Our work area has changed quite a bit in the last four weeks -- soon the tents will disappear into a sea of johnson grass. Growing fast since our first day on June 6.
In our western units, Ben finally breaks through the rock deposit...
But only a couple of meters away, the deposit continues to at least 90 cm deep! Still somewhat mysterious -- and only a few days left to try to gather enough information to figure it out this season.
On the east end, two "smudge pits" have been identified so far. These small pits are filled with charred corn cobs and stalks. We have found many of these at the Castalian Springs Mound site -- including the one shown at right discovered on 29 Jun 2009. From their frequency and placement, we suspect these were used to deter mosquitoes. Gently smoldering to produce smoke, they would have been useful tools in this swampy bottomland.
Later in the day, Melody, Crystal, and Amanda assist Dr. P. with the total station.
Shonda is working on an Undergraduate Creative and Research Activity grant project examining the soil and water of the site. Since none of the springs are currently productive on the surface, she is auguring several of the suspected spring depressions to see if she can find the mineral water.
At about a meter deep in one depression -- paydirt! (or paywater, I suppose).
With some work, a liter sample is obtained for laboratory testing for saline and trace element content.
More projectile points -- again from thousands of years earlier than the Mississippian site. Many of the projectile points found over the years are Late Archaic/Early Woodland stemmed points -- a pattern that might be worth pondering down the road.
A mysterious effigy figurine discovered today at left -- Frosty the Mudman? Several dozen field schools under my belt -- been there, done that. On right is a remarkably similar discovery from CSAP 2009....
With rain looming in the forecast, hopefully the students will have enough time to complete their work for this season!