Have any of you wonder what we do in the field when we record stuff? Well here is an example as Jarred (the crew chief) and Michelle (the other tech) go through an inventory of cans. Very exciting!
I have another example of the surveying, but the movie turned out making me a little nauseasous, so I am not going to put it up yet.
Showing posts with label archaeology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label archaeology. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
My last week...Part 1...Eureka
Yes, I know we have been in Eureka before. This time we are surveying a small bit for a developer. I was keen to take many pictures this time and luckily for me, we found a HUGE trash dump that included both modern (post 1960's) and historic (pre-1960's) cans, glass and etc. As always, click on the picture below to see the album.
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| Eureka Survey 2 |
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Short and sweet
This week we were sent to Wells, NV to survey around the Bishop Creek Reservoir. Apparently the BLM is allowing a road to cut through the valley so that the damn on the reservoir can be replaced.
The Drive:
The first day was all driving. It took about 6 hours to get there. On the way, we noticed that our new 1999 Surburban's breaks were a bit mushy so we had to stop at Les Shawb to get them looked at. In the end, we waited until we got back to Reno to get them fixed.
View Larger Map
Wells to Bishop Creek Reservoir:
The project area was not far from the Super 8 Motel we were staying at.
View Larger Map
The actual project area:
View Larger Map
As always the area was beautiful. We lucked out too because there was a pretty good breeze and there was cloud cover for the majority of day 2.
During one of the linear surveys, I had to cross a barbed wire fence. Now usually I will go under or through a barbed wire fence. I never get stuck or hurt, but in this instance, I had to go over. As Jarred coxed me to go over the fence, telling me where to put my feet, I put my foot on a wire that was not secured to the post. So of corse, my foot slid down and I ended up stratteling the fence...thankfully I was not a guy. However, my left thigh got caught on one of the barbs. It really hurt and began to bleed. I finished out the line with blood dripping down my leg. I wasn't really sure how much I was bleeding until I got out of the car when we got to the hotel and found blood all over the leather seats in the back. I was able to get the blood out no problem. I managed to get a couple of pictures of my cool wound.
What is even more unfortunate about this is that my doctor let me know that I am overdue for a Tetnis shot, so guess what that means? I am hoping Workman's Comp will pay.
What was also weird was that my shins are completely covered in bruises. For being the shortest session on relatively easy and sparsely vegetated ground, I ended up the most abused out of all the sessions. Of course I did have my one trip and fall that has become quite a tradition, but that can only help account for very few of the bruises.
The project area managed to yield no important sites (only a couple of lithic scatters) and therefore our session was cut short by a day. Although I was sad because I wanted more money, I was glad we did not have to stay in the hotel another night. This place was horrible. In February 2008, Wells had a 6.0 earthquake that managed to destroy many of it's historic buildings. I am attributing the dilapidated state of the floors and ceilings to that, but the smells and thin walls have nothing to do with the earthquake. I must say, that the staff were incredibly nice.
Photo Album for the week...please click on picture to view the whole album:
Next week (August 5th), we will be heading back out to Eureka doing more survey. Unfortunately this will be my last session. I will be heading to Uncle Greg and Auntie Sue's in Arizona on the 14th and then back to Eugene for Darby's wedding on August 23rd. After that, I am back to Gig Harbor to get ready to return to my lovely husband and kitty in the UK on September 2nd.
I am so depressed at how fast this summer has gone, but have had a blast doing what I love most, Archaeology.
The Drive:
The first day was all driving. It took about 6 hours to get there. On the way, we noticed that our new 1999 Surburban's breaks were a bit mushy so we had to stop at Les Shawb to get them looked at. In the end, we waited until we got back to Reno to get them fixed.
View Larger Map
Wells to Bishop Creek Reservoir:
The project area was not far from the Super 8 Motel we were staying at.
View Larger Map
The actual project area:
View Larger Map
As always the area was beautiful. We lucked out too because there was a pretty good breeze and there was cloud cover for the majority of day 2.
