Day 3 with Team S.S.S. (by Shane)

My third day on the site. By this time everyone had gotten acquainted with the work that we are doing. We are all in groups of three. Each group of three works on a quarter of the excavation unit that we all are working on. I have come to call my group “Team S.S.S.” because we all have names that start with the letter S. Go team S.S.S.! it’s not a competition, but it should be. Unfortunately this team will not last to the end of the semester. There will come a point where the groups will change up.

Did team S.S.S find anything of interest while digging? Yes! I believe that my group found at least six pieces of pottery.  At one point of the day there was a disagreement about the pottery in which I came out on top. I had found a piece of pottery which I wanted to show. It wasn’t particularly interesting, but to me anything that comes up is interesting. I showed it to one of the other students who claimed “that’s a rock." I was shocked that this person would go against the expertise that I don’t have. In all seriousness, after that was said I wanted to know for sure what it was. So I asked Dr. White and he agreed that it was a piece of pottery.

Small pieces of prehistoric pottery from Unit 5.

“Yes!” I thought “I’m not an idiot!”

I was really happy that I didn’t look like  a fool, which may happen more than I would like. Also I was right. Remember, it’s not a competition, but it totally is.

I only recorded in my notebook what my group found, but if my memory is correct, other groups found quartz , which my group has yet to find.

There were some real struggles though. The war against the roots began for me that day, and it might be waiting for me when I get back next Friday. There were a lot of roots to cut through. We are not the only ones who have had to deal with roots. I’m sure that the rest of the class will agree that it is a pain to cut through them. 

Casualties in the war of the roots.

Over all, the day was eventful, and I look forward to going back and finishing the war with the roots.