Vince, Jake, Jon, Nick, and Mike
An early start (underground before 09:00) to carry out some “rock-bothering” before the rest of the team arrive. Before starting on the boulders in Can of Worms continued on to AUD area to install a M6-size eyebolt above the location of the faunal remains (STN.1) so enabling a plumb-line to be used when measuring depths of layers, also might double up as a useful place to hang a lantern to improve illumination of excavation. Back to CoW, I was still reducing the boulders there when the team arrived. The boulders were being rather stubborn and not breaking easily apart, a mixture of calcite and conglomerate. Eventually though the ‘battle’ was won.
Nick headed off for AUD area to get on with digging closely followed by Jake, Jon, and Mike to retrieve the filled bags left there on Wednesday, and there were rocks to move (CoW). When I had completed my early task, packed away kit, and joined the spoil removal team. When about 30 filled bags had been stashed at the bottom of the entrance plus a pile of rocks, Jake went up to the surface to start hauling out, I was at the entrance loading the bucket. Just as we were about finished voices were heard, the next lot was on its way. Midday, Nick had ceased digging activity and it was time to clear the spoil from the cave. I went to the surface to help with spoil redistribution, rocks were added to the western extension wall, and the filled bags were emptied in the space created. Some bags were easier to empty than others; the last of the plastic bags (c.20no.) had been underground for a long time covering the area of faunal remains, it had been decided to get rid of them and bags could not possible be removed from the cave in an empty state! On the surface, the plastic bags had to be cut open to remove the contents – at least they can never be filled again!
It was warm, and there were biting flies requiring liberal application of repellent, nobody could really be bothered to count the bags, and we arrived at an agreed figure of about 80 bags and a dozen skip loads of rocks.
Due to the ‘Pilton Pop thingy’ our preferred hostelry was closed for the weekend there being no other suitable venue, we enjoyed our refreshments (brought our own) at the cave entrance.