During one of the linear surveys, I had to cross a barbed wire fence. Now usually I will go under or through a barbed wire fence. I never get stuck or hurt, but in this instance, I had to go over. As Jarred coxed me to go over the fence, telling me where to put my feet, I put my foot on a wire that was not secured to the post. So of corse, my foot slid down and I ended up stratteling the fence...thankfully I was not a guy. However, my left thigh got caught on one of the barbs. It really hurt and began to bleed. I finished out the line with blood dripping down my leg. I wasn't really sure how much I was bleeding until I got out of the car when we got to the hotel and found blood all over the leather seats in the back. I was able to get the blood out no problem. I managed to get a couple of pictures of my cool wound.
What is even more unfortunate about this is that my doctor let me know that I am overdue for a Tetnis shot, so guess what that means? I am hoping Workman's Comp will pay.
What was also weird was that my shins are completely covered in bruises. For being the shortest session on relatively easy and sparsely vegetated ground, I ended up the most abused out of all the sessions. Of course I did have my one trip and fall that has become quite a tradition, but that can only help account for very few of the bruises.
The project area managed to yield no important sites (only a couple of lithic scatters) and therefore our session was cut short by a day. Although I was sad because I wanted more money, I was glad we did not have to stay in the hotel another night. This place was horrible. In February 2008, Wells had a 6.0 earthquake that managed to destroy many of it's historic buildings. I am attributing the dilapidated state of the floors and ceilings to that, but the smells and thin walls have nothing to do with the earthquake. I must say, that the staff were incredibly nice.
Photo Album for the week...please click on picture to view the whole album:
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| Bishop Creek Reservoir survey |
Next week (August 5th), we will be heading back out to Eureka doing more survey. Unfortunately this will be my last session. I will be heading to Uncle Greg and Auntie Sue's in Arizona on the 14th and then back to Eugene for Darby's wedding on August 23rd. After that, I am back to Gig Harbor to get ready to return to my lovely husband and kitty in the UK on September 2nd.
I am so depressed at how fast this summer has gone, but have had a blast doing what I love most, Archaeology.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sunshine, lollypops, and rainbows everywhere
I am not sure if those are the real lyrics or not...but it sounds good.
My View to the Right
So...
I have been in Reno for a week and a half. We didn't have any fieldwork this week so I was stuck in the office for a few days. I have been at the Fitzgerald which has pretty nice rooms. They are huge and the view that I have is really nice. So I have been extended my stay here 4 times now. The Truckee White River Park is near, so I get to hear concerts and go down to the river when I get bored.
Truckee River White Water Park on the Truckee River
I went on a covert literature search Monday (covert because I was given 1 hour notice). I was paid to be in the car for a total of 10 hours and 4 hours of research time at the Elko BLM. Literature searches have to be done in the BLM district where a survey is going to take place. We go through reports of previous surveys to print out information on previously recorded sites in the project area. Pretty easy.
During my trip to Elko, there was a major lightening storm that created pouring rain (very odd for Nevada in July). The cool part was, it created a double rainbow. One was particularly vibrant.
We finally got the word that a group of us will be going to Wells, NV for 4 days beginning Monday and then a likely chance of the whole crew being on session August 5th...if this is true, that will be my last session and I will be heading home on the 12th.
My View to the Right
So...
I have been in Reno for a week and a half. We didn't have any fieldwork this week so I was stuck in the office for a few days. I have been at the Fitzgerald which has pretty nice rooms. They are huge and the view that I have is really nice. So I have been extended my stay here 4 times now. The Truckee White River Park is near, so I get to hear concerts and go down to the river when I get bored.
Truckee River White Water Park on the Truckee River
I went on a covert literature search Monday (covert because I was given 1 hour notice). I was paid to be in the car for a total of 10 hours and 4 hours of research time at the Elko BLM. Literature searches have to be done in the BLM district where a survey is going to take place. We go through reports of previous surveys to print out information on previously recorded sites in the project area. Pretty easy.
During my trip to Elko, there was a major lightening storm that created pouring rain (very odd for Nevada in July). The cool part was, it created a double rainbow. One was particularly vibrant.
