So, I've spent the evening going over some maps, work from the prior semester, and tearing my hair out fighting with ARCGIS...and I should be ready to begin some sampling at Wildcat tomorrow (and the surrounding terrain) for my thesis. I've got some 16 points marked and ready to go, hopefully at least 9 turn out...any fewer than that and I'll be a bit unhappy with my chances of getting match.
Have I mentioned my thesis? I'm sure I probably have...but the down and dirty:
Sampling possible clay sources at a selection of Fort Ancient sites within the Miami Valley and comparison with collections of sherds. The goal: determine where individual sites were gathering their raw materials (in this case clay) and how ceramics traveled throughout the region (recreating a portion of their economy I suppose you could say: ceramics from creation to consumption to deposition (I couldn't think of a good word that started with "c" there)). I'll start at Wildcat because 1) I know have the greatest familiarity with the site and surrounding landscape 2) I won't be mucking up someone else's site if I screw up 3) I won't get lost driving to some of the more distant collection points (and I know where the actual site is) and 4) it's better to have a test run in comfortable conditions, yeah?
I'm pretty excited to give this a shot tomorrow, and of course if we don't have time I'm going to be very disappointed. Oh well, I'm finally (I think) ready...at least I guess. Right about now all that doubt is creeping in ("Am I really there? Am I actually good enough? I sure don't feel smart enough to be doing the thesis thing..."). Ah well, I guess all that's left to do is take the plunge... (is it just me or does life seem to be a series of plunges?)
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, July 1, 2009
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