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Hello,
Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this. I was wondering if any one here could give me their thoughts on a situation I am in. I have been field walking for a couple years now, just for fun and as an outlet, and for something to do with my kids. I sent some pictures of what I was finding to an archaeologist I was in contact with, and he and another archaeologist came out to my house and looked over the artifacts. One of the fields is on my friend's farm, and my friend told me I could look and dig where ever I wanted. The archaeologists came out with me and helped me identify some promising sites on my friends field. They were upset though because me and the landowner had dug a 2 meter by 2 meter hole to look at what was below the surface. They said we had disturbed a site and we shouldnt do that. My friend was a little annoyed because it was his own land but he did not say anything.
Anyways, the two scientists told me they would teach me how to dig properly at a different site on the field, and then they canceled week after week, never able to come back out. In the meantime, I read about shovel test pits, and thought, what the heck? they said the first site was basically wrecked already, why not try to practice shovel test digging there? My kids and I had a great time, mapping the site, digging, and recording the locations and types of artifacts we found. It was not perfect, not a perfect grid, not perfect holes, but it was very fun and interesting and the first I have gotten my teenage son to be interested in this stuff at all.
However, when I told the archaeologists what we had been up to, they were horrified. They said I was inappropriate and too impulsive and that I should repent and all kinds of stuff. They basically said no one, not even someone in their own backyard, should ever put a shovel into dirt without the approval or supervision of an archaeologist. they said they wanted to meet me at the site to deal with the mess I had made.
I was very upset, because something that was so fun and interesting had now become stressful and a source of bad feelings. I was not expecting this at all. It has put me off of wanting anything to with even field walking now.
Bear in mind, this is not some archaeological one of a kind find. It is not a grave mound or anything. So far it seems to be a Late Archaic stop over spot of some kind, primarily using argillite and boiling some stones.
I would love to hear some feedback from someone on here with a lot of experience. Is this just how it is, the divide between avocational archaeology and "the professionals"? What do you think I should do? Sorry for the long post, but I really appreciate how helpful this site has been to me and I trust the expertise on here.
Not sure if this is the right thread to ask this. I was wondering if any one here could give me their thoughts on a situation I am in. I have been field walking for a couple years now, just for fun and as an outlet, and for something to do with my kids. I sent some pictures of what I was finding to an archaeologist I was in contact with, and he and another archaeologist came out to my house and looked over the artifacts. One of the fields is on my friend's farm, and my friend told me I could look and dig where ever I wanted. The archaeologists came out with me and helped me identify some promising sites on my friends field. They were upset though because me and the landowner had dug a 2 meter by 2 meter hole to look at what was below the surface. They said we had disturbed a site and we shouldnt do that. My friend was a little annoyed because it was his own land but he did not say anything.
Anyways, the two scientists told me they would teach me how to dig properly at a different site on the field, and then they canceled week after week, never able to come back out. In the meantime, I read about shovel test pits, and thought, what the heck? they said the first site was basically wrecked already, why not try to practice shovel test digging there? My kids and I had a great time, mapping the site, digging, and recording the locations and types of artifacts we found. It was not perfect, not a perfect grid, not perfect holes, but it was very fun and interesting and the first I have gotten my teenage son to be interested in this stuff at all.
However, when I told the archaeologists what we had been up to, they were horrified. They said I was inappropriate and too impulsive and that I should repent and all kinds of stuff. They basically said no one, not even someone in their own backyard, should ever put a shovel into dirt without the approval or supervision of an archaeologist. they said they wanted to meet me at the site to deal with the mess I had made.
I was very upset, because something that was so fun and interesting had now become stressful and a source of bad feelings. I was not expecting this at all. It has put me off of wanting anything to with even field walking now.
Bear in mind, this is not some archaeological one of a kind find. It is not a grave mound or anything. So far it seems to be a Late Archaic stop over spot of some kind, primarily using argillite and boiling some stones.
I would love to hear some feedback from someone on here with a lot of experience. Is this just how it is, the divide between avocational archaeology and "the professionals"? What do you think I should do? Sorry for the long post, but I really appreciate how helpful this site has been to me and I trust the expertise on here.
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