So it was (almost) dry enough for me to get back to work today, so I proceeded to start some more testing on the bottom of the hill. In case you missed it before, if there is one bright shining point to the Wildcat site...it's the bottom of the field. It's where the good stuff is.
I'm more convinced that ever that there is a (not-so) dry creek bed there hidden under the weeds. Actually, I'd guess that the no-name creek that forms the west boundary used to run right through here...and still does to some extent underground. I should remind you that when I mention a "subterranean river" I'm not referring to some picturesque cavern or grotto you can go cave diving in, this seems to be water that continues to seep through some of the loose soil a couple feet below the surface. I think that "seep" is a good word, I should use it more often.
Anyhow, I'd like to share my final shovel test of the day, or at least the notes. "Displaced 5m to the west due to still active snake burrow. Flooded out at 30cmbs." Yes, I got sent running screaming and flapping my arms like a flightless bird trying to take off while diving deeper into the weeds due to a snake nest popping out snakes at me. When I'd composed myself and got back to work I managed to find my missing river. It was a relief actually, I hadn't seen much of my river (can I name it the Marcus Subterranean Creek?) all day, but thankfully the snakes put me back on track.
Hmm, it sounds like I'm just bitching. I'll try to cut that out (I'm still a little overheated/dehydrated, so my sense of humor is a little wonky). In all honesty being chased by snakes (and no I didn't wrangle these or check to see what kind they were. They weren't garter snakes and they were longer than my forearm) to end my pretty miserable day was pretty funny. I really think a good fire would make this field a whole lot more manageable. Unfortunately swidden archaeology (as I've branded it) has yet to catch on with the mainstream establishment yet. I can't see what could possibly go wrong with razing a field for science.
Welcome to Undead Naked Archaeology
Alright, a quick introduction, scroll down for actual posts:
This is where I'll update what I'm up to in the field, post pictures, or just vent about how much I hate poison ivy.
Why Undead Naked Archaeology? It's pretty simple really...I like zombies. But also, archaeologists have a bunch of striking similarities to zombies.
We often are dressed in tattered/worn clothing. We frequently smell bad. I in particular tend to speak in grunts (especially in the morning). Often as the heat scrambles our brains we shamble about muttering incoherently. We crave delicious brains. We also swarm like zombies...in a phase I archaeology project we're scattered widely, low density (just like a stage I zombie outbreak). When something shows up...we go to phase II. Denser...and with more of us. Again, like a zombie outbreak reaching stage II. Finally, as we find "stuff" supervisors and technicians alike come out of the woodwork to absolutely flood the field with zombies. I mean archaeologists. Mmm stage/phase III.
As for the "naked" part...well it just sounds cool...that's all. "Undead Naked Archaeology" sounds like those lame "co-ed naked xyx" shirts. So I'm kind of making fun of myself...I do that sometimes.
Posts below!
This is where I'll update what I'm up to in the field, post pictures, or just vent about how much I hate poison ivy.
Why Undead Naked Archaeology? It's pretty simple really...I like zombies. But also, archaeologists have a bunch of striking similarities to zombies.
We often are dressed in tattered/worn clothing. We frequently smell bad. I in particular tend to speak in grunts (especially in the morning). Often as the heat scrambles our brains we shamble about muttering incoherently. We crave delicious brains. We also swarm like zombies...in a phase I archaeology project we're scattered widely, low density (just like a stage I zombie outbreak). When something shows up...we go to phase II. Denser...and with more of us. Again, like a zombie outbreak reaching stage II. Finally, as we find "stuff" supervisors and technicians alike come out of the woodwork to absolutely flood the field with zombies. I mean archaeologists. Mmm stage/phase III.
As for the "naked" part...well it just sounds cool...that's all. "Undead Naked Archaeology" sounds like those lame "co-ed naked xyx" shirts. So I'm kind of making fun of myself...I do that sometimes.
Posts below!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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