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Vince,, Sam, Jon, Nick, and Mike

As is my wont arrived ahead of the team although this week, I was joined by Sam. Once changed at the farm we wandered up to the cave. Sam soon disappeared underground to Can of Worms to begin digging (it was his turn upfront anyway), I remained on the surface attending to ‘this and that’ until the others turned up. Jake was first to arrive, followed soon after by Nick, Jon, and Mike. Jon made his way to join Sam in CoW, Mike was quick to follow and took a position perched on the ledge; Nick had some ‘tidying works’ to get on with, Jake was at the bottom of the pot. Due to absentees, resulting in a smaller squad, this left me on the surface again, for the 3^rd week running – no matter, it has to be done. And it is a good full body workout and cheaper than a gym membership – gym’s don’t come with fresh air and bird song either!

Almost immediately spoil began to arrive and continued to come just about non-stop. When around 20-25 bags had amassed on the surface, Jake came up to lend a hand and get them emptied, this pattern was repeated throughout the morning. Luckily the weather remained good although there was a sprinkling of rain at the end of the session. At close of play, 120 bags had been filled, hauled, and emptied with an undetermined number of rocks added to the spoil heap wall. Another good productive session, unfortunately, as I did not venture below ground, I have no idea of what the dig now looks like or how much ‘tidying’ was done. But now it was time for the Hunters’

Vince, Nick, Jake, Tav, Mike, and Harley Bennett came back for some more!

I arrived at the cave ahead of the others and made my way to An Unexpected Development/Trick or Treat area. My plan was to have a bit of a tidy up and bring the tools and bags left in that area back to where they would be more accessible for further use. There was more than anticipated but the tools were left tidily at the bottom of the pot and c.13 packs of bags up on the ledge where they were back in circulation. The rest of the team had arrived, and digging was underway.

Mike and Harley were busy at the current end of Can of Worms, Nick was on the ledge, Jake at the bottom of the entrance, with Tav up on the surface. I found a position on the corner between Nick and Jake where, following some deliberation, some tidying and improvements of the ‘new’ skip route were attempted. There is a solid obstruction on one side that impedes the ‘free-flow’ of the skip that despite a concerted, combined effort with hammers and chisels by me and Jake, it would not succumb. I will return with plugs and feathers.

At the close of play today, a total of 53 bags had been filled, hauled and emptied (although there were a few that were emptied underground to build a ‘retaining’ bank for the ‘skip-run’. Several skip loads of rocks were also hauled out of the cave.

Job done, everyone happy, it was time for refreshments at the Hunters’

Vince, Jake, Nick, Brockers, Tav, Mike, and good to see Sam Batstone again!

At the cave, ahead of the others, cleared some more vegetation and prepared ground to further extend the spoil heap wall.

A strong team assembled again this week and as Sam was on his first visit today it is tradition that the ‘guest’ should dig, Jake would join him too in Can of Worms. Tav was on the ledge hauling away the spoil, Nick and Brockers (following a prompt) had a look at the remaining sediment in the area of the recent ‘slump’ and with those two also occupied, Mike decided to go to the bottom of the entrance, this left me on the surface. With two ‘digs’ going ahead this morning it was very likely to be busy. And, as expected, there was a steady flow of bags – one after another, no time to spare, the bags were not going to get emptied. I did manage to place a few rocks in the newly prepared area just because I needed to do something else rather than hauling filled bags up out of the entrance! As midday approached, 80 bags had been hauled out plus a few skip loads of rocks when Brockers emerged from the cave to help on the surface. This was just as well because there followed some hefty boulders that needed two pairs of hands, and more bags of course.

Eventually the rest of the team started to appear, and all hands were put to emptying bags – today’s count = c.95 bags filled, hauled, and emptied plus about 10 skip loads of rock added to the wall. Thankfully it had been a pleasant spring-like morning on the surface.

There were rumours of a small development above the ledge where Nick and Brockers had been poking around today. Anyway, now it was getting close to Hunters’ time and we left the cave for the farm.

Back to the ‘Bear hunt’

Took a ‘karrimat’ in with me today to the excavation site in the AUD/BTOT area, which was to prove a comfortable option. The plan was to lower/remove the clay layer that appears to be sealing faunal remains. This was done in 25mm – 50mm ‘spits’ using wooden clay-modelling tools. Close to the location where the partial maxilla/canine was recovered (02/07/25) another canine was exposed.

The area immediately around the canine was carefully cleaned, photographs taken, and at present the canine remains in-situ. There is some more sediment to come off yet but that will have to wait for another day as, after 3 hours, the need to answer a ‘call of nature’ thwarted a longer stay. Packed the kit away and exited the cave.

Beware of falling down a hole … in the fog … in the middle of the night … with an OWL!!!

Vince, Roz and Brockers. Later in the morning, Caroline helped out with emptying the bags.

At the cave the work was concentrated on the uppermost level and cleaning a section there, this involved some reduced level excavation. Started the session digging on my side, by the end I was kneeling. 40 bags were filled, dragged away, and hauled out of the cave (the hauling done by Brockers). Caroline turned up to lend a hand as we started to empty the bags.