La Cotte 2019: Learning the ropes

ASE archaeologists have just started an excavation at La Cotte de St Brelade in Jersey, a Middle Palaeolithic site in a granite ravine overlooking the sea. Significant engineering work on the site has recently been undertaken, including the construction of a wall, to protect the site from erosion from the sea. Our archaeologists Matt Pope, Ed Blinkhorn and Letty Ingrey are going in and working to stabilise the deposits in the western ravine of the site through excavation as part of the the La Manche Prehistoric (LaMP) research team. The whole project is being managed by ASE, and the site and access will be supervised by Geomarine, the engineering company who have made it safe.

There’s just one problem – the site is only accessible from the top of the cliff! This means abseiling down said cliff to get to it, and then climbing back up to get out, of course! For this reason, our archaeologists underwent Working at Height training back in early July. This was a day-long course enabling the team to work at heights using rope access and fall arrest equipment under supervision.

After first learning about various aspects of working at height, including the legislation and the dangers, there was of course a practical part, where the team learnt about and practiced using the rope access and fall arrest equipment for working at height. This included learning how to check equipment before using it, how to fit and adjust a full body harness, and how to use different types of lifelines and anchorage systems. They then practised with all the equipment, which included climbing up and down a lot of high ladders using various types of attachments. They all received an IRATA (International Rope Access Trade Association) Working At Heights certificate on passing the course. On site their rope access will be supervised by Geomarine.

This first year they are just doing a short season of two weeks, but planning on it being the start of a longer research project - if our brave archaeologists can fight their fears and actually get to the site!