In the field

A big adventure today. TJ has been doing an archaeology course at University College Cork and has now reached her final project which involved doing a local study. Very wisely, in my opinion, she has opted to study ringforts which are plentiful in our area. She's going to compare three. Would I like to come and help in the fieldwork? is the Pope Catholic?? We set off armed with a broom handle, a long tape measure, clipboards, paper, maps, a compass, energy bars, wellies and flasks of coffee. The weather was fabulous. Stop 1 Maulimile ringfort. Ah, who could actually remember how to use a compass??  Well we knew roughly which direction was north so that helped.  The tape measure unravelled and flapped around as we clung to earthy banks and some of us still appear to be working in feet (you know who you are!)  We plunged into the undergrowth, scattering wrens, and removed gorse prickles from various parts of our anatomy, losing glasses and pencils on the way.  The views  were sublime, and the air heady with gorse.  There was  not a cloud in the sky

Stop 2 - Brahalish ringfort and a friend of TJ Had kindly strimmed a path through the bracken, as fortified with tea from flasks, we attempted the next recording. Even more tricky as this one was very overgown and much giggling occured over our highly scientifc approach. The final fort was the one blipped the other day - we just took photos and will return at the weekend to do the recording as this one, judging by its moat and massive walls, is very high status in archaeology speak. Here is herself taking photographic evidence halfway up a rampart, trying not to crush bluebells and avoid badger setts.
You can see how helpful  I was !