Progress Report: November 8, 1999

November 8, 1999

Shortly after dawn, Barr and Cecile Hollyfield went to see Peter Dorling, the county archaeologist under whose purview the site falls.  They had arranged the meeting because the site lies within his jurisdiction.  Dorling verified that under Welsh law, private property owners may do as they please with unidentified cultural remains.  This authorized clearance paves the way for future investigations, if warranted.  

After the meeting, Hollyfield and Barr proceeded to the site, where they met the rest of the crew, who were continuing the floor plan of the masonry tower.  Upon arrival, Barr climbed to the top of the east wall to collect further mortar samples and clear any remaining vegetation.  Ben Hollyfield felled a tree growing from the north wall (before and after), while Saum and Sutton finished mapping the floor plan of the tower.  Once done, Saum and Sutton relocated to the "chapel" structure, where they set the grid to map the floor. 

In the evening, the crew celebrated Cecile Hollyfield's birthday with riverfront dining at one of the area's finest hostelries.   An appreciative crew and loving family toasted the occasion with local cuisine and champagne. 

Note:  These investigations are ongoing, and updates will be posted as time permits.  Assessments made during the course of this survey are preliminary, and may change upon the recovery of further data.