May 22 2013 - Excavation Entertainment and Company Cameos.

Our spirits were lifted this morning as we all either hiked or biked in to the site in drier, sunnier weather.

Gone are the early days where field school students would need to build their own benches and find shelter under trees.

Our main focus of the day was to excavate the remaining test units at 10 metre intervals. A few groups did find some remnants of artifacts, and altogether we found a piece of a Japanese sake bottle, some broken beer bottles, pieces of metal, and some nails.

Stuart, taking time off from his busy waste audit schedule, to do some test excavations, Erinn, diligently recording their findings.

After lunch Bob gave us a demonstration of how to use bear spray. There was a little wind and some of the concentrated cayenne pepper drifted back on the group , causing some fast walking and running out of the area, some coughing, and a few watery eyes; but nothing serious. It was good to actually see how it works and understand how it could stop a bear. Bob asked if anybody wanted to try shooting the spray. A few did, but most were content to watch.

The group enjoying lunch. A simpler time, before the bear spray.

We were also lucky enough today to have two visitors to the site. Our first guest, Tad McIlwraith, is a local anthropologist as well as a friend of Bob's. Most recently Tad has been teaching and doing research out at Douglas College in New Westminster, however he will be moving east to Ontario to take up a position at the University of Guelph.

Emma, Tad, and Kathleen hanging out at 30N50E.

Classic Tad, and Erinn.

Our second guest today was Bob's son, Tomas. Tomas is usually working up in northern British Columbia or Alberta, but he is home for  a few weeks and thought he would like to come out and see what the archaeology thing is all about.

Cameron, Kelsey and Tomas, ready for business.