My First Real Find
i had an exciting day! i joined archaeologists from alpine archaeological consultants and university of south carolina as they worked on a prehistoric research project near naturita and uravan. we visited several previously-undocumented rock structure sites that are presumably over 1,000 years old. the researchers are trying to provide evidence for a “gateway” culture that occupied southwestern colorado between the fremont and pueblo peoples.
we were surveying around the first site of the morning (which was amazing in and of itself) when i found a beautiful projectile point – my first ever! because it was whole, it was considered a diagnostic tool, and can be used to prove that the lithic material and rock structure were contemporaneous. as if that wasn’t enough, i soon found two more tools – another whole point and one broken point. i was really excited, because we’ve found very little prehistoric material so far this summer. i was even more excited that i had the first (and only!) finds of the day. maybe it was beginner’s luck, but i was proud either way. seeing one of these things lying in the dust and realizing that it may not have been touched for over 1,000 years is pretty powerful.
my first point!
standing in front of a rock structure site dated to circa 1,000 A.D.
wall detail of another structure, and sunlight
i continue to have amazing opportunities and experiences. i can’t believe it’s already august, and that i’ll be leaving in less than three weeks. it will certainly be bittersweet…
Now you are making your dad proud…