Preparing Excavation Area 1

Removing backfill from Excavation Area 1
Removing backfill from Excavation Area 1. © AAIA; photo by Hannah Gwyther
by Hannah Gwyther
Archaeologist

Much of the work in the early days of the excavation season requires measurements relying on survey data from previous years to ascertain where to excavate.

The next phase is to remove the schist slabs placed over last year’s excavations to protect the surface, and then to remove the backfill which had been placed into the trench to protect it.

Here are some photographs of the work taking place in Excavation Area 1 which is being supervised this year, as last year, by Ivana Vetta.

Removing schist slabs from Excavation Area 1
Removing schist slabs and geo-textile which had been placed over backfill to protect Excavation Area 1. © AAIA; photo by Hannah Gwyther

Marking out the boundary of a trench in Excavation Area 1
More site clearing…. © AAIA; photo by Hannah Gwyther
Removing schist slabs
More removal of schist slabs. There is a lot of heavy physical work in archaeology. © AAIA; photo by Hannah Gwyther
Building a spoil heap
Team members, Prue Newton and Olivier Vanwalleghen, build a wall to contain the spoil heap, where the soil and rocks excavated from the trench is placed – later to be replaced into the trench as backfill. © AAIA; photo by Hannah Gwyther

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