The weather is a little friendlier this morning and uncovering the site continues. This is an aspect I have already drawn and recorded. So I was looking forward to moving into the Art Hut and getting organised in my space for the dig – but the firm bringing the portacabins are not expected to deliver until this afternoon. However, a treat was in store. The director gave a talk to some Art and Archeology students, which included a fascinating insight into Trench T.
There are several trenches and many structures within those trenches, each with its own interesting story and dedicated archaeologists who are willing to share their experiences for my project. At the moment I am concentrating on two very different trenches. One is Trench Y, which was meant to be opened and closed in one season, but has had a stay of execution to allow for some further work this season. It will be one of the faster excavations on site. The other is Trench T, which has been excavated over several years, slowly revealing some amazing archaeology. The director’s talk has provided an excellent background to Trench T’s story so far and provided a glimpse of what may be discovered this year. Last year I established a view point from where I can follow developments and will be able to layer the drawings to ‘animate’ the progress. Both fast and slow trenches generate excitement and sometimes frustration as they both throw up unexpected results, that bewilder and delight. It is this emotional response that is the focus of my work here.
Afternoon:
The Art Hut has arrived and I’ve moved in at last. It is an ‘Anti Vandal Unit’…
The wind has picked up again. I just managed to get a drawing of tarpaulins billowing, and a decent sound recording of them too, before the rain arrived and it was time to go home.
