We had 20 newly trained Site Stewards at a State Park to do extended field training.
We were not able to offer “feature” identification to them in class other than through photos via Power Point presentation so this was an opportunity to expand their archaeological knowledge in the field.
There were 3 of us to do the training and we each took a group. I was doing surface artifact ID, Bill G. from the Forest Service was taking a group to a higher level to show them a ballcourt and waffle gardens (agricultural fields), and Dave M. also from the Forest Service took them to view walls, rooms and other features known to be on site. We each spent about 45 minutes with our group then rotated groups so all could see the various things the site had to offer.
At the end of the session with my last group as I was showing them some artifacts and explaining the need to look at the desert floor for color changes when one Steward said, “Look up! There is someone with a shovel! Felony in progress!”
We looked up from the desert floor and sure enough there was a man about 300 meters from us feverously working with a shovel.
All who had cell phones had them at the ready!
But who to call? We were far away from the other two trainers – they were not in eye-sight nor within earshot.
I said, “Does anyone have Bill’s or Dave’s number?”
Much shaking of heads and “Nope.”
There was great discussion and much consternation over “what to do?”
We just had to wait until we caught up with the other trainers who, by the way, are also trained in Law Enforcement.
When Bill G. approached we told him about the man we saw with the shovel. Bill said he talked to the man and it was a Park worker cleaning the trail. Whew!
One Steward said, “I would never noticed that man and questioned what he was doing had it not been for this training.”
I was so proud of the group and of our training!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
New Technology
Advances in virtual technology has a place in Archaeology.
Let's see if I can show you:
http://www.cdarc.org/what-we-do/information/exhibits/vsw_preview
Well this won't let me turn this into a link any longer.
The blogger boys have changed the format recently.
I am sorry. You will have to copy and paste.
I think you will enjoy this site. It is just a preview of coming attractions!
New technology hasn't gotten to the blog!
Let's see if I can show you:
http://www.cdarc.org/what-we-do/information/exhibits/vsw_preview
Well this won't let me turn this into a link any longer.
The blogger boys have changed the format recently.
I am sorry. You will have to copy and paste.
I think you will enjoy this site. It is just a preview of coming attractions!
New technology hasn't gotten to the blog!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
A Desert Trip
On survey and site assessment, in Pinal County a couple of weeks ago I went down!
I was walking along on level ground.
Someone called my name.
I looked up and the next thing I knew I was flat down.
Literally, face down on the desert floor!
Slowly I did a ‘systems’ check.
Everything moved.
Nothing hurt.
I heard a voice yell out, “Is she breathing?”
“I am ok,” I whispered rather dazed.
Now getting up was another thing.
I couldn’t just get up!
I had to slither backwards on my belly until the “you are clear” was said.
I had fallen between two prickly pear cacti and apparently ‘brushed’ them.
I was covered with cacti thorns: arms, shoulders, thighs, belly and my chin!
It took some doing but we got the thorns out – sorta, mosta!
I was on my way again.
Looking down and
Breathing!
I was walking along on level ground.
Someone called my name.
I looked up and the next thing I knew I was flat down.
Literally, face down on the desert floor!
Slowly I did a ‘systems’ check.
Everything moved.
Nothing hurt.
I heard a voice yell out, “Is she breathing?”
“I am ok,” I whispered rather dazed.
Now getting up was another thing.
I couldn’t just get up!
I had to slither backwards on my belly until the “you are clear” was said.
I had fallen between two prickly pear cacti and apparently ‘brushed’ them.
I was covered with cacti thorns: arms, shoulders, thighs, belly and my chin!
It took some doing but we got the thorns out – sorta, mosta!
I was on my way again.
Looking down and
Breathing!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Unbelievable
We were out in our archaeological monitoring area last week.
Wow! Amazing what a bit a rain does to and for the desert.
So many little vines and tiny plants blooming: the true desert poppies with their bright gold petals, barrel cactus with luscious red and orange flowers, pink trailing 4 o’clocks and the very sweet smelling devils claw (the Tohono o’odham use the seed pod in their basket making).
