OTP Harlow

The crew is in the final days of an archaeological dig. One of the field crew members is sick today and the lead archaeologist needs your help to make sure the dig is successfully completed. The catch? You're a brand new archaeologist, recently graduated from college with your Bachelor's degree. You've completed one field school program so far, an academic program that trains students in archaeology. Today, you'll be working on a project led by an Archaeology firm. You'll need to follow instructions from your crew chief, dig carefully, look for artifacts, and remember to return all of your equipment at the end of the day. Don't forget, today is a public visitation day. You are working on a public site and you might have a few tourists approach you to ask questions. [[Begin to dig]] [[Collect your equipment]] <audio autoplay> <source src="e:\forest jungleam-boy-8743_hifi" type="audio/mp3" /> </audio>

Your crew chief tells you that you are helping the crew to excavate the last test unit for the project. Test Unit 7 is 3 feet long and 3 feet wide. The crew has already started taking notes for this unit, but you will need to pay close attention so that you can record the remaining information on the note form at the end of this training session. //insert picture of CBT project, overlay a new grid showing which EU you will be excavating// You're told that this test unit represents a space on a grid that was laid out over the site several days before. You remember that archaeologists use grids to keep track of their excavation location and where artifacs are found on a site. You also remember that it is very important for you to dig carefully, making sure that the side walls of the test unit stay straight and your corners are sharp. The soil dug will be placed into a bucket and then sifted in a screen. The crew working on this test unit explain that they are still working in the top layer of soil and need to continue to dig until they see a change in soil color. A change in soil color could mean an older soil layer has been found. Do you want to excavate the test unit or screen the soil? (set: $minutesDigging to 10) [[Excavate a Test Unit]] [[Begin screening soil]]

//insert picture of equipemnt, possibly the back of a work van?// You will need a [[round shovel]], a [[flat shovel]], a [[trowel]], a [[bucket]], a [[tarp]], a [[1/4" screen]], [[excavation kit]], and a [[clipboard]]. You will use these items throughout your dig today. //find a code that will require the user to select each item before continuing on to the excavation area// [[Enter the excavation area]]

Wait, where is your equipment? Go back and get your equipment! [[Go back|Arrival]]

Someone drops a bucket of soil into your screen, the weight of it catches you by surprise and you find that you have to use your leg to stabalize the bottom of the screen so that it doesn't tip and spill dirt onto the ground. You shake the screen back and forth, the dirt falls through the screen. You press larger clumps of soil through the screen as you go. You use a small plastic bag to collect any artifact you might see in your screen. You will press any large clumps of dirt through the screen mesh using your hands and your trowel. Be careful, there might be sharp objects like broken glass and nails in the screen. Did you already get your tetnus shot? I hope so! [[Continue to screen the soil]] [[Begin digging]] (set: $minutesScreening to 10)

(if: $minutesScreening < 20)[ You've been screening soil for $minutesScreening minutes. Keep screening the soil. [[Continue to screen the soil]]] (if: $minutesScreening > 20)[ You've been screening soil for $minutesScreening minutes. You're in a layer of soil that contains a great deal of modern material (aluminum foil, plastic, wire, paper, part of a soda bottle). You watch your crew-mate dig a few shovel fulls of soil out of the ground and place dirt into a bucket. When the bucket is full, another crew member dumps the soil into your screen. You think this is pretty fun at first, but after the first bucket of soil you feel your arms growing weary from the labor. It's hard work! You'd like to try hand-digging instead. [[Excavate a Test Unit]]]

//insert video, edit video below to fit this story// <html> <object width="560" height="349"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VIDEONAME?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> </param> <iframe width="560" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C__N7a-_5V4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </object> </html> You stomp on the shovel to force the blade into the ground, then pitch the dirt into a nearby screen. You check the shovel and you can see that the dirt contains broken bottle glass, rocks, pebbles, a few ceramic sherds and a few pieces of brick. This is a layer of fill. You've got the hang of this, you move from dropping soil into the bucket to pitching dirt into a nearby screen. Just make sure your crew member is looking when you toss the dirt, you don't want to spill anyone or hit any with soil! Stomp, scoop, pitch. Stomp, scoop, pitch. Stomp, scoop, pitch. As you continue to dig, you begin to wonder- "Who did these artifacts belong to? What sort of life did they live? What were they doing here?" You find yourself growing weary with the work, all the while considering new questions. (Now you're really thinking like an archaeologist!) Do you want to keep digging or do you want to begin screening soil to look for artifacts? (set: $depthDigging to $depthDigging + 1) You have excavated $depthDigging inches. (if: $depthDigging < 5)[[[Keep digging]]] [[Begin Troweling]] [[Begin screening soil]]

