Tarradale Through Time Blog
Barrow Cemetery Dig - Opening Weekend
by Anne Coombs - 23:52 on 01 September 2019
Three days of preparation last week with a few very tempting patterns in the soil, lovely weather and we were ready to go.
Saturday morning 9.00a.m. the rain was torrential with a forecast of 99% chance of rain for the whole day. 27 people braved the elements and were registered for the excavation. We were then treated to an introduction to the Tarradale Through Time project by Eric Grant the chair of the project and a description of the site from Steve Birch the excavation supervisor. Both were, as always, inspiring and enthusing. But outside the rain, if anything, increased in ferocity. Coffee time and the new and old excavators got to know each other. 11.30 the decision was taken to go home as the rain showed no sign of going away and the site was far too wet for work.
Sunday, rain again, but crossing the Cromarty bridge a rainbow appeared and little patched of blue. A site tour began at 10 and by 11 people were cleaning back the rain smudged trenches. Lunchtime and we were able to sit outside the site tent in the sunshine and the trenches were beginning to look very smart. By the end of the day we had achieved a great deal and everyone was settling into their allotted tasks and were almost reluctant to straighten their backs, empty the final buckets and wheel barrows and go home for dinner. We now have exciting shapes in the soil and already 4 visitors and 3 dogs have been taken round the site.
After yesterday’s damp start tonight we are well on the way to an exciting fortnight of excavation. More to follow……
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