A series of interesting discoveries has been made regarding the nature of the buildings in the southern part of the old castle. Here the moated platform is slightly lower, and drains appear to run towards the moat on this southern side. The walls have been constructed on top of a `raft' of large cobbles in this area, possibly laid down to stabilise and level up the clay base. One of the stone-lined drains running underneath the range of internal buildings appears to run underneath the south-eastern curtain wall for at least a short distance, before discharging into the moat. Excavation has also revealed that the south-eastern curtain wall has a dog-leg in it at this point. This wall appears to incorporate a chamfered face, whereas the adjoining south-western curtain wall has a vertical face.
An area in the northern part of the platform has recently been de-turfed, revealing 19th-century disturbance and robbing activity. Among the stonework in this area a fragment of a stone mortar was found. Investigation in this area should reveal the function of the stone-lined, circular feature (possibly an oven or kiln) that was constructed on the line of the north-western curtain wall (see image).
Investigation of the western corner tower is continuing, and a possible floor surface has now been revealed within it. This surface incorporates patches of clay and clayey silt, and also contains abundant charcoal. The northernmost side wall of this tower has slumped over towards the north, providing a further demonstration of the instability of the foundations. Various walls across the site have been subject to movement, slumping or sinking.
LATEST FINDS
Recent finds include a copper-alloy strap end, of elongated form, dividing into two at its wider end to accept a leather strap. Its surfaces are heavily corroded but decoration may survive beneath the corrosion products and would be revealed by conservation. A circular band of copper alloy is another recent find. A limited quantity of mammal bone is now being recovered, mainly from around the lower parts of the corner towers. Very little bone has been found on top of the moated platform (possibly because of slight acidity in the soil), except where it has been burned.
A whetstone or hone, perforated for suspension (see image) was found on top of a section of wall in the southern part of the castle.
VISITORS
We are glad to see that visitors to the castle have not been put off by the unusually wet weather; there has been a steady flow of visitors on most days. Many of them take advantage of our regular guided tours of the dig, and we estimate that we have presented the archaeological work to over 4000 visitors already. Recent visits by a group from Solway Heritage and the Stranraer branch of the Young Archaeologists' Club were very successful and we enjoyed showing them around.
Visitors are asked to imagine a quite different environment that existed at the site in the 13th century. The Solway Firth would have been closer at that time, although now it lies at least half a mile to the south of the old castle site. The site would have been surrounded by marshland, too, whereas today it lies within a deciduous woodland, dominated by hazel, alder and other tree species which will tolerate the wet ground (see image). In the past, the shifting channels and mud flats of the Solway were an effective defence for the castle.
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