Great Entries and Good Luck
July 21, 2010 - 3:19am
Karl,
Great journals leading up to your field work. You sure sound ready to get dirty in the field!! I was part of the 2008 Nuvuk Arch. Project out of Barrow and I well remember the excitement of heading into the field. If others are interested the journals are still posted and we had swimming, bears, cold weather and a football game!!
I'll be paying attention to your journals so we can compare findings later. I've been working here in VT on a project that involves native stone tools, in this case, it appears that the native people were making "blanks" or the start of stone tools that could then be traded with other native people. The person that got the piece of quartzite would then finish the tool themselves.
Good luck with your computer, I hope it all works out!! Best wishes, Frank Kelley
August 3, 2010 - 4:52pm
#2
Sorry to hear of the struggles!!
Hi again Karl,
I was thinking of you and your project as I sifted through soil and lots and lots of rocks in western VT. We found 1000's of flakes and chips. Some cool larger bi-facial pieces as well. I smiled as I saw your note about the fluted point, the other archaeologists found a projectile point last week. Very exciting, this was the first at this site and led to a date of about 8,000BC!! We'll have to compare notes. We should also discuss how to share the excitement with students, I have some ideas to share.
Sorry the techno stuff didn't work for you. I was in Barrow which was pretty much like being in town, there were times when it took longer (I'd finish writing/ posting around midnight) Keep your ideas going, you can post additional pictures, video, and audio when you get back to CO. I'm going to put one up from my work last week, 2 years after being in the field.
One way or another, great job, welcome home. I'll be in touch,
Frank
August 6, 2010 - 10:20am
#3
Sounds like you're doing some neat research, Frank!
Hi Frank.
Despite the early frustrations, I was able to send photos through email via the satellite phone from the remote camp, which is all I expected. I was happy with the tech situation for the most part, but I should have listened to Janet and Kristin when they told us to practice before we left for the field! In the end, I was pretty excited to be sending email from a tent 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle.
I'm excited to hear how you shared (are sharing) your PolarTREC experience with your students. I'm planning to do a mock dig where I bury items for the students to dig up. It sounds like you're doing REAL digs. That's great! What would you say has been the most successful way to teach your students about archaeology and ancient history?
Look forward to hearing your thoughts,
Karl
Great to hear from, you, Frank. Sounds like you had quite an adventure. I've never heard of folks making projectile point "blanks" for trade. That's an interesting idea.
So far today I've been sitting in one of the big gear tents, trying to email photos through the sat-phone with no luck. I can send and receive email, but no photos. Did you have any trouble with this? Any ideas?
Thanks again,
Karl