May 13 2013

This morning 9 students rode their bikes, and 5 hiked nearly 6km from the LSCR parking lot to the field site. One student was sick and unable to attend. We unloaded equipment and determined where to set up the two large aluminium frameworks covered with tarps. Even though we do not camp overnight on site, we set up the shelters to protect the field equipment and supplies and they also protect us from the rain when we need to complete our forms and notes, as well as when we eat lunch.


Before we got to work, Bob continued the site tour that we were unable to finish last week.  He was able to show us remnants of a water reservoir, and explained what previous students had found in the feature a few years ago. Nearby there was a large first growth stump where an expensive cook stove had been found, most likely left hidden in hopes of being used when the people returned.

 We also saw the location where a wood cabin had been built, but never destroyed by fires like the other sites. A student from a previous field school had found window glass nearby, which eventually led to the discovery of the site. Evidence of remaining floor boards and nails help determine the layout of the cabin. Due to the erosion from the elements, we were able to see what was left behind of an old wood door frame and metal latch as well as the lid to an old heat stove.

We returned  to our site to build the food and storage shelters. Several students tackled the job of putting together the aluminium frames and tarps, while three others built steps leading in to the camp/site.

Team work.

Due to weather conditions: thunder and lightning storms, we ended the day a bit early. Bob had mentioned earlier that archaeologists work in every kind of weather except thunder and lightning, and he was true to his word.

Richard and Amanda working on building the stairs.