Dig Diaries 2007

Keith Boyer
Archaeology Field School Journal

Day 1 – May 8, 2007

Today I met the group at the Muncy Historical Society building. Never really knew just how much history was in Muncy and the surrounding areas. We got a tour of the canal site and where possible digs may be. I am very excited about this class and all the possibilities that will come from it. Very proud of uncovering history in this area.

Day 2 – May 9, 2007
Today we learned how to clean artifacts and soft them accordingly. There were many types and kinds. Gil and I later went to the dig site and cleaned up from previous digs. It was exciting to be there working.

Day 3 – May 10, 2007
Today we continued cleaning artifacts and sorting them out. In the afternoon, we went to the site to create a dig pit. The pit was 6’x8’. We worked on it the rest of the day. We found various small artifacts. Very cool day; excited to dig more.

Day 4 – May 14, 2007
Today, Gil and I got to the site around 11:30; it was a cooler morning. My pit was the NW quadrant. I began to find a lot of bricks in various conditions. I found a lot of brick dust and other decomposed brick and mortar. Can’t wait to discover what’s under the brick dust tomorrow.

Day 5 – May 15, 2007
Today it was just Gil and I. First, we cleaned off an old picnic bench that was donated. We then began to dig at the site. I found many more fragmented brick and mortar along with clay pottery and many nails. Also, there was some leftover burnt wood of some kind. We both dug about 10-12” today. Very good dig day.

Day 6 – May 16, 2007
Pirates! It rained all day, so we watched a documentary.

Day 7 – May 17, 2007
Today I got lost in Hughesville. I actually found Ashkar Elementary and we had a great day showing the kids what archaeology is all about. They loved digging around and finding artifacts.

Day 8 – May 22, 2007
Uncovered more the brick mess. Don’t know what it is yet. Uncovered more brick from the path/floor. Hope we can figure out what this site is.

Day 9 – May 23, 2007

Since my quadrant is about done, I helped Sara dig most of the dirt out of her pit. Linda Poulton and Betty Fisher came by and gave us some insight about the floor. They thought it was a summer kitchen.

Day 10 – May 24, 2007
Today I helped Sara some more along with Gil. We expanded the site to try and find the edge of the brick. We no longer think it is a summer kitchen thanks to Bill. I thin k we found the house to the locktender. Looking at Kathleen and Gil’s rock found, I think I know where the foundation is.

Day 12 – May 29, 2007
Well, this weekend I drew a diagram of where I thought the corner of the house was. We expanded again to dig it up and found it. Gil and I kept digging more and more.

Day 13 – May 30, 2007
Today we expanded more of the site and found more of the foundation. Gonna miss this class. Tomorrow is the last day. Hope we get a lot done.

Day 14 – May 31, 2007
Well, it’s the last day of the class. I sweat my a** off. Gil, Sara, Robin and I dug the rest of the foundation. I brought my leaf blower over that helped out a lot. Last trip with that annoying kid, Gil. Ha ha.

Dig Personnel
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Dig Diaries
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The Archaeologist's Toolbox
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Muncy Historical Society
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Robin Van Auken, archaeologist for the project
Meet Robin Van Auken and find out more about the field school she teaches for Lycoming College