Some of the trees were in full flower: Sweet acacia and Creosote the most conspicuous. Tamarisk (salt cedar) too with it lovely pink plumes of flowers - a pity this Russian plant is such a scourge in riparian areas. It grows so thick it forms a barrier to wild life. Heck even birds can’t deal with it, and man can’t get rid of it.
Then there were the caterpillars! They were about 3 inches long, yellow and fat. I stopped to watch one as it dug a hole.
Huh? Caterpillar digging?
Yep! It really was digging. I called my crewmates over to see and we were stunned and mesmerized.
The dig was more like digging a cave or over hang - not straight down but digging horizontally just ¼ inch under the ground. We watched it shove the dirt aside and move into the ‘cave’ (overhang). As we left that caterpillar and moved on we saw more of them doing the same thing.
We should have had video equipment with us so all could view this astounding sight, as we are sure no one will believe us!
Excavation/digging without a permit is a felony offense you know. Hmm-- this would never hold up in court!
Excavation/digging without a permit is a felony offense you know. Hmm-- this would never hold up in court!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Returning
We have had rain! Enough so that the Forests and County areas are open again. We are allowed to go into our site monitoring areas.
We returned the first day the bans were lifted.
We were thrilled to see: a mountain lion, small herds of deer, Red coach whip snake, a desert tortoise and water!
The animals had been without humans visiting for a month and a half and seemed rather shocked to see us. Deer stopped their feeding to stare at us!
One rattler was very intolerant to our presence - he rattled a warning from under a bush next to our feet!
Puddles of water stood in the roads at the small wash crossing areas. Large Collared Lizards were scurrying back and forth across the road at our approach. Why so many lizards on the road? A short stop to investigate: lots and lots of ants! The lizards were feeding.
A trickle of water flowed over the falls and the Creek had a slow moving trickle too. Dace minnows were in the small pools. At our approach a great blue heron flew up from one of the big cattle tanks, now full with water. Ranchers had moved the cattle out of the area, as there was no ground feed for them. The full tanks have no takers except for wild life.
With the rain came the quickly sprouting seeds. The air was resplendent with the smell of the Devil's Claw vine blooming; small pincushion cacti were blooming; trailing 4 o’clocks were having their way. The creosote bushes that were brown/bone dry and crinkly to our touch were green and in flower.
Hillsides one month ago that were brown with death are now bright green - a touch of Ireland!
The archaeological sites were all ok. The rain had caused some sheet washing across the sites but that had exposed more artifacts, some of which were on dirt pedestals as if to say, “Hey, here we are!”
In the now damp soil, rocks held tight to their hillside position against our boots onslaught - no rolling out from under our boots making the hillside climb a dangerously slippery/sliding event.
Our return to all areas of the Forests and County Preserve was truly wonderful.
The only exception: our month long unused muscles now scream at us!
We returned the first day the bans were lifted.
We were thrilled to see: a mountain lion, small herds of deer, Red coach whip snake, a desert tortoise and water!
The animals had been without humans visiting for a month and a half and seemed rather shocked to see us. Deer stopped their feeding to stare at us!
One rattler was very intolerant to our presence - he rattled a warning from under a bush next to our feet!
Puddles of water stood in the roads at the small wash crossing areas. Large Collared Lizards were scurrying back and forth across the road at our approach. Why so many lizards on the road? A short stop to investigate: lots and lots of ants! The lizards were feeding.
A trickle of water flowed over the falls and the Creek had a slow moving trickle too. Dace minnows were in the small pools. At our approach a great blue heron flew up from one of the big cattle tanks, now full with water. Ranchers had moved the cattle out of the area, as there was no ground feed for them. The full tanks have no takers except for wild life.
With the rain came the quickly sprouting seeds. The air was resplendent with the smell of the Devil's Claw vine blooming; small pincushion cacti were blooming; trailing 4 o’clocks were having their way. The creosote bushes that were brown/bone dry and crinkly to our touch were green and in flower.
Hillsides one month ago that were brown with death are now bright green - a touch of Ireland!
The archaeological sites were all ok. The rain had caused some sheet washing across the sites but that had exposed more artifacts, some of which were on dirt pedestals as if to say, “Hey, here we are!”
