Preparing for the Big Dig

Before we arrange to bring heavy machinery onto site to dig out the filled-in pumphouse pit, it is important to identify exactly where the edges of the pit are. Today’s aim was to find the other end of the pit wall we are currently exposing. This was all discovered in 2015 but actually being able to see the end of the wall allows us to use the machine with confidence.

This meant we had little “archaeology” to do but were mainly removing the material that we replaced in the hole eleven years ago at the end of our earlier probings. Blessed again with nice weather, we managed to achieve our aims and confirmed our records from 2015 were reliable.

We still have not yet located the edge of the pit opposite the side we have now exposed, but there are fairly good signs on the surface to indicate where it is, and we are not too concerned. It is important to have good solid walls in the pit as our investigations go deeper. Unsupported loose ground would be impossible to work without supporting the trench sides so we are relying on our pumphouse pit having good solid walls!