Blog post from Chris Jones, Portalis volunteer

“I signed up for the Portalis dig having no experience of archaeology and only the most superficial understanding of the Mesolithic period. I expected to be simply carrying buckets!

Instead, from day one, it’s felt like I was part of a team of friendly and enthusiastic people. I’ve cut turf, trowelled trenches, marked and plotted finds, helped carry out a geophysical survey, measured levels and documented records.

All the while I’ve been picking up tit-bits of knowledge about landscapes, geology, anthropology, the earliest technologies and so much more!

I’ve been fascinated by the discussions concerning the planning and execution of the dig, and all the possible interpretations of what we’ve found.

It’s been a fantastic experience far from my normal, everyday routine!”

—

Postiad blog gan Chris Jones, gwirfoddolwr Portalis

“Ymunais â chloddiad Portalis heb unrhyw brofiad o archaeoleg a dim ond y ddealltwriaeth fwyaf arwynebol o’r cyfnod Mesolithig. Roeddwn i’n disgwyl mai cario bwcedi yn unig y byddwn i! Yn lle hynny, o’r diwrnod cyntaf, cefais y teimlad fy mod yn rhan o dîm o bobl cyfeillgar a brwdfrydig.

Rwyf wedi torri tywyrch, trywelu ffosydd, marcio a phlotio darganfyddiadau, helpu i gynnal arolwg geoffisegol, mesur lefelau a dogfennu cofnodion.

Ar hyd yr amser rydw i wedi bod yn casglu darnau o wybodaeth am dirweddau, daeareg, anthropoleg, y technolegau cynharaf a llawer mwy!

Cefais fy swyno gan y trafodaethau ynghylch cynllunio a chyflawni’r cloddiad, a’r holl ddehongliadau posibl o’r hyn rydym wedi’i ddarganfod.

Mae wedi bod yn brofiad gwych, profiad oedd yn gwbl wahanol i fy nhrefn bywyd arferol bob dydd!”