In the now damp soil, rocks held tight to their hillside position against our boots onslaught - no rolling out from under our boots making the hillside climb a dangerously slippery/sliding event.
Our return to all areas of the Forests and County Preserve was truly wonderful.
The only exception: our month long unused muscles now scream at us!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
What A Day
This is very hard for me to write. Those of you who have followed my blog know I usually write about situations I have been involved in but from my very torqued perspective. But this one is different as it is about an event where the Governor’s Archaeology Advisory Commission honored me, among others.
In Jade I told you about the announcement that really knocked my socks off! I was to receive this big honor for which I felt I had no right to.
Well the event took place on the 24th of June.
My daughter flew in from Texas to be at the event that she called “The Oscars of Arizona Archaeology!”
As she drove us to the Conference Hall she was trying to convince me not to throw up! “This honor is pleasing to all who know you.” All her words were very comforting and supportive. I didn’t throw up but I shook! I just wanted to go home.
We got to the location at the appointed time and found our reserved table. There was a sea of tables! There were about 400 people present for this event. Thankfully, those at ‘my’ table were well known, and long time friends of mine, whose very presence put me at ease.
Many people whom I have known through archaeology over the years came to the table to wish me well and to congratulate me. I think – I hope - I hid my embarrassment well as I smiled and said, “Thank you,” amid the lite chitchat.
I say ‘embarrassment’ as I really haven’t figured out what to call this deep feeling I have. Honor Yes! Pride Yes! But over all - embarrassment- caught with my hand in the cookie jar of sheer fun! I didn’t think anyone was watching!
I was the second person to be called to the stage for an award. When my name was called there was a loud cheer and much clapping - I was told. I didn’t hear it.
For each honoree there was a quick power point of pictures: mine - in the field with crew and dirty as all get out! Yep! T-shirts and dirt!
During the presentation of the award to me it was announced - as a surprise - a fund had been set up in my name for the Site Steward program and that $400 had already been donated! This was a wonderful surprise indeed and a wonderful gift from a crewmember friend.
I hope I don’t sound ungrateful. I am humbled, thrilled and overwhelming honored to receive this award but, too, I really feel it is unwarranted.
What a day I had. To my great relief I didn’t fall off the stage, make an idiot comment or tumble down the steps, but then I had worn my Jade!
.
In Jade I told you about the announcement that really knocked my socks off! I was to receive this big honor for which I felt I had no right to.
Well the event took place on the 24th of June.
My daughter flew in from Texas to be at the event that she called “The Oscars of Arizona Archaeology!”
As she drove us to the Conference Hall she was trying to convince me not to throw up! “This honor is pleasing to all who know you.” All her words were very comforting and supportive. I didn’t throw up but I shook! I just wanted to go home.
We got to the location at the appointed time and found our reserved table. There was a sea of tables! There were about 400 people present for this event. Thankfully, those at ‘my’ table were well known, and long time friends of mine, whose very presence put me at ease.
Many people whom I have known through archaeology over the years came to the table to wish me well and to congratulate me. I think – I hope - I hid my embarrassment well as I smiled and said, “Thank you,” amid the lite chitchat.
I say ‘embarrassment’ as I really haven’t figured out what to call this deep feeling I have. Honor Yes! Pride Yes! But over all - embarrassment- caught with my hand in the cookie jar of sheer fun! I didn’t think anyone was watching!
I was the second person to be called to the stage for an award. When my name was called there was a loud cheer and much clapping - I was told. I didn’t hear it.
For each honoree there was a quick power point of pictures: mine - in the field with crew and dirty as all get out! Yep! T-shirts and dirt!
During the presentation of the award to me it was announced - as a surprise - a fund had been set up in my name for the Site Steward program and that $400 had already been donated! This was a wonderful surprise indeed and a wonderful gift from a crewmember friend.
I hope I don’t sound ungrateful. I am humbled, thrilled and overwhelming honored to receive this award but, too, I really feel it is unwarranted.
What a day I had. To my great relief I didn’t fall off the stage, make an idiot comment or tumble down the steps, but then I had worn my Jade!
.
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