My last week!

 9/12/2024

All week Naomi had me excavating a large section of the stone linear in area 3B, I didn't mind this as it was quite hard work that kept me moving in the cold weather. Plus, the feature actually became quite interesting, I cleared down the sides of the linear removing quite a lot of smaller stones. In the base there was a line of huge stones interlocking with each other with smaller ones jammed between them to clearly make a sturdy structure, our interpretation is that it was a wall of some kind. As I was doing this Naomi was excavating a section of the same stone linear feature, however, her's contained a large pit that was cutting through the stone linear, it went deep and had enormous stones in the bottom, impossible to move. It's a little hard to work out of it was a part of the same feature but I think the pit must have been made after, Naomi suggested that it may be a hunting pit for trapping animals. One of the most interesting discoveries though was from Mark, he had been excavating the end of the stone linear feature and had pretty much finished, apart from one upright stone sitting in the basal fill. This stone had a circle carved into it and possibly other lines on the other side, apart from pottery this was our first discovery of what we think is Neolithic artwork. 

I was ill will a migraine on Thursday, so did not go into work. Only one more day to go!

My last day was typical but went smoothly, I continued excavating my section containing the wall but unfortunately did not quite finish so will have to be taken up by someone else. 

We had our work Christmas dinner in town, we went to Pizza Express. I said all my goodbyes and was a good send off after my 3 months here in Belfast. I have mixed feelings about leaving, excited as I am going to Paris in a couple of days but also sad to leave the amazing people I have met here. I have been here long enough for it to feel like a small chapter in my life is ending which is a bit hard, although it will be nice to have a break from work!

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