The Site

Here's what the site looks like. This is just the part we've started working on this season. Each square is a 5'x5' square. Those aren't regular feet, but they're something called metric feet (I think, but I could be wrong). Basically, it's 10", so for example, a standard 12" is what we would call "1.2 feet."




And here is what my newly finished unit looks like. It was pretty uneventful. There were just two "features," probably post holes. and some big rocks. We reached the subsoil and didn't find anything of any significance, so we are moving on.

Heate wave.....

The temperature right now is 90 degrees, but the "feels like" is 100 degrees. And it's going to get to 100 degrees later today, which means that the feel like will probably be 110 degrees!!!!!

Mt. Vernon

Today we went on a "field trip" to Mt. Vernon. However, there were some bad storms last night and the power was out at the General's estate. So, we saw the house and the reconstructed grist mill and distillery, but not the museum. I guess the museum is important because it will help us as field school students understand the Mt. Vernon interpretation of George Washington. This is important because the archaeological work we are doing will contribute towards the Ferry Farm interpretation of George Washington.

But, all of that academic stuff aside, Mt. Vernon is a nice place. The views of the Potomac are amazing.





That's me at Mt. Vernon


This is the General and the Mrs., and her grand kids.


Fellow archaeologist Heidi, who used to work at Ferry Farm and now works at Mt. Vernon


That's me in front of half of Mt. Vernon

That's all of Mt. Vernon from the front, which is really the back


The General's grist mill (it's a reconstruction)

First day of field school.....

Today was the first day of field school. We arrived early and spent the first 3 hours doing boring introductions, and a tour of the whole facility. Not only do the grounds contain the archeology sites, they also are the home to administrative offices, museum spaces, scenic walks, restored landscapes, and outdoor educational activity spaces. Then we went to lunch (when I saw we, I mean the 8 field school interns and our teacher Dr. Phillip Levy, and his son Felix who is 7 years old).

After lunch we went to the filed to work with Paul, the field supervisor. Paul is an archaeologist. He gave us all the information we needed to start using the tools and excavating our 5' squares. And, we learned how to use Munsell color charts to record the soil. Then we set out marking the grid for our squares. This ended up being more difficult than we thought it would be and it took us an hour and a half to mark 3 squares. We finally started digging, removing the grass first (this is as far as we got). I found an artifact! It was just a bent nail or piece of wire, but I was very proud of myself.

Now I'm ready for a nice warm shower, but the hot water isn't working in hte dorm building. Our TA Justin says he's contacted the school's maintenance about it, but it's been out for 2 days now. It's annoying.

Fredericksburg, VA and Washington, DC

I arrived safely Thursday afternoon in Fredericksburg. After getting a late start from Fayetteville, I arrived here around 4:00pm. The town is really nice. It reminds me of a southern Edgartown, MA. (For those of you who don't know, that is on Martha's Vineyard.) I had a chance to walk from University of Mary Washington campus (where we're staying) to downtown Fredericksburg. It's all of 15 minutes to walk from one end of town to the other. The dorms that we're staying in are what you might expect from a dorm. They were built in the 30's by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Thanks, New Deal!

Friday morning I traveled to Washington, DC (I drove to Springfield, the last Metro stop, parked my car, and took the train into DC). I did all of the monuments, saw the White House, and toured the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). There are some assorted pictures below. But the most exciting thing was.......Chris Tucker was in the tour group at the BEP! He was very nice. And, he was with a woman who may or may not have been a former member of Destiny's Child. I'm waiting on Mark to confirm it.

I stayed the night in a hostel in DC. This was a first for me. It was OK but I'm not sure that I'd do it again. Hosteling people seemed to be either Europeans looking to get the most out of their cheap American Dollar, or crazy Americans who longed for a hippie commune lifestyle. Either way, I don't think it's for me.

Saturday I did some more DC gallivanting. The National Archives was very good. I enjoyed it tremendously. The rest of the day was kind of a bust....I walked by the Capitol building and the Jefferson building of the Library of Congress. By 1:00pm I was making my way back "home" to Virginia.

Two of my fellow archaeologist people arrived this afternoon, and I think we're going to get some dinner soon.





The white house. There were a lot of protesters in front of it.



Honest Abe.



The National Archives building.



This is an example of a you-too-can-be-in-the-National-Archives letter. I thought it was cute! (if you can't read it, just click on it, and it will get bigger)



Who knew Liberty could be so demanding!

Virginia

More to come later....

North Carolina

The plan was to start driving at 7:00am.....well, I woke up around 2:00am and was on the road by 3:00am. It was nice to get a head start, and I arrived in Fayetteville at 1:00pm.

Here's where I'm staying.



It's decent. I'll leave tomorrow morning and drive the rest of the way to Fredericksburg. There will be more updates then!

On the Road.....

I'm heading out tomorrow morning. The plan is to drive 10 hours to Fayetteville, NC and drive the rest of the way Thursday morning. Wish me luck!

New Boots

I bought some new Red Wing boots today.

They have minimal tread so they shouldn't upset the archaeological site too much.


This is my first attempt at posting pictures. I hope they turn out well.

Getting Ready

I leave next week for Virginia. I've been trying to get ready for the trip. Earlier this week I bought some 'work' clothes, and last night we had a meeting with the other USF students about the trip.

I am going to drive and I'd like someone to drive with me. But I think I'll be driving all alone.

This Summer

This summer I'll be going to Virginia for 6 weeks to participate in an archaeological field school. It will be in Fredericksburg, VA at Ferry Farm, George Washington's childhood home. It's for credit (6 hours!) which is pretty good in my opinion. The class will consist of something like 4 days of field work/classroom time and one day a week of field trips to places where you would expect a history class to go on a field trip.

Fredericksburg is close to Washington, D.C. so I will get to go there for the first time in my life.

It starts May 27th and I'll probably travel up there a few days early. It will end on July 3rd so maybe I will go to Washington or Philadelphia for 4th of July before I come home.