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Trees are often used to make analogies about the past. Family trees, the tree of life, getting back to your roots... But beyond the powerful imagery that trees give us to represent our history, what can trees actually tell us about the past?
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of tree-ring dating. Americans first developed it in the early 20th century and now "dendro" is a common method of chronology that is used by scientists all over the world. Dendrochronology has become a fundamental tool in science, for reinforcing and expanding on the timelines of historical and ecological events in the past.
Dendrochronology operates on the principal that in temperate climates, like the southwestern United States, trees grow one ring every year. In the springtime when moisture surges, the cells of a tree expand quickly. Over the course of the summer as the ground becomes more dry, the cells begin to shrink. This change in cell size is visible in tree-rings, or growth-rings. The variation in ring width is based on the amount of water a tree absorbed in a given year. Rainier years are marked by wider rings, drier years by narrow ones.
So, dendrochronology in its simplest form is a matter of counting rings. One ring = one year. Fifty five rings on a stump = fifty five year old tree. But, it's not always that simple. In fact, only about 40% of tree samples are successfully dated by dendrochronologists, says Ron Towner, Associate Professor of Dendroarchaeology at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. Natural tree variation, sudden climate changes... or if a tree is planted near a creek or a river, for example, it may get so much water (and water is what makes those little tree cells expand) that the rings no longer equate to each year passed.
But for the 40% that are datable, counting the rings on a sample tells dendrochronologists how old the tree was when it was cut down. However, counting alone does not tell dendrochronologists what time period the tree is from. To find that out, scientists must focus on the pattern of rings rather than number of them.
Say you walk into an old forest and you find the stump of a thousand year old tree, explains Towner. Say you also find a piece of wood from a different tree in that same forest, and it has 500 rings on it. If you were to lay a cross section of that wood on top of the older stump, you would find that somewhere inside the rings of the older tree, 500 of them would match the pattern of the younger piece.
In other words, tree rings develop in the same pattern (i.e. wide ring, wide ring, narrow ring, wide, narrow, etc) in all trees across the same climate or region. If it rains a lot in that old forest mentioned earlier, then all of the trees get lots of water and all of them grow a wider ring that year. Summer drought; all of the affected trees show a narrower ring. But, tree ring patterns never repeat themselves either, which is what makes them identifiable in time and place.
Dendrochronologists identify these patterns by laying a strip of graph paper across a sample, and marking only the narrow rings. This is called skeleton plotting. So rather than measuring or marking every single growth-ring, this technique highlights only the seasons of drought (those little narrow rings).
This method works because of the human brain's aptitude for recognizing patterns. Humans are actually, "much better at that than computers are," Towner says.
Once all of the narrow rings have been plotted, it's time to bring in the master chronology. Remember how trees share growth-ring patterns? Well, dendrochronologists sample hundreds and thousands of trees (don't worry! they use drills rather than cutting down all those pretty trees) from the same region or climate to create one great master pattern, called a master chronology.
This is a graphical representation, drawn or printed on graph paper, of the average tree ring pattern in a given area over time. So, dendrochronologists simply slide their new skeleton plot along side the master chronology until all of those little lines marking the narrow rings match up... and walla! The new sample is dated.
Currently there are chronologies dating as far back as 11,000 years ago.
In the southwest, like at the Dillard site where Time Team America
excavated, the master chronology goes back to 322 B.C. But if most trees only live for a hundred years or so, how can a master chronology go so far back in time?
By taking a younger wood sample with a known date, and then matching the rings inside the pattern of an older sample, you can count backwards on the tree rings to determine how much older it is... essentially. Once that age is confirmed, the longer pattern can now be used to date an even older sample, and so on and so forth.
So, now we know how trees are dated, but what does that tell us exactly? "Virtually all societies used wood in some fashion, and so, that provides us with materials that we can tree-ring date, and that will give us precise years for when sites were occupied," says Towner.
Dendrochronology can also reveal the origin of the wood on a site, and by knowing when and where human activity occurred, archaeologists have a much better context for trying to understand the past.
Just like the rings in a tree grow every year, scientists' knowledge of the past grows with every addition to their master chronologies. Eventually, trees may tell a history even more ancient than our own. But for now, this timeline gives shape to an extensive portion of our shared human past... without which, we'd be like trees without their roots.