We finally got the word that a group of us will be going to Wells, NV for 4 days beginning Monday and then a likely chance of the whole crew being on session August 5th...if this is true, that will be my last session and I will be heading home on the 12th.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Skele gained, Lessons Learned
So this is going to be a duzie, but here is the cool part...I found a skeleton that was coming out of a burial! And when I say that I found it, it pretty much means that I identified a metatarsal that we found on the surface as human, and then I went to where I felt there would be more of a foot, under an ant hill. So I looked at the surface and immediately identified a phalanx, I kept pushing some dirt aside and found more phalanges. At that point I decided to stop because all of this has to go to the government for assessment. I looked at the surface a little more and found a rib, and then out of no where, right were we were standing was the complete right humerus. It had been uncovered as we had been scuffling around the site.
So, what happens when a burial is found? Well, we contact BLM, because it is on their land. The police and coroner maybe called in if the skeleton is thought to be new. Due to artifacts that we found with the skeleton (brass buttons and buckles) and the site it was located in (frying pan, tin cans, a butter knife), I would think it is historical and therefore NAGPRA won't be involved.
Anyway, I learned that I can be confident that I know what I am talking about. When my crew boss randomly picked up the metatarsal and didn't recognize it as an animal he knew of (being a zooarchaeologist), he was gonna let it go. But I could swear it was human, so I took it from him and pondered it for a long time. I knew it was human the second I saw it, but because I lack confidence in my ability to identify remains anymore, I was still not 100% sure until I found the phalanges.
Another lesson learned on this trip is that I need to speak up when I don't feel well in the field. We had a particularly hot day on Wednesday like high 90's. I was working with an all boy group who survey really really fast. Well, I started to feel a little dizzy and lightheaded, then I could feel a bit of a headache. I began to not be able to walk correctly, always tripping over things and my brain wasn't working the way it should have. I had drunk a gallon of water in 4 hours but wasn't really sweating the way one should. So from all those symptoms, I still had a hard time speaking up. Finally, after 3 failed attempts to allow the word exit my mouth, I was finally able to tell my crew chief that I was desperate and needed to go back to the car, which was now about 2 miles away. Needless to say I had to stay in for 2 days because I had gotten mild heat stroke.
This lesson was that I need to be more active in how I feel, and to not worry about what others are going to think about me being sick. No one blames me for having to stay in because of heat problems. They don't want me to die. So, I need to get over that self consciousness.
We have been surveying in Kobhe Valley outside of Eureka on BLM land for a mining project at Mount Rose. It is really beautiful. Too bad there is so much smoke from the California fires.
So, what happens when a burial is found? Well, we contact BLM, because it is on their land. The police and coroner maybe called in if the skeleton is thought to be new. Due to artifacts that we found with the skeleton (brass buttons and buckles) and the site it was located in (frying pan, tin cans, a butter knife), I would think it is historical and therefore NAGPRA won't be involved.
Anyway, I learned that I can be confident that I know what I am talking about. When my crew boss randomly picked up the metatarsal and didn't recognize it as an animal he knew of (being a zooarchaeologist), he was gonna let it go. But I could swear it was human, so I took it from him and pondered it for a long time. I knew it was human the second I saw it, but because I lack confidence in my ability to identify remains anymore, I was still not 100% sure until I found the phalanges.
Another lesson learned on this trip is that I need to speak up when I don't feel well in the field. We had a particularly hot day on Wednesday like high 90's. I was working with an all boy group who survey really really fast. Well, I started to feel a little dizzy and lightheaded, then I could feel a bit of a headache. I began to not be able to walk correctly, always tripping over things and my brain wasn't working the way it should have. I had drunk a gallon of water in 4 hours but wasn't really sweating the way one should. So from all those symptoms, I still had a hard time speaking up. Finally, after 3 failed attempts to allow the word exit my mouth, I was finally able to tell my crew chief that I was desperate and needed to go back to the car, which was now about 2 miles away. Needless to say I had to stay in for 2 days because I had gotten mild heat stroke.
