Choppin Roots, Like a BOSS!

Some of the artifacts recovered from FSJ today!

Howdy! I hope you have been having a splendid day in this wonderfully cool weather we've been having; it sure does make it a wee bit easier to work. Even if it makes wet screening a terror, between the water and the wind your fingers turn into icicles. Frozen fingers or not, we still had a very successful day at the screens and found multiple gun flints, musket balls and as always a staggering amount of bone fragments. Just look for yourself!

Sadly I have not  experienced the wonderful insight of the middle school campers we have entertained this week but I have heard so very much about them and am simply bursting with jealousy. If we could kidnap one and keep them at the stable, we promise to feed it and love it dearly, donations accepted. My unit partner and I have not had the luxury of having a middle schoolers because we are wild crazy hatchet swing maniacs, just kidding but really. See following picture to understand…

Our unit prior to root hacking.

Above is a picture of our unit at 30cm below datum. You are looking at a tree root that sprawled across our entire unit. After hours of hacking, slashing and chipping with every wood working instrument on hand we managed to reduce the root.  Something Dr. Nassaney says last years field school wouldn't be able to cut it (get it?!?).  After several more hours of chopping, cutting, and slicing we managed to dig 5 more centimeters, which is pictured below.

It took forever and a remarkable amount of effort but our unit is a masterpiece of wood work. Every one of you should come out and see this work of art Friday at 2pm, sharp. It is at this time that we will be hosting pit tours at the Fort St. Joseph site and I’ll most likely be continuing to chiseling away at our roots.

Image 0208

 -Hayden McKee