For the past few weeks I've been doing the dig diary for Historic Assynt, at the excavation of Clachtoll broch, the setting for my novel, The Walrus Mutterer. You can read more here.

Between the fascinating finds and the various experimental archaeology events - pottery made and fired the Iron Age way, and a feast to be proud of, it has been a fascinating insight into life more than two thousand years ago. And the sun shone almost all the time!

Comfortingly it hasn't disproved any of my guesses in the novel... though as always it raises questions and sets my imagination running.

What were all those 'spindle whorls'. Are they actually proto-writing devices? Was ceramics a ceremonial activity? Was the broch used as a communal grannery?

One of the nice things for me has been how many people have been going to the broch to see the setting of the novel, having read it. I encourage anyone who hasn't been there to come and see it. It's well worth the trip!