A quick update on Olivers Mound. The dig is due to go ahead in the last 2 weeks of May where AOC Archaeology and Archaeological Investigations are making preperations to see where the trenches are going to go and the decide on a plan of action. There has been a good response from the volunteers, although we need solid names of people who are going to commit! There is even hint of Civil War business lingering around the woods. Definetely also have to get the Worcestershire YAC involved also.
Archaeological Investigations have also now completed a full survey of Olivers Mound and the surrounding area (see below).
Sorry, it's from a CAD plan, so the image here probably doesn't do it justice:
Copyright Archaeological Investigations
In addition, on the first day, Rollo Gillespie of the Earth Heritage Trust is also doing a tour of the surrounding area so that we can make all the arrangements and set up the position of the trenches, etc. Rollo, among other things, is trying to find out the source of the stone for the castle. Might as well quote Rollo here, hope you don't mind, Rollo!
'I am doing a guided geology walk on the 19th of May when the digging starts. It is at 10am from the mound. It is about 2 miles and will take a couple of hours. That gets people out of the way while the archaeologists prepare for the digging in the afternoon. I will show you some of the best sites in the woods. Some are very ancient and barely visible and it is possible that the buildings on the mound came from these. By the time I have done that, most people should know a fair bit about the rock type and recognise what is different on the site. I can't promise dinosaurs in these Triassic rocks, but it isn't impossible. Hopefully some of the historians will come along too, and explain about the methodology of the quarrying. For more information go to the EHT website and look at the events page. If you e-mail the EHT you can be sent a copy of the flyer. [Buthere's a link to it anyway].
I went round Worcester Cathedral with Chris Guy, their resident archaeologist, looking at masons tool marks of different periods. In some cases it involved walking along ledges about 60 feet above the floor. There have been so many changes in the building that some impressive old doors lead to fresh air, but that's another story.'
I'll be blogging the day by day progress of the dig from 19th May onwards, so watch this space and more updates to come. If anyone is interested in coming along as a volunteer - let me know - the more the merrier, as they say!