This lesson was that I need to be more active in how I feel, and to not worry about what others are going to think about me being sick. No one blames me for having to stay in because of heat problems. They don't want me to die. So, I need to get over that self consciousness.
We have been surveying in Kobhe Valley outside of Eureka on BLM land for a mining project at Mount Rose. It is really beautiful. Too bad there is so much smoke from the California fires.
Kobhe Valley Floor
Sorry the film is a little fast.
Sorry the film is a little fast.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Birthdays, work and stuff
I forgot how hot it is in Nevada...it is incredibly hot. 10 hours in the sun with no shade is really difficult when you come from 60 degree weather.
Though the past 4 days have been hard, we found some cool stuff. There are 3 crews and I really only know what has happened with my crew. I do know that one crew already finished 40 miles of surveying even with sites they recorded. My crew has not done so much in mileage as we have to recording. We now have recorded 13 sites. And many of them were no picnic. The majority of the sites were historic dating from the late 1900 to the 1950s. Lots of cans and glass, but the cooler part was that there were structures and car parts.
Man, we make a big deal about recycling, but the miners in the early 1900's could not be matched. They used everything. Old tin cans, car parts and bottles to make everything. And low and behold it is still there over 100 years later. Yes, all of it is dilapidated, but if someone had been there keeping it up, I bet it would look perfect.
The area is so pretty. I will put our project area below. It is huge!! Most of the area is on the picture but we are moving East/ West between the two mountain ranges.
View Larger Map
We are working on BLM land that allows the mine (the name escapes me) to drill for metals. I think this one is a silver mine.
I have included a bunch of pictures. A total of 6 really nice points have been found by our crew, the other teams had much more, but they had no historical sites.
Click on the picture to see the whole album.
Oh yeah, and my 30th birthday is tomorrow.
Though the past 4 days have been hard, we found some cool stuff. There are 3 crews and I really only know what has happened with my crew. I do know that one crew already finished 40 miles of surveying even with sites they recorded. My crew has not done so much in mileage as we have to recording. We now have recorded 13 sites. And many of them were no picnic. The majority of the sites were historic dating from the late 1900 to the 1950s. Lots of cans and glass, but the cooler part was that there were structures and car parts.
Man, we make a big deal about recycling, but the miners in the early 1900's could not be matched. They used everything. Old tin cans, car parts and bottles to make everything. And low and behold it is still there over 100 years later. Yes, all of it is dilapidated, but if someone had been there keeping it up, I bet it would look perfect.
The area is so pretty. I will put our project area below. It is huge!! Most of the area is on the picture but we are moving East/ West between the two mountain ranges.
View Larger Map
We are working on BLM land that allows the mine (the name escapes me) to drill for metals. I think this one is a silver mine.
I have included a bunch of pictures. A total of 6 really nice points have been found by our crew, the other teams had much more, but they had no historical sites.
Click on the picture to see the whole album.
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| Buffalo Valley 1 |
Oh yeah, and my 30th birthday is tomorrow.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Why Am I So Excited About Staring at the Ground in the Desert?
It is all sorted, and I will be returning to Washington the 30th of May in preparation for the migration.
Just in case anyone is interested in reading a little about the Great Basin, I have a wikipedia page for you.
From what I gathered from my boss, we will be surveying mines and some housing developments.
You want to know why we do these surveys? Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act states (very basically, Sorry Darby) that federal agencies have to acknowledge that historic places exist and are a non-renewable resource (or a cultural resource). Therefore, survey needs to be carried out so an Environmental Impact Statement can be submitted and SHPO (State and Tribal Historic Preservations Officers) can have their way with it...Darby knows all about this...to decide if the place needs to be preserved.
BLM of Nevada
Stuff we look for:
Projectile points
Bedrock metate
Now, who made these artifacts? There are a couple of tribes to consider. The Paiute, the Shoshone, and the Ute. I suggest a quick read over this website:
Great Basin Indians
I will now let all of this information settle in your brains and hope that you can see why I am so excited about staring at the ground in the desert this summer.
Just in case anyone is interested in reading a little about the Great Basin, I have a wikipedia page for you.