//insert video of screening via youtube// You shake the screen Back and forth, Back and forth, You pause, you scrape the screen mesh with your trowel and push more dirt through the screen. You carefully pick out the artifacts you see and place them into your artifact bag. Shake and scrape, Shake and scrape. Do you want to continue screening soil or do you want to begin digging? (if: $minutesScreening < 20)[[[Continue to screen the soil]]] [[Begin digging]] [[Sort Artifacts]] (set: $minutesScreening to $minutesScreening + 10)

//insert picture// The crew tells you that you are in the topmost layer of soil, a modern Fill layer. The word Fill means that you are excavating a layer of soil that is not naturally occuring. This layer of soil was placed there by a former resident, but when? The fill could have been deposited when the tavern was undergoing renovation in the early twentieth century or it could have been placed at a later date when the tavern was being rebuilt. Archaeologists study the artifacts they find to figure out the age of the soil layers they excavate; you can do the same later on. The soil layers and artifacts should get older the deeper you dig, but be careful not to mix different soil layers. You need to keep them seperate as you dig; this helps archaeologists understand changes over time. You'll need to dig through this fill layer to get to the next layer of soil. The next layer of soil is likely from an earlier garden that was once on the property. You ask the following question of your crew, [["How do I describe this soil in my notes?"|Soil Chart]] It is important to describe your soils propertly. Is it clay? Is it sand? Are there roots or pebbles? Look at the contents in the soil, feel the texture of the soil.

Before you look through the artifacts, you must [[Screen Soil|Begin screening soil]]. What kinds of artifacts are you finding? If you are certain you would like to skip over your training on the screen, you may do so and leave the excavation area to [[Sort Artifacts]]

//insert video clip or brief slide show on a loop// It is often said that for every hour spent digging in the field, you will spend three hours in the lab. Each artifact must be properly described and noted about when an artifact was made. This information helps archaeologists figure out when an object was used. The cataloger must ask, what was this artifact part of, was it a bottle, plate, cup, window, clam shell, brick, nail? Artifacts need to be collected from the field, the bags need to be sorted by their unit, soil layer and the depth at which they were excavated. Artifacts are then washed, dried and identified. Once each artifact is identified, the information about each is recorded in a catalog. Eventually, the lead Archaeologist will look closely at this catalog and all of your notes to interpret the artifacts found and to decide what they mean. Today, you only have time to wash the artifacts- but they are so interesting! You wonder, who were the people who once used these artifacts? What lives did they leave? What did they do here at the tavern? We have set up a washing station so that visitors can see our artiacts. Water has been gathered from a nearby stream and a couple of archaeologists are already set up at a washing station. You should [[join them|wash artifacts]]. Remember, you should wash them carefully!

(if: $depthDigging < 5)[//insert video clip// You haven't gone deep enough to begin troweling, please excavate just a little deeper with the large shovel. However, if you'd like to skip this stage then you can [[Keep digging]]] (if: $depthDigging is 5)[ //insert video clip// You've been excavating soil for $minutesDigging minutes, you've excavated to a depth of 5 inches below ground surface. The soil has started to change color and texture. These changes mean that you are on top of a new layer. It's time to clean up the unit with a trowel. Clean the walls of the unit and use the tip of the trowel to scrape the walls from top to bottom in an even line. [[Scrape down the North, South, East and West walls of the unit|Trowel Walls]]] //still entering copy edits from reviewer, Michael J. Gall. View next update for additional edits.//

//insert audio file only// You scrape the soil with your trowel. Scrape, scrape, scrape... (if: $depthDiggingts < 15)[You have only troweled for $depthDiggingts minutes, continue to [[Clean the bottom of the unit]]] (if: $depthDiggingts is 15)[You have troweled away $depthDiggingts minutes, now it's time to [[take the final measurements]] of your unit] (set: $depthDiggingts to $depthDiggingts + 5)

