From the sublime to the ridiculous
There were four of us today, hunched over our washing bowls, begloved hands clutching kebab sticks or very worn down toothbrushses to clean the finds.
Talk ranged from solving the Middle East to how to find and indentify parasites on the shells we washed (Answers on a postcard to David Crawford-White!). It seems that the early inhabitants of Thanet lived on mounds of oysters, dog whelks, mussels and limpets (Neolithic chewing gum?) – and we are the ‘chosen ones’ to clean the dirt of their discarded dustbins. Breaking the shelly monotony of today’s efforts were some unexpected bones – including one splendid animal skull (sheep or goat – apparently even the experts find it hard to tell the difference!). Angela digs into the muddy lump with her stick saying ‘Perhaps there’ll be a special miraculous something in all this mud.’ We live in hope!
Finds processing
Ellie, the finds boss, calls us into another room to show us some complete pots dug out whole yesterday and packed oh-so carefully for transport. Meanwhile professional archaeologist and lyric Richard silently wields pen and ink in his corner, labelling every day finds for perpetuity. It’s nearly time to leave for the day. Sian asks, ‘Is it restoration cream time?’ Is she referring to her hands or her face?
Finds washing
