2026 Day 13 - Sun setting on the dig

By Finch Neville, Visitor Assistant and undergraduate palaeontologist

Saturday proved to be an excellent last full day of the dig. Buoyed by the thrilling discovery made just as work ended on Friday evening, and by the success of the public engagement event, the team focused their attention on trench five. Now that we had gotten through the rather difficult and disappointing nodules found higher up in the trench, excellent discoveries were made as the better nodules further down were exposed. Keenly aware that the dig was nearly over, everyone worked at a highly commendable pace. 

Working hard in the trench

While many of the finds there were what we had expected from the other trenches - the general assortment of partial fish skulls, disarticulated ichthyic vertebra, small ammonites, and three-dimensionally preserved bivalves - some of the nodules yielded truly spectacular results. As before, I cannot reveal the precise nature of these fossils, but I can tell you they are of great quality. 

After a bountiful day of digging and nodule splitting, we were treated to a superb curry, the last dinner of the dig, and I congratulate Sahil and his team of cooks for their fine work in preparing this delicious meal.

Suitably energised, a small group of us, those of an ornithological disposition, motored over to Woodchester parks for a spot of birdwatching. By that hour it was entirely empty of visitors and we had a lovely time. The mandarin ducks were a particular highlight. Upon our return, a fire was lit and marshmallows were duly produced for toasting - is there any finer way to spend a summer's night in the company of friends?

The last night at court farm

We still have half a day left tomorrow, and there is every chance that, as has happened on previous digs, the best will have been left for last. In order to find out, stay tuned...