The probable surface of the old castle's courtyard has recently been revealed in a newly de-turfed area on the eastern side of the platform. This surface is composed of compacted fragments of sandstone rubble and small cobbles, and a series of five flat stones running along its edge appear to represent the remains of a revetment for it. Immediately adjacent is the foundation trench for the north-eastern curtain wall, which appears to have been largely dismantled in the late 13th century. At one end of this wall stands the northern corner tower (see image).
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On the southern side of the platform, the cobble `raft' upon which the walls of the internal buildings were constructed has been further revealed. The cobbles appear to have reinforced and consolidated the platform in this area. The north-eastern wall of the range of buildings built against the south-eastern curtain wall has also now been uncovered, standing four or five courses high.
The south-eastern curtain wall itself is now better understood. It appears to have a dog-leg in it, approximately half-way along its length. One of the accompanying images shows the point at which this occurs. The wall here has partially collapsed into a stone-lined drain which ran beneath it. One of the best-surviving sections of drain to be revealed so far is depicted in the image above.
LATEST FINDS
Among the metallic finds recently recovered are objects of lead alloy, copper alloy and iron. Among the iron objects are nails and nail fragments, although a small number of blade fragments has also been found. Medieval pottery continues to be found in many areas of the site.
VISITORS
Medieval re-enactments staged over the past weekend by the Commission of Array and friends drew large numbers of visitors to Caerlaverock Castle, and many of them came along on our guided tours of the excavation site, before and after the main action. Among the visitors to have accompanied us on guided tours recently have been people from Greece, Spain, Mexico, Canada, the United States, Holland, Germany and France, as well as a good many visitors from more local parts.
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