//insert picture or video clip// Open excavation kit your excavation kit and remove the tape measure and line level. You will need to attach the line nevel to the string, which is tied to the <b>datum</b> in the northeast corner of the unit. Pull the string tight, make sure that the bubble in the line level is in the middle of the level. You will pull the string tight, along side the ruler. Do not let the string come into contact with the ruler; if you do, this can give you an incorrect measurement. Be sure to place the "0" on the ruler on the bottom of the unit and record the number on the ruler that your level indicates is the depth. You will then slide the line level back and forth along the string as you measure the depth of each corner. Extend the ruler into the unit in a vertical fashion. Hold the string against the ruler, but do not allow the string to touch the ruler. The goal is to keep the bubble in the level centered as you take your measurements, you may need to move the string up or down accordingly, the placement of the string against the ruler will indicate how deep you are in your unit. Observe how this archaeologist measures the depth of the unit: ((video)) <b> Datum: this is usually a nail that has been placed in the corner of the unit, archaeologists will tie a string to the nail and stretch the string across the unit to take measurements. </b> [[Record the closing depth|measure the depth of your unit]]

//insert video clip of picture// <html> <object width="480" height="385"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VIDEONAME?fs=1&hl=en_GB&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> </param> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C__N7a-_5V4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </object> </html> Great job! You have removed some soil. Select the deepest point of the unit and scrape back the surface of the soil to one corner of the unit- the northeast corner is a good starting point. You will then continue to the scrape the soil from the northeast corner to the southeast, to the southwest and finish at the northwest corner. You trowel the soil into a dust pan and empty the dustpan into a bucket. You repeat this process. [[Clean the bottom of the unit]] (set: $depthDiggingt to 0.10) (set: $depthDiggingts to 5)

//insert picture// This type of shovel is best used for breaking ground when excavating a test unit, or if you are excavating a smaller shovel test pit. The blade of the shovel is round and makes it easier to chop through roots and compact soil.

//insert picture// This type of shovel is best used for excavating a test unit, while maintaining a somewhat level surface. The blade has a flat edge to it, which makes it possible to cut down into the unit while keeping a straight edge to the unit walls.

//insert picture// The Marshalltown trowel is perhaps one of the closest friends an archaeologist can have, next to an experienced field crew. The trowel has a tapered point, while some have square edges. Most archaeologists keep the pointed version on hand. The trowel allows the archaeologist to screen soil, clean the unit prior to documentation and collect small soil samples. The Marshalltown trowel should not be confused with a garden spade, these are entirely different tools.

//insert picture// Archaeologists can never have too many buckets! A 5 gallon plastic bucket should do just fine. You can use the bucket to collect soil, or to carry equipment when not in use. You can also flip it over and use it as a seat at lunch time!

//insert picture// The tarp can be used as a staging area, to collect soil from the screen so that it's easier to put the dirt back in the test unit at the end of the excavation. The tarp can also be tied up over an excavation area and used for sunshade.

//insert picture// The screen is used to screen soil. It's made of wood, hardware and 1/4" wire mesh so that dirt can fall through the screen but the artifacts will stay above the mesh.

//insert picture// The excavation kit has a few different things in it, including: measuring tapes, a line level, a plumb bob, a soil color book, a camera, a sign board and a camera.

//insert picture of object// Archaeologists prefer to use a clipboard case. These cases can hold all of the [[paperwork]] needed for a project. They can hold paperwork, pencils, a compass and a measuring tape. You probably won't need a compass for this project, but it's always good to keep one on hand while you work in the field.

//insert picture of compass and overview map of EU// You will take measurements from the northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest corners of the unit. You will also measure the center of the unit. The measurements you record will be written as your closing measurements for this level, and would be written as your opening depth for your next level. You have no features in this unit, otherwise you would also use the chart on your unit form to draw in the features. [[Finish writing the notes for your unit|Closing Notes]]

Great! In this exercise, you learned how to: * Excavate a unit using a shovel * Clean a unit with a trowel * Take closing measurements You're ready to take a photo of the closing level. The Crew Chief has already prepared the signboard for you, so all you need to do is take the photo. [[Take a closing photo]]

//insert photo of overview and snapshot audio// Thank you for your help with this level! Normally, you would also need to draw a planview of the unit level. You did not identify any features or vegetation in this level, so the drawing would be very basic. If you were staying on this unit until it was completely excavated, you would also need to draw a [[profile view]]. Now it's time for you to learn how to [[Sort Artifacts]] from the field. You can take your artifacts over the wet lab to start the process.

