My first archaeology job

[DemsRBetterLovers]

Well, I'm happy about it, but at the same time furious.

So, about a year back, the Bush Administration sold off a bunch of national forest land to logging companies. I know, im not happy about it either, but it gave me ajob. Before those evil logging corporations can go in and tear up the beautiful Sierra Nevada oak and pine forests, my team gets to go in and mark off sites of "cultural importance" so that they dont get destroyed by the incredibly destructive logging equipment.

Heres the catch: if we find enough areas of cultural remains (mostly ancient Miwok bedrock mortars) they wont be able to log the area at all.

Another funny thing: a month after the area was sold to some logging company, a forest fire mysteriously burned half the area. Irony is a bitch. Go mother nature!

[Maddy McCall]

1. I've done some of the same work here in Mississippi.

Yeah, NAGPRA's a great law.

Are you doing contract work?

[DemsRBetterLovers]

2. no...

im working witha grad student through my university. I dont even know where to start on how to get contract work.

[Maddy McCall]

8. That's how I did the work...

with our grad anthro department.

There are a lot of contractors out there willing to hire young, experienced archaeologists, though. That's where most of our grads go when they finish their masters.

[Sherman A1]

3. Good for you!

[XemaSab]

4. Ah yes, can scatters, patinated glass, middens...

Where in the Sierras are you working?

One time my colleague and I found a mortar that still had a pestle in it!

And two of my colleagues found a stone bowl! :bounce:

[DemsRBetterLovers]

5. Id rather not say exactly...

i dont think the bush administration thought any rabid democrats would be wandering in the forest he sold off.

plus, i dont want to get fired.

ill just be in the mountains, thats all you need to know.

[XemaSab]

6. Good call.

(PM me the county, please?)

[DemsRBetterLovers]

7. done...

[Maddy McCall]

9. Never found the mortar with the pestle still in it.

Wild!

I've found the mortar on surface, and a few feet away, the pestle. Never together, though. That is absolutely wild.

[DemsRBetterLovers]

10. we found an entire intact skeleton of a mormon family

on my first dig no less.