Dendrochronology is the scientific method of tree-ring dating. Americans first developed it in the early 20th century and now "dendro" is a common method of chronology that is used by scientists all over the world. Dendrochronology has become a fundamental tool in science, for reinforcing and expanding on the timelines of historical and ecological events in the past.
Dendrochronology operates on the principal that in temperate climates, like the southwestern United States, trees grow one ring every year. In the springtime when moisture surges, the cells of a tree expand quickly. Over the course of the summer as the ground becomes more dry, the cells begin to shrink. This change in cell size is visible in tree-rings, or growth-rings. The variation in ring width is based on the amount of water a tree absorbed in a given year. Rainier years are marked by wider rings, drier years by narrow ones.
So, dendrochronology in its simplest form is a matter of counting rings. One ring = one year. Fifty five rings on a stump = fifty five year old tree. But, it's not always that simple. In fact, only about 40% of tree samples are successfully dated by dendrochronologists, says Ron Towner, Associate Professor of Dendroarchaeology at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. Natural tree variation, sudden climate changes... or if a tree is planted near a creek or a river, for example, it may get so much water (and water is what makes those little tree cells expand) that the rings no longer equate to each year passed.
But for the 40% that are datable, counting the rings on a sample tells dendrochronologists how old the tree was when it was cut down. However, counting alone does not tell dendrochronologists what time period the tree is from. To find that out, scientists must focus on the pattern of rings rather than number of them.
Say you walk into an old forest and you find the stump of a thousand year old tree, explains Towner. Say you also find a piece of wood from a different tree in that same forest, and it has 500 rings on it. If you were to lay a cross section of that wood on top of the older stump, you would find that somewhere inside the rings of the older tree, 500 of them would match the pattern of the younger piece.
In other words, tree rings develop in the same pattern (i.e. wide ring, wide ring, narrow ring, wide, narrow, etc) in all trees across the same climate or region. If it rains a lot in that old forest mentioned earlier, then all of the trees get lots of water and all of them grow a wider ring that year. Summer drought; all of the affected trees show a narrower ring. But, tree ring patterns never repeat themselves either, which is what makes them identifiable in time and place.
Dendrochronologists identify these patterns by laying a strip of graph paper across a sample, and marking only the narrow rings. This is called skeleton plotting. So rather than measuring or marking every single growth-ring, this technique highlights only the seasons of drought (those little narrow rings).
This method works because of the human brain's aptitude for recognizing patterns. Humans are actually, "much better at that than computers are," Towner says.
Once all of the narrow rings have been plotted, it's time to bring in the master chronology. Remember how trees share growth-ring patterns? Well, dendrochronologists sample hundreds and thousands of trees (don't worry! they use drills rather than cutting down all those pretty trees) from the same region or climate to create one great master pattern, called a master chronology.
This is a graphical representation, drawn or printed on graph paper, of the average tree ring pattern in a given area over time. So, dendrochronologists simply slide their new skeleton plot along side the master chronology until all of those little lines marking the narrow rings match up... and walla! The new sample is dated.
Currently there are chronologies dating as far back as 11,000 years ago.
In the southwest, like at the Dillard site where Time Team America
excavated, the master chronology goes back to 322 B.C. But if most trees only live for a hundred years or so, how can a master chronology go so far back in time?
By taking a younger wood sample with a known date, and then matching the rings inside the pattern of an older sample, you can count backwards on the tree rings to determine how much older it is... essentially. Once that age is confirmed, the longer pattern can now be used to date an even older sample, and so on and so forth. 
So, now we know how trees are dated, but what does that tell us exactly? "Virtually all societies used wood in some fashion, and so, that provides us with materials that we can tree-ring date, and that will give us precise years for when sites were occupied," says Towner. Dendrochronology can also reveal the origin of the wood on a site, and by knowing when and where human activity occurred, archaeologists have a much better context for trying to understand the past.
Just like the rings in a tree grow every year, scientists' knowledge of the past grows with every addition to their master chronologies. Eventually, trees may tell a history even more ancient than our own. But for now, this timeline gives shape to an extensive portion of our shared human past... without which, we'd be like trees without their roots.
