This page is the rogues gallery of all the MineHowe team. They were each asked to tell me who they were and what they are doing up here. The replies are almost completely their own words. So take a deep breathe and read on. The mug shots are in no particular order.

Paul Sharman, Field Archaeologist and Line Dancing Supervisor extrordinaire. I'm here to find treasure and lose weight by drinking Highland Park.

Eland Stuart, I'm here because I like Orkney.

Erika Guttmann, Geoarchaeologist (Soil Specialist) and Trench Supervisor, University of Stirling, Department of Environmental Science.

Ingrid Shearer, Field Archaeologist and non-participating member of the Paul Sharman Line Dancing and All-Star Singing Revue.

Nick Card, Freelance archaeologist based in Orkney working mainly for OAT and Historic Scotland, Assistant Director of the MineHowe excavation.

Shelagh Grieve, I work as a steward at Skara Brae all the year round. I am a mature student and am on my holidays and having a great time.

Q- who do you think you are? A- Some kind of superstar. Q-What are you doing here ? A- What are any of us doing here ?

Jane, Site Director. Directing and Dancing (Line).

Alan James :- Preparing for the Orkney Line Dancing Marathon and occasionaly recording sound for the Time Team documentry.

Martin - Tino- Pure and simple. Q-What are you doing here? A- I am doing my best.

Judith, an archaeologist excavating one of Orkneys fantastic prehistoric sites.

Graham Johnston - Director (I think !) Time Team. I'm trying to find someone who might have a clue what went on around here sometime before the Bible was written.

Sarah Jane Grieve, Job title - Stuarts Slave (Finds organiser).

Julie Gibson, Orkney County Archaeologist, Dig Co-ordinator, commuting from Rousay the loveliest of Orkney's islands, proving that life continues after 40 - on and on and on ........

Malka Holmes, Camera Assitant, working on the Time Team documentry, also helping out with sound and lots more.

Stuart, Finds Officer and web co-ordinator. I do not Line Dance.

Becky Shaw, Field archaeologist. Here to represent the Gallovidians and apparently dig a swimming pool for the hot summer months!

Hi, I'm Rob, a happy optomistic person really, I came to Orkney on a visit and for me it was a very special place. So when I got the chance to work at Mine Howe, in many respects it felt as though I was coming home.

Nick Best. Incomer, field archaeologist and sometime TV extra. Noisily flying the flag of St.George for the duration of Euro 2000.

Dave Murray, Excavator, here to excavate a big hole.

Diane Alldritt, Archaeobotanist. I mainly spend my time operating the flotation machine and processing environmental samples from site. Finding lots of well preserved carbonised cereal grains, including barley and oats and other carbonised plant material.

Ann, Ann is one of our most enthusiastic and capable volunteers who has had more than her share of luck in turning up great finds, including the excellent bronze and enamel stud right at the beginning of the dig.

Ingrid Mainland, Archaeozoologist. I will be working on the animal bone remains on the site. I am very much looking forward to getting to grips with the material.

Rob Craigie, Technician specialising in pollen analysis. Enthused beyond description at the possibilities this site offers.

Mary Harris from Sanday, Orkney - I'm here to gain experience and material for a portfolio required for a Dip. in Field Archaeology and because I want to be.

Alan Hunter Blair. Supervisor. I am working with Tom Muir and Eland Stuart. We are currently excavating a fairly substantial late(?) Iron Age building which has been built into a substantial ditch. Although we have only unearthed part of this building it appears to have been sub-divided into at least two compartments by a row of now recumbent large narrow upright slabs, one of which contains a hearth surrounded by a deposit of very red heat affected material. The deposit within the other compartment is yeilding large quantities carbonised seeds, pot fragments and pieces of bone. We are having a great time in a great trench.