Dig Diaries 2007

Sara Smith
Archaeology Field School Journal

Day 1 – May 8, 2007
Today was a day for introductions. We met at Robin’s office, then drove to the Muncy Historical Society. Bill Corson took us around the museum and introduced Muncy’s history. Bill Poulton took us around the canal. We finally went to the lab and left to go back to school.

Day 2 – May 9, 2007
Today was our first day with hands-on experience. We each had a bin with artifacts. Water was added to the bins and we each spent around two hours washing the artifacts. We also separated them. Kathleen and I each took some small medicine bottles and candy dishes home to put together and research.

Day 3 – May 10, 2007
Today we were at the lab for most of the day. I started putting together what seems to be a large candy dish or small punch bowl. I plan to take it home over the weekend to put it together as best as possible, as well as finish a pitcher and another candy dish. Keith and Gil went to the site yesterday to clean up, and today we should be going over to mark off the digging area – weather permitting.

Day 4 – May 14, 2007
This morning, Kathleen and I went right to the Muncy Historical Society. We prepared artifacts for the field trip to Ashkar Elementary on Thursday. We then went to the dig site and started digging. It was a cool day – only supposed to get up to 71 degrees F.

Day 5 – May 15, 2007
Today was a day off for Kathleen and I. I was sick and Kathleen was having pain in her hips. Robin gave us labs to work on and the two of us went back to school.

Day 6 – May 16, 2007
Today it was raining. So we watched an amazing documentary – Pirates of the Caribbean 8-).

Day 7 – May 17, 2007
Today, Kathleen, Keith and I went to Ashkar Elementary School. We told the students what we do everyday. We also helped each grade level with an archaeology project.

Day 8 – May 22, 2007
Today I was sick and had the day off class. I finished my grave stone lab and started the geology lab.

Day 9 – May 23, 2007
Today we worked on getting the rest of the dirt out of my quadrant. Keith helped me out a lot. We were able to get most of my area uncovered. We also determined (thanks to help from Linda Poulton and Betty Fisher) that what we thought was a path is actually a summer kitchen. Real exciting.

Day 10 – May 24, 2007
Today was another day of digging. Bill looked at the site and he thinks that whatever it is, we have found is not a summer kitchen. We started expanding.

Day 11 – May 25, 2007
Today Gil and I helped with a field trip. The kids came through in four groups. I stayed with Robin at the lab while Gil was at the dig site. Robin and I had the students clean artifacts. We found many things that could be put together. I also found more pieces to put my dish together.

Day 12 – May 29, 2007
Today we started digging in a new quadrant. Keith uncovered the corner of the house and figured that the house goes out in diagonal directions. I made a drawing of Keith’s walls, the whole site, and the site with the proposed house.

Dig Personnel
Meet the archaeologists, students and volunteers working at the Muncy Canal site

Dig Diaries
Participate in the exciting discoveries by reading the latest from the field

Ask an Archaeologist
Visit our FAQs page to get answers to all your questions about the dig

The Archaeologist's Toolbox
Learn about the tools we use before, during, and after excavations

Archaeology for Kids
Here are a few games and puzzles to help young children and students learn about archaeology

Upcoming Events
Learn more about us, and get information on visiting the site or taking part in one of our programs

Media Coverage
Read all about it! Public Radio, local newspapers, Web 'zines and television newscasts investigate The Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail

Join the Society
Want to help with the Archaeology Dig? Become a member of the Muncy Historical Society

Muncy Historical Society
Visit the Muncy Historical Society's Web site

Robin Van Auken, archaeologist for the project
Meet Robin Van Auken and find out more about the field school she teaches for Lycoming College