You take a look at your notes for this unit and notice that someone has already started digging here. These are the opening depths for this level, meaning that some soil has already been excavated: NE corner - 0.5 inches, SE corner - 0.5 inches NW corner - 0.6 inches, SW corner - 0.7 inches Center - 0.5 inches You grab your shovel and kick the heel of the blade towards the ground. The blade cuts into the soil with force but stops just a couple of inches beneath the surface. You kick the blade a second time. The blade strikes at the same depth as before. This is tough work, but you eventually break through the uppermost layer of compact soil. You scoop the dirt into a bucket and prepare another shovel-load of dirt. As soon as the bucket is nearly full- someone pours the bucket into a nearby screen. You continue to dig. (set: $depthDigging to 0) You have excavated $depthDigging feet. [[Keep digging]] [[Begin Troweling]] [[Begin screening soil]]

Before moving on to the next station, you need to help your crew to write up the final notes for this level. Normally, you would also draw a map of the unit on the same note form. However, you just removed the top layer of fill and there are no features in this unit. If you don't have features, roots, or large clusters of artifacts- the map will be left blank. Fill in the form to test your memory, or [[ask your crew|Unit Notes]] to remind you of some of this information. You can enter a summary of your findings at the bottom of the form in the comment box. You didn't find very much in this level, so only a few sentences will be necessary. <form method='post'> Unit: <input type='text' name='Unit' id='Unit' /><br /> Layer: <input type='text' name='Layer' id='Layer' /><br /> Overall Opening Depth: 0.5 inches Opening Depths: NE corner - 0.5 inches SE corner - 0.5 inches NW corner - 0.6 inches SW corner - 0.7 inches Center - 0.5 inches Closing Depth: NE corner <input type='text' name='NE corner' id='NE corner' /><br /> SE corner <input type='text' name='SE corner' id='SE corner' /><br /> NW corner <input type='text' name='NW corner' id='NW corner' /><br /> SW corner <input type='text' name='SW corner' id='SW corner' /><br /> Center <input type='text' name='Center' id='Center' /><br /> Munsell: <input type='text' name='Munsell' id='Munsell' /><br /> Soil Description: <input type='text' name='Soil Description' id='Soil Description' /><br /> Artifacts From this Level: <input type='text' name='Artifacts From this Level' id='Artifacts From this Level' /><br /> Comments:<br /> <textarea name='comment' id='comment'></textarea><br /> <input type='hidden' name='articleid' id='articleid' value='<? echo $_GET["id"]; ?>' /> <input type='submit' value='Submit' /> </form> ((possibly create an artifact bag tag)) [[Done]]

//insert picture// This is Unit 7, which was opened to an overall depth of 0.5 inches, each corner was opened at the following depths: NE corner - 0.5 inches, SE corner - 0.5 inches NW corner - 0.6 inches, SW corner - 0.7 inches Center - 0.5 inches The unit was excavated an additional 5 inches. After cleaning the unit with a trowel, you had removed an additional 0.5 inch of soil. The measurements you observed for each corner confirmed that you had excavated an additional 5.5 inches from the opening depths. This means that your final closing depths for this level should read: NE corner - 6 inches, SE corner - 6 inches NW corner - 6.1 inches, SW corner - 6.2 inches Center - 6 inches You overall closing depth will be represented by the deepest depth recorded, which is 6.2 inches. [[Continue to Layer, Munsell and Soil Description sections|Soil Form]]

//insert picture// The Munsell color for this soil was recorded earlier as being 10 YR 5/6. Remember, munsell colors are somewhat objective because everyone see's color a little differently. As long as you select a color very near this one, the notes will be fine. As mentioned earlier, the soil texture consists of sandy loam and coarse sand. You only excavated the topmost layer, this layer consists of sandy laom. [[Review artifact bag contents|artifact bag]]

//insert picture of soil triangle// Your crew member responds with the following answer, "Archaeologists often use a soil chart to determine how to describe the texture of the soil. A loam is a toil that contains portions of silt, sand and clay. Silt is a soil that contains fine sand and clay, sand is a soil that contains a loose grainular substance. Sand can be fine or coarse. Archaeologists refer to this chart to determine what term should best describe the texture of the soil. The site we are at today is made of a sandy loam, the deepest layers consist of coarse sand." [[Keep digging]]

