Category Archives: Excavations

Returfed and ready to go

Posted on August 13, 2011 by admin

We spent today minimising evidence of our excavations: backfilling and returfing our trenches. The last few hardy volunteers made a sterling effort and we are grateful for their unflagging enthusiasm. Special thanks go to two of today’s volunteers: Peter came … Continue reading →

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Let them eat cake!

Posted on August 12, 2011 by admin

Second last day on site was a mixture of finishing excavation, recording and continuing with backfilling. We welcomed back Roland and Jenny who drove all the way back up from Beauly. Unfortunately Roland was not rewarded with a Pictish grave! … Continue reading →

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Disentangling Nybster

Posted on August 11, 2011 by admin

We have reached that point in the excavation where we need to resolve the important questions that our Pictish building is presenting us with. As usual, things are more complicated than they appeared at ground level, and now we need … Continue reading →

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Pottery, puddles and paving

Posted on August 10, 2011 by admin

The weather made site pretty unpleasant again today, but our trusty trowellers pushed on until the site became unworkable. Good progress was made in both the Jelly Baby house and the building to the north west of it. Local volunteer … Continue reading →

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Picking apart the Picts

Posted on August 9, 2011 by admin

Another wet and windy day on site but we still had a core group of around ten volunteers. Visitor numbers were also very high with a good number coming down to site after visiting the Caithness Broch Centre. Colin continued … Continue reading →

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Wet weather gear recommended…

Posted on August 8, 2011 by admin

We arrived on site this morning to blustery wind and rain, but had a good team on hand who persevered throughout the less than favourable conditions. We were all rather muddy by 5pm, but our determination was rewarded with a … Continue reading →

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Contact with the Romans

Posted on August 5, 2011 by admin

Bad weather on site today: rain and wind but our hardy volunteers persevered. Colin continued digging outside the rampart confirming that the rampart and ditch were monumental. It is incredible how much rubble and earth Colin has moved in two … Continue reading →

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Progress on Day 3

Posted on August 3, 2011 by admin

Work today focussed mainly on the building in the northern area of the trench (OB1) as Paul continued in his painstaking task of drawing the rest of the trench to scale. The walls in OB1 are becoming clearer as rubble … Continue reading →

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Iron knife

Posted on August 3, 2011 by admin

The bone handled knife found by Jenny yesterday.

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HRH Prince of Wales visits Nybster Broch

Posted on August 2, 2011 by admin

Second day on site was very exciting and eventful. Following a tour of the Caithness Broch Centre HRH Prince Charles visited the site. He met various members of the excavation team, including pupils from Keiss Primary School. Graeme gave a … Continue reading →