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Plants come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. Some are flowering, some are spiky, some are sticky, some are carnivorous! There are even some that resemble your organs!For tens of thousand of years humans all over the world have believed in the healing power of plants. Archaeologists at the Shandir Cave in Iraq (formerly Mesopotamia) found varieties of pollen from known medicinal plants buried alongside Neanderthals up to 80,000-years-old.
Evidence like this spreads across cultures and time periods. But how did our human ancestors know which plants would heal what ailments? In the 16th century one popular theory was that plants looked like the body parts they were suppose to heal... the theory is called the Doctrine of Signatures (DOS).
Paracelsus was a Swiss physician and alchemist in the early 1500's. He believed that the human body was a chemical system, and that it needed to be balanced not only internally, but also within its environment. He also thought that everything in the universe was interrelated; one big organism that must constantly keep itself in balance. So, he thought, if disease existed in the world, then so must a cure. And natural objects resembling human body parts must be the answer to illnesses in those areas. 
Then, Jacob Boehme, a German Christian mystic and theologian in the late 16th century, wrote a book called The Signature of All Things. The book proposed a similar theory; that plants had been designed to help humans - especially the ones that looked like our body parts. That's when this theory really started to really take off. Humans need only to "read the Signatures" of the objects around them and they would find the cure to any ailment.
The color, form, and location of a plant were all signs of its potential benefits. Yellow colors were thought to aid diseases of the liver like jaundice. Red colors, the heart. Plant shapes mimicked the body part to which they were applicable. And if a plant grew in a swamp it was thought to heal feverish colds and coughs; in muddy soil, congestion and mucous secretions.
For example, the shape, color, and texture of lobaria pulmonaria (aka lungwort) resembles... you got it! Human lung tissue! Herbalists thought this would aid respiratory diseases like spotty lung or asthma. Traditionally in India it's also used to treat hemorrhages and eczema. 
Sanguinaria canadensis (aka bloodroot) was recognized for its secretion of blood red sap, and thought to be a powerful cure for different types of blood disorders. It was also used by Native Americans as an emetic to induce vomiting. Turns out, however, that bloodroot can actually destroy skin tissue, and when it's applied to the body it can cause large scab formations similar to those of burn injuries. Ouch! Here's more:
- Euphrasia (eyebright) - infections of the eye
- Pedicularis (lousewort) - repel lice
- Marchantiophyta (liverwort) - liver problems
- Asplenium (spleenwort) - conditions of the spleen
- Lathraea (toothwort) - relieve toothaches
- Artemisia (wormwood) - expel intestinal parasites
- Ageratina (snakeroot) - antidote for snake venom
- Adiantum (maidenhair fern) - cure for baldness
But what does any of this have to do with archaeology? Greg McKee, Museum Specialist in the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian Institution, says that understanding theories like DOS provides a useful context for identifying the purpose of the plants found at a site. The way a specimen is found at a site is also relevant to identifying its purpose, McKee elaborates. Say you find lobaria pulmonaria at a 12th century dig, could it have just fallen into the site because it was a common local species? Or was it found in a basket or clay jar implying deliberate collection?
McKee says that it's also helpful to know what plants were native to the
site. That way, when you've uncovered an exotic plant you'll understand its significance, "which
usually means an expensive import for food flavoring, medicine, or
magic."
Regardless of the medical truth behind the Doctrine of Signatures, the concept is valuable for archaeologists to understand because it allows them to interpret a site through the eyes of the people who inhabited it.
So, what do the plants look like in your own backyard? Are there any that look like your spleen? How about your eyeballs? Perhaps you shouldn't eat those without doing further research, but chances are you do know an herbal remedy or two of your own. And if so, thousands of years from now, what would that tell archaeologists about you?
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In an empty parking lot at the University of New Mexico Gallup, Zuni Campus, field school director Dr. Alex Jones prepared for the first day of class by breaking plates - literally. Lookers-on dodged flying bits as Dr. Jones hurled red, blue, and green plates at the concrete, trying to break them into dozens of smaller pieces.
But why you ask? To make sherds of course!
Dr. Jones needed faux-sherds to stage a survey site for her students. Amidst the crashing and banging, her laughter was still clearly audible. "It's not often that you get to break plates without getting in trouble," Dr. Jones says as she delivers a blow to a plate with a metal stake. It fractures and she smiles, "I love my job." 
