It’s hard to believe it’s only the second day on site. Everyone has settled into a steady rhythm of digging, shovelling and barrowing. The roadies have done an excellent job erecting all the gazebos which will shelter us and the tools in the changeable conditions that is all part of an Irish summer. Well done! Sod is off in all the squares and we are working our way through an early modern layer with fragments of blackware, stoneware and china filling the finds trays. The Pearson avenue is on view again with its stone lined edges and cobbled surface. In some squares, we are already coming down on the medieval walls and some fragments of medieval floor tiles, medieval potsherds (including a rimsherd which is probably French Saintonge). What a heavenly moment on site when Jason came down with a tray of scrumptious, freshly made chocolate chip cookies, which vanished in seconds before they could be photographed. Thank you Jason! Conor Brady paid us a visit and brought his sieve which he kindly loans to us each year. Our archaeologist/artist in residence, John Sunderland, began his creative journey today.
Our new tool shed for the site equipment.
Uncovering the eighteenth century avenue.
Jason’s empty tray, the chocolate chip cookies are all gone.
Bea and Anelia discovered an ancient fossil when trowelling in the cuttings.
Mick found a rimsherd of possible French Saintonge pottery.
Anthony found an elegant knife.
Alex revealed the medieval wall.
Aidan, Áine and Anthony (Photo: Grace McCullen).
Mary directs John and Adam, two newcomers both proud graduates of DCU (Photo: Grace McCullen).
Andy, Craig and Alex, the cool dudes cutting.
Planning the day ahead with Geraldine, Mick and Morris (Photo: Grace McCullen).
The large crew (we count 22) at work in the damp afternoon.
Site co-director Geraldine with Conor Brady of DKIT.
A beautiful frog and a beautiful frog photo by Mick Mongey.
Beaubec Excavations 