From what I gathered from my boss, we will be surveying mines and some housing developments.
You want to know why we do these surveys? Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act states (very basically, Sorry Darby) that federal agencies have to acknowledge that historic places exist and are a non-renewable resource (or a cultural resource). Therefore, survey needs to be carried out so an Environmental Impact Statement can be submitted and SHPO (State and Tribal Historic Preservations Officers) can have their way with it...Darby knows all about this...to decide if the place needs to be preserved.
BLM of Nevada
Stuff we look for:
Historical artifacts
We record all kinds of material, as long as it is 50 years or older. I don't know what they are going to do when we get to the mass manufacturing age. It is kinda stupid to record a pop can from the late 1970's onward, plus they are everywhere.
Glass bottles, tins, clothing, leather, nails and buildings are all fair game to be recorded and mapped. The most common historical artifacts we find are garbage pits full of tin cans. Bottles are my personal favorite.
An interesting piece of information to know while staring at the ground in Gold Mining Country, is to look for tobacco tins nailed to wooden posts. These tins were used to mark mining claims. Where you find these posts, you are likely to find small tailings, the piles of gravel left over from the test pits dug to see if the site was worth mining.
Old tins
We record all kinds of material, as long as it is 50 years or older. I don't know what they are going to do when we get to the mass manufacturing age. It is kinda stupid to record a pop can from the late 1970's onward, plus they are everywhere.
Glass bottles, tins, clothing, leather, nails and buildings are all fair game to be recorded and mapped. The most common historical artifacts we find are garbage pits full of tin cans. Bottles are my personal favorite.
An interesting piece of information to know while staring at the ground in Gold Mining Country, is to look for tobacco tins nailed to wooden posts. These tins were used to mark mining claims. Where you find these posts, you are likely to find small tailings, the piles of gravel left over from the test pits dug to see if the site was worth mining.
Old tins
Prehistorical artifacts
We find tons of obsidian lithic scatters that, every once and a while, yield a nice projectile point. These scatters tell us a lot about the area. For instance, if the site has a high concentration of flakes and is scattered over a large area, it can be assumed that this area was a long term camp and that it was a primary area of tool production. In these areas, we find primary, secondary and tertiary flakes. If there are large stones and pinyon trees around, we may find metates and manos that were used for grinding pine nuts. If you see many bedrock metates...you have yourself a milling camp. WOO HOO!!
We find tons of obsidian lithic scatters that, every once and a while, yield a nice projectile point. These scatters tell us a lot about the area. For instance, if the site has a high concentration of flakes and is scattered over a large area, it can be assumed that this area was a long term camp and that it was a primary area of tool production. In these areas, we find primary, secondary and tertiary flakes. If there are large stones and pinyon trees around, we may find metates and manos that were used for grinding pine nuts. If you see many bedrock metates...you have yourself a milling camp. WOO HOO!!
Projectile points
Bedrock metate
Now, who made these artifacts? There are a couple of tribes to consider. The Paiute, the Shoshone, and the Ute. I suggest a quick read over this website:
Great Basin Indians
I will now let all of this information settle in your brains and hope that you can see why I am so excited about staring at the ground in the desert this summer.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Hello
Starting is the hardest part.
So I am going to be heading to Nevada in a couple of weeks to begin a 4 month field season with my old boss. I am very excited.
The schedule is interesting with 8 days on (10 hr. days) and 6 days off, I will hopefully have time to explore and relax in the Sierras. I haven't really made any plans at the moment, but you will hear about them here on my new blog spot.
Richard and Miki are going to be staying the the UK while I am gone :(...but I am sure they (and I ) will be fine.
So I am going to be heading to Nevada in a couple of weeks to begin a 4 month field season with my old boss. I am very excited.
The schedule is interesting with 8 days on (10 hr. days) and 6 days off, I will hopefully have time to explore and relax in the Sierras. I haven't really made any plans at the moment, but you will hear about them here on my new blog spot.
Richard and Miki are going to be staying the the UK while I am gone :(...but I am sure they (and I ) will be fine.
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