| Dig
Diaries 2005
Stephanie Ross
Archaeology Field School Journal
Monday 5/9/05
All students met Robin Van Auken in her office at about 12 p.m.
We then carpooled to the Muncy Historical Society Museum. We watched
a power point presentation and had a tour. Things that we might
find were pointed out. We then went to the barn that will be used
as our laboratory. It is on Pepper Street behind the Poulton’s
house. We saw an old packet canal boat. We then went to the site.
We walked down the tow path of the canal and were told about what
was going to be done in the next 4 or 5 years. We then cleared away
some brush and discovered a covering to what we thought was a well.
October 22, 1928 was carved into the cement. We also found a metal
disc. It resembled a plate. We took pictures and videos of some
of the work.
Tuesday 5/10/05
April, Amy, Jocelyn and I carpooled to the site where we met Robin
at 12 p.m. We explored the creek and river while we waited for Bill
to come so we could move the cover. Kyle, Erin, and Wes showed up
around 12:30-1 p.m. We cleared away the hill and when Bill arrived
the cap was taken off by sliding it down the hill. As soon as it
was removed I measured the well and most of the rocks and sketched
a scale drawing of it. In order to do this some dirt was pushed
away to see the edges of the rocks. At 4 p.m. we cleaned up and
the well was covered with wood and a tarp. A keep out sign was made.
Wednesday 5-11-05
Joc, Amy and I carpooled and met Robin at the site at 10 a.m. We
uncovered the well and cleared away any debris. We set up our buckets.
We then took more measurements. I drew a rough map of the 15’x15’
site. I also drew a profile view of the site from the top of the
well to the bottom of the hill. We then began shoveling off layers
of dirt, placing it in buckets and then sifting it through screens.
We took a lunch break around 12 p.m. Erin, Kyle and Wes showed up
around 1 pm. After lunch we continued to sift through our first
level of dirt. Things that were found include: 2 stakes, many rusted
nails, small pieces of pottery and some unusually shaped rocks.
More studying needs to be done to tell what they are. Some coal
was also found. This continued until Joc, Amy, and I left at 2 p.m.
The others stayed longer to make up their missed time.
Thursday 5/12/05
At 9:30 a.m., April, Amy and I left to meet Robin at the site. When
we arrived we realized it was cold so we went back to school to
get more clothes. Joc and Jeremiah arrived as we were leaving. While
we were gone they cleared away tons of brush from around the well.
On our way back we picked up some donuts. We arrived back at 11
a.m. Me and April started to dig while Amy and Joc sifted the dirt.
Many of the same artifacts were found again. Many pieces of pottery
and ceramics with colors and designs were found. Small pieces of
glass and more nails were found. Erin and Kyle arrived around 12
p.m. and Bill and Linda arrived at 12:30 p.m. We stopped for a BBQ
with them and the people that rebuilt the canal boat we saw. We
then resumed digging. After awhile April and I sifted and Kyle dug.
Erin and Joc and Amy helped look through the sifter to find artifacts.
Earlier in the day Erin and Kyle created a path around the well
on the northern side. April, Amy, Joc, Jeremiah, and I left around
3 p.m. Erin and Kyle stayed later.
Friday 5/13/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. We cleared away the site and began digging and sifting.
We took a break around noon. The others arrived around 1 p.m. The
same sorts of things were found as the day before. The four of us
left around 2 p.m.
Monday 5/16/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. We uncovered the well and began to dig and sift the dirt.
The excavation unit has also been expanded because a lot of the
trees and shrubbery has been cleared away and the area where the
lock tender’s house is thought to lie has been found on the
ground. We continued to find ceramic, nails, shells, clay, pottery,
and a few animal bone remains.
Tuesday 5/17/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. We uncovered the well and began to dig and sift the dirt.
We continued to find ceramic, nails, shells, clay, pottery, and
a few animal bone remains.
Wednesday 5/18/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. We uncovered the well and began to dig and sift the dirt.
We continued to find ceramic, nails, shells, clay, pottery, and
a few animal bone remains.
Thursday 5/19/05
We cleaned artifacts today from 10-12. We then left to meet the
rest of the students at the Taber’s museum. We had a tour
of the museum, but learned mostly about Indian artifacts.
Friday 5/20/05
We didn’t have class today.
Monday 5/23/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. Today we finally began removing the back side of the
wall and flattened all of the surrounding walls. We discovered that
there is a stone layer in one of the walls that was probably the
original layer of earth at the time the well was in use. The rocks
of the wall were removed. The measurements around the well were
also taken and evened out, drawn, and recorded so that exact measurements
of the excavation unit were there before digging of the well actually
began.
Tuesday 5/24/05
There was no class today because of rain.
Wednesday 5/25/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. It was cold and rainy so we went to the lab to clean
artifacts. We did this for a few hours but it became to cold to
work outdoors so we were dismissed with work to do in our rooms.
The other students were brought back work to do as well.
Thursday 5/26/05
Joc, Amy, April and I met and drove to the site together and arrived
at 10 a.m. Today we began digging in the well. It was slow-paced
because only one person can dig at a time, but we actually began
finding more artifacts as soon as we began. Although we continued
to find the usual artifacts, we also found some rope, plastic and
paper on the first surface layer of the well. Not many ceramics
were found. It was exciting to see something new.
Monday 5/30/05
There was no class today due to Memorial Day.
Tuesday 5/31/05
Amy and I met Robin at the site at 10 a.m. Joc met us there at 10:30.
We decided it was too muddy from the day before so we went to the
lab. Joc looked up information on ceramics while I started the report
on the rest of the artifacts. Amy helped Robin classify and photograph
the artifacts by level and direction. The rest of the group arrived
between noon and 1 pm. They helped with everything. Amy, Joc and
I left at 2 p.m.
Wednesday 6/1/05
Amy and I met Robin at the lab at 10 a.m. Robin and Amy went through
screens of artifacts and wrote down what they were onto a sheet.
I then put the information into an Excel program and finished the
report on artifacts. Erin arrived at 11:30 a.m. Kyle arrived around
noon. At 1 p.m., Robin took Erin and Kyle to the site to dig out
more of the well. Amy and I left at 2 p.m.
Thursday 6/2/05
April, Amy and I drove to the lab and met Robin at 10 a.m. We set
up the tables and began working. April and I looked through a screen
of level 6 debris and picked out artifacts. We found several small
animal bones. The rest of the material in the screen was put in
a bucket for when visitors come to the site they can look for things.
Amy looked through things from level 5. Robin water screened dirt
from level 7. Wes arrived at 11 a.m. and helped Robin screen. At
12 p.m. we left the lab and met Kyle and Erin at Haywood’s
for lunch. After lunch Erin went to the lab with Robin to finish
screening.
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
|
