A sound set of rules by which to dig ...

Iain Ferris observes: "One thing that comes across quite strikingly from the many excavation photographs on Crickley Hill Man's blog is how neat and tidy all the cuttings look, whether they have been specifically cleaned for photography or whether excavation is on-going there. I recall that everyone was introduced to the basic site rules for cleanliness from the moment of their arrival on site and these rules have stuck with me throughout my archaeological career.

1) Always trowel, brush or mattock towards you;

2) Never brush a wet or damp surface;

3) Don't create too much spoil in one go;

4) Clean up your loose spoil before going for teabreak or lunchbreak and at the end of the day;

5) Never walk on a newly-cleaned area;

6) Never throw tools to one side - stack them neatly at all times, with small tools under an upturned bucket;

7) Never run with a barrow;

8) Keep barrow-run planks clean and dry;

9) Always put finds in a finds tray or, if plotting finds individually, clear these off the cutting surface regularly;

10) Clean your tools properly at the end of the day before they go in the tool hut.

11) Oh, and don't fall asleep in the postholes.

Can Crickley Hill Man remember any other site rules?"

A few maxims spring to mind, Iain:

1) Work in the same direction across the cutting as everyone else;

2) Don’t dig rabbit holes;

3) Reel in tapes as soon as you’re done with them so you don’t leave a trip hazard;

4) Don’t let your beard get caught on the pig-wire;

5) Use a 4" welded tang WHS trowel; [that should read forged not welded! Ed]

6) Dig with one as well;

7) Get a tetanus jab before you come – you never know who’s going to bite you;

8) Stay away from someone wielding a pickaxe;

9) Site the spoil heap well away from the edge of the cutting;

10) Never more than 3 people on the photographic tower; and

11) Never work downwind of Mr Robert Roberts if he’s had a night on the brown and mild.

Any more? - Jim says what about the nail scissors for trimming the cutting edge? ...