Now we really have got started. On Sunday 18 January 2016 , the project was launched at Lismore manse. After church, over tea and snacks kindly provided by Barbara McDougall and Dot Hay, a group of 23 islanders formally set the ball rolling, approving the plans for the display of the conserved stones next to the war memorial.
Medieval Graveslab project 3 18.01.15 Launch
26 January 2015. Clare Ellis of Argyll Archaeology (Campbeltown) arrived on Lismore to prepare for the work of lifting the slabs. She is well known to CELM, having done the survey of the Port Moluag development on behalf of CELM.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
As the whole graveyard (including the Manse garden and the surrounding glebe field) is now a scheduled monument, any work in the area must be supervised by Historic Scotland. Clare’s job was to record the positions of the stones and supervise the lifting work, making sure that any archaeological features were fully recorded. It was already known that the stones had been moved around in the past and that it was unlikely that there would be any traces of the original burial.
Through the generosity of the Lismore Kirk Session, Clare was able to stay for two nights in the manse.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
27 January 2015. With a blessed break in the weather, after storms, snow & rain, Tuesday dawned fair and mild. Colin Rowan and his team of stonemasons were on the island early and were tackling the first two stones by 9am.
Colin, with 39 years of experience as a mason, has worked on a range of Historic Scotland projects, including the two phases of consolidating Tirfuir Broch. He is also well known to Lismore, having lived for several years on the island. For the work on the graveslabs Colin was assisted by his son Chris, who is a time served mason, apprentice David Jackson from Appin, and Liam Roberts from Kilmore.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
For each graveslab, Clare cleared the surrounding turf. The lighter stones could then be lifted directly but, for the heavier stones, she had to excavate carefully underneath so that fabric slings for lifting could be threaded through.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
Each stone was then carefully raised and carried away from the site. With great skill and care, the team succeeded in lifting and transporting all of the stones without any breakages.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
Clare examined and recorded the exposed soil surfaces. As expected, there were no skeletons or coffins but, at each site, there were a few old fragments of human bone. None of the “finds” were of archaeological significance but, out of respect to these human remains, the sites will be protected until they can be covered with a layer of new soil. Their location will be fixed with a permanent marker.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
Four of the graveslabs turned out to be heavier than expected but, by the middle of the afternoon, five had been transported safely to Baligarve School, where they were carefully washed to remove soil and carried in to the schoolroom, which has kindly been made available by the Crossan family for the drying and conservation work.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
At the end of a long, hard, day’s work, all of the slabs had been lifted safely and five were washed and stored at Baligarve. Helen Crossan, who had been filming the action during the day, finally cornered Colin for an interview.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
28 January 2015. The good weather couldn’t last. Wednesday treated the mason team to snow, hail, rain and gale force winds, but they worked on to secure the two heavy chest lids. The last stone, the very heavy top piece of what is though to be the “An Gorm Mòr” graveslab (more about this at the next blog) will follow next week.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
Meanwhile Clare and Bob Hay braved the elements to mark out the shelter site, to the right of the war memorial, for Historic Scotland . The 6m x 2m site will be stripped of turf and checked for archaeology by Clare in due course, once HS has given the go ahead.
Medieval Graveslab project 3 The Archaeologist stands where the shelter will be
In the afternoon, Clare Ellis and Bob Hay visited Lismore Primary School so that the children could meet a “real archaeologist”. The afternoon proved to be a great success, especially with questions about “how much treasure have you discovered”. The visit was well timed because the theme of the week was “The Romans” including a Time Team film. It was agreed that the children would visit, and film, the graveslabs at Baligarve, and help Bob Hay in the research for the display interpretation boards.
Medieval Graveslab project 3
Clare had intended to take the 3pm ferry to Achnacroish but was stranded when it was cancelled because of the afternoon gale. She finally got away on the late boat but was not home in Campbeltown till 10pm.
The graveslabs will now dry for at least 2 months before they are carefully cleaned to remove lichen and moss; stabilized to prevent further deterioration of the stone; repaired (where necessary) and mounted in preparation for transfer to the shelter.
Meanwhile, the shelter site will be prepared; the Argyll oak shelter made off site; the research done for the interpretation boards; and plans will be developed for the conference on Medieval Lismore to celebrate the lifting of the graveslabs (as well as the long-awaited publication of the dig of Achinduin Castle in the 1970s). Look out for the next blog, which will describe each stone, including the work to be done.
