Results from June 29, 2017


As if often the case in the penultimate week of field school.... Lots of visitors... Mark McKee III, president of the Bledsoe's Lick Historical Association (managing agency for the Wynnewood property) stopped by to see what Shonda and Holly were discovering in the eastern units.

Mike Moore, Tennessee State Archaeologist and Director of the Division of Archaeology (permit issuing agency for our project), stopped by for a tour of the digs.

A well timed visit on Mike's part as Carol (Mrs. Dr. Smith) showed up with a batch of fresh baked cookies for the students around lunchtime. I was across the road at a meeting, so I'm not sure whether Mike is trying to abscond with the cookies or not...

This, however, is what happens to Ben when Carol brings cookies...

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Shannon Hodge from MTSU (our project bioarchaeologist) dropped by to visit with Caroline and John. Caroline is already done with this nonsense....

Dr. Hodge also brought goodies -- water, soda, and popsicles. The productive part of the work day was then... OVER.

Well, except for a few who got cranked up on sugar... The "Backfill Brothers" (John, Brandon and Trey) started filling in Unit A3 in preparation for closing down.

They only had to haul the dirt as the "Backfill Dancers" (Lauren and Miranda) handled tamping the dirt down to prevent too much settling over the next few weeks....

Despite all the feasting and dancing, work continued. Finishing out the other four 2x2 meter squares -- and then opening two more small 1x2 m units to collect additional artifact, radiocarbon, and soil samples. Only six more days to go.

Off site... a mysterious man was seen harvesting pomes -- which then were placed into a cauldron with other things... What is the purpose of this strange brew? Only tomorrow will tell...