When the survey activity began the next day, it didn't take students long to comment on the abundance of colorful ceramic bits littering the ground. They quickly learned however, that this was science at work. Armed with a handful of small red flags, students slowly traversed the grid marking each little sherd they could find. Afterwords they recorded the location of each flag on a map with colored pencils, which led to a theoretical discussion about where archaeologists might excavate on this pseudo site.
The same grid was also utilized for a metal detection activity. Each student was given a metal detector, and asked to locate and record where they found metal objects in the ground (also planted on the site by Dr. Jones). Although metal detection is a controversial method in archaeology, Dr. Jones emphasized to the students the value in finding large concentrations of metal artifacts at a site. The artifacts themselves are of course important, but a high quantity in a given area is an even better indication of human activity.
After they learned survey techniques, students got the privilege of interacting with a panel of Native American archaeologists. Some from Zuni Pueblo, some from surrounding areas. All of the panelists had inspirational stories about becoming archaeologists and using their professional experience to give back to their communities. The panel left a truly significant impression on the students. One girl reflected, "I never thought that Zuni people could be archaeologists... only white people or non-Zuni people." After seeing and hearing that Indigenous archaeologists were indeed very real, she said that it made her feel pretty, well, "awesome".
But this inspirational moment between the panelists and the students wasn't just a happy accident. Dr. Jones is not only creative in developing activities for the students; she is also highly strategic about her lesson plans. "We don't just do the same field school everywhere we go. These programs are specifically designed to engage and inspire each unique population of students that participate in them," says Dr. Jones. The Native panel was a very intentional, and successful way of connecting with the students."I hope the students realize now that just the things that they've learned growing up, like being raised around Zuni pottery gives them an incredible knowledge that is unique to them. And that given knowledge becomes very useful as an archaeologist when you're studying artifacts," says Dr. Jones.
Another activity that greatly impacted the middle schoolers was a field trip to the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe, NM. Here students rotated through six different stations where they got to throw Atlatls, count tree rings, look at artifacts under a microscope, identify native plants, watch flint knapping, and see authentic pot sherds. These workshops were coordinated by Dr. Eric Blinman, director of the Office of Archaeological Studies, with help from his staff. And although the bus ride from Zuni Pueblo to Santa Fe was very long (3.5 hours each way), exposing the students to the tremendous archaeological resources available in their state was an important part of encouraging them to pursue the field of science themselves.
The next day, in the bright morning sunlight, students kicked off day three of field school with a "simulated dig" activity. Each student had his or her own sim-pit, where they dug for artifacts and logged their findings. Some found chain mail, some found Zuni pottery, and afterwards they had to use their analytical skills to identify what type of site they were studying based on the artifacts they discovered.
From sunglasses to laboratory goggles, it was time for the students to learn more about what happens to artifacts after they leave a site. Conservation is an important part of the archaeological process because it allows artifacts to be preserved for future generations of study. Students practiced clipping, scrubbing, and categorizing old rusty nails from a 19th century archaeological site brought by PhD candidate Heather Law Pezzarossi. This was a rare opportunity for the field school students, Pezzarossi explains, because young people don't usually get the opportunity to work with real collections. "We're glad that the kids were able to get some hands on experiences with actual artifacts from an actual site."
As soon as the students had washed off the dirt and rust from conserving iron, it was time to get their hands dirty all over again painting pots. Ceramic design is experimental archaeology that holds special meaning for the students culturally. Zuni pottery is world renowned, and the practice is as ancient as the culture itself. Each of the students were given their own pot, and practiced adapting traditional Zuni designs with help from local expert Milford Nahohai.
Perhaps more than any other activity during this field school, the students intensity and focus during the pottery workshop was unwavering. Many of the students had previous experience painting pottery, but they were delighted to realize that art and design could have scientific significance as well. By recreating traditional Zuni designs, the students gained a better understanding of what it might have been like for their ancestors to paint pots. And understanding that process might give them a greater appreciation for the abundant number of sherds found on the land where they live.
The last day of field school was as engaging for the students as the rest. Comanche Nation archaeologist from Santa Clara Pueblo, Mary Weahkee came all the way from