Days 8 & 9: Community Groups visits
Now that the bulk of the excavation work is complete, we opened up the site to visitors: either volunteers who had participated earlier, or organised groups linked to PHLP.
On Wednesday the 72 Seasons project arranged a visit. This is a group of 15 women and children from the DEEN centre in Brierfield who have been participating in a 12 week 'connecting to nature for wellbeing' activity. A number of the women had expressed an interest in the excavation so we organised a trip over the hill to see it. Everyone was very excited to arrive and see a real life 'dig' like on TV. Both women and children had a go at trowelling and hoped to uncover buried treasure! The finds were discussed and we talked about how pottery and earthenware was so important before we used plastics for everything. Many of the women had seen earthenware pots used for water and cooking in Pakistan and were excited to see how they could also be found as archaeological finds.
First of all the children had a go at digging
Jess explained what had been found at this site
and we talked about what exciting things our archaeologists had dug up at other sites
Then the women got into digging too, nobody wanted to leave!
Next on site were members of the PHLP Board, who like to go out and see what the projects have been doing on the ground when they meet prior to their formal meetings.
This time Sue, Robert and Clifton all got involved in the trowelling!
under Holly's expert eye
Here is Jess helping to record levels at the site
On Thursday the People Enjoying Nature Thursday group came to site: 17 people!!
As the site had now been thoroughly excavated, drawn, recorded and surveyed the group were allowed to have a dig to see if there were any possible 'finds' to be had under and around the cobbles - the most likely place for them to be dropped.
Unfortunately there was no treasure to be found today either, but again everybody had a great time having a go at being archaeologists, some of the group wanted to stay all day!
This piece of pottery is probably the most interesting and oldest find from the site. It will be taken away to be examined and dated by the professionals.
On Friday 29th the digger will return and it will fill the spoil back into the excavated trenches and cleared areas, leaving the site as we found it and the mysteries back under ground.
A full report on the excavation will be produced in the Autumn and published on the Pendle Hill project website. Information will also be included in our end of project exhibition which will be touring Barrowford, Rimington and Clitheroe in October.
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