin’s find has reassured us that we might encounter more telling sherds as we continue working down towards the building’s floor.
At the east end of the trench, Matt and John were working on the area overlooking to probable Bronze Age additions to the earlier building. As the afternoon wore on Colin thought he had spotted a wall line.
A burst of excavation later and it seems he was correct – a wall face of the original Neolithic building that might relate to another entrance at the south-eastern end.
But we’ve saved the best until last.
Xan, Aiden and Zoe were excavating a section of the suspected cairn south of the Neolithic building to see if they could glean any clues as to its role. As time passed things were not looking hopeful – as the stones were removed from the circular feature nothing was appearing to take their place.
But then, lying flat on the surface, was a stunning example of a flaked stone tool – probably a mattock or adze. It’s highly unlikely this ended up there by accident so must have been placed before being covered by stones. This gives us renewed hope that there’s something interesting still lying beneath.
Zoe holding the flaked stone tool from beneath the cairn rubble. (📷 Sigurd Towrie)
