Recent work has focused both on the curtain walls and on the range of internal buildings occupying the southern section of the castle mound. The northern corner tower has also been more fully exposed, and a large tree trunk carefully removed from the overlying rubble. Remains of two other possible corner towers are also under investigation.
A double line of stakeholes identified in the base of the foundation trench for the northern curtain wall may have reinforced the lower courses of the wall and prevented slippage while it was being constructed. Similar features are also revealed in the eastern wall foundation trench. Built on the line of the northern curtain wall , a circular feature, possibly representing an oven or kiln, has been identified. This appears to post-date the occupation of the castle. As yet it has not been fully excavated (watch this space for more details!).
The layout of the internal range of buildings continues to be investigated, and substantial wall footings have been revealed in this area. These features were previously overlain by spoil heaps produced by antiquarian activities on the mound in the 1860s, but this spoil has now been carefully recorded and removed. Newly excavated features include a pair of door jambs and a threshold area, several sections of wall, one of which includes a drain feature, and a series of post-pads which may have supported timber arcading.
Further areas of the moated platform have recently been de-turfed and are currently being investigated.
LATEST FINDS
Recent finds include a number of fragments of building stone into which iron bars have been inserted. These may represent fragments of window masonry. Medieval pottery continues to be recovered. A sherd decorated by applied and stamped pellets was recently found. The image shows a small
copper-alloy swivel ring (length 38 mm), recovered early in the excavation. Swivel rings were used on the ends of chains to give added manoeuvrability to suspended objects.
VISITORS
Increasing numbers of visitors have been taking advantage of our regular guided tours of the excavation. A party of schoolchildren from Cumbria is among the recent groups to visit the site, and several other parties have booked visits. We have been pleased to see so many international visitors, who have dropped in to view some `live' archaeology as part of their tour of Scotland.
The dig's visitor centre continues to be very well attended. Visitors are able to view an exhibition about the project and see some of the finds recovered so far, as well as having an opportunity to ask questions and to take advantage of the guided tours. A computer terminal in the visitor centre now allows visitors to find out more about other historic sites in the area.
Click here to continue your tour
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