//insert picture// You found broken bottle glass, ceramic and brick in this level. You should fill out an artifact bag tag, a fellow crew member has already done this. Take a look at the bag tag, take note of what sort of information you see. A bag tag is almost like an address card for the artifacts, the information recorded on the tag will let the archaeologists know exactly where the artifacts came from. //insert picture of finished bag tag, compared to a profile drawing showing which level the artifacts come from// [[Return to the form|Closing Notes]]

//insert picture of materials// Open the artifact bag on the table. There is a tub of water, a seive and a toothbrush on the table. You can use that space to wash the artifacts. You should place the artifacts in a container to keep them sorted as you wash, it's important to keep artifacts from different soil layers from getting mixed up. Only certain artifacts can be washed, other artifacts need to be cleaned with a dry toothbrush. Thankfully for you, there is a [[list]] of artifacts and their cleaning procedures available at the table. Make sure you review this list before you begin washing, otherwise you might make a mistake.

//insert downloadable PDF list of artifacts and washing proceedures// Empty the bag from Excavation Unit 7, from the Fill layer. Someone else has already asigned this a bag number, this is bag number 32. This means that there are at least 32 bags of artifacts that have been excavated for this project. You are read to [[wash.]]

//insert picture of objects// You have brick, ceramic and glass in your seive. As you wash the artifacts, you begin to see other artifacts emerge from under the dirt. You begin to wonder about the objects you hold in your hands. What sort of information can these artifacts [[tell you?]]

Archaeologists often use artifacts to help determine the date of a site. In fact, there is enough information available to archaeologists to help date nails, ceramics and some glass. For example, families used to use ceramics as a way of displaying their economic status to friends and families. Certain patterns or materials were popular at different times throughout history. Artifacts can also tell archaeologists what sort of buildings may have been on the property, what sort of food people used to eat and what kind of tools they used to use. Other modern artifacts like aluminum foil and plastic have their own dates. [[continue]]

After you wash the artifacts, you place them on the drying rack. Take a look at some of the objects that have been found so far, there are quite a lot. Remember, these are just a few of the artifacts recovered- there are many other kinds that you have not seen today. [[Brick]] [[Nails]] [[Ceramics]] [[Glass]] [[Bones]] [[Shell]] [[Nevermind, I'm finished for today.]]

//insert picture and corresponding information, description of how these are processed//

//insert picture and corresponding information, description of how these are processed// There were several bonesrecovered from this project. Archaeologists examine bones to determine whether the bones are leftover from food. Sometimes cut marks are visible on bones, rodents can also check bones and leave marks from their teeth behind on the bones. In 2013, the fieldschool from Monmouth University identified several animals from the tavern. Snake bones were recovered from a privy in the back yard of the tavern, while a cat and a dog were found closer to the house.

//insert picture and corresponding information, description of how these are processed// These are clam shells. Clam shells have smooth ridges on the surface of the shells. Clam shells were discarded after eating. Clam shells could be re-shaped and used as tools by Native Americans, or ground up and used as building material by Colonists. Oyster shells can be used in a similar manner. Oyster shells have a shape that is less uniform than clams. Cowry shells, which can also be found on sites, were frequently used as jewelry or money by African slaves. Sometimes archaeologists find beads made out of shells on sites.

//insert final picture// Thank you for your help today, you did a great job. We look forward to seeing you on another dig!

//insert a downloadable PDF, if possible// Archaeologists write notes while they're in the field. Your clipboard already contains notes for Excavation Unit (EU) 7. At the end of your excavation experience, you will be asked to document the following observations about your unit: <form method='post'> Unit: <input type='text' name='Unit' id='Unit' /><br /> Layer: <input type='text' name='Layer' id='Layer' /><br /> Opening Depth: <input type='text' name='Opening Depth' id='Opening Depth' /><br /> Closing Depth: <input type='text' name='Closing Depth' id='Closing Depth' /><br /> Munsell: <input type='text' name='Munsell' id='Munsell' /><br /> Soil Description: <input type='text' name='Soil Description' id='Soil Description' /><br /> Comment:<br /> <textarea name='comment' id='comment'></textarea><br /> <input type='hidden' name='articleid' id='articleid' value='<? echo $_GET["id"]; ?>' /> <input type='submit' value='Submit' /> </form> Don't worry, each of these things will be described throughout your time with us today. You can either use the electronic form to submit your notes to the crew, or you can print out a unit form from the OTP website //this link may change// and fill it in as you go along. [[Go back|Collect your equipment]]

//insert scan of finished profiles// //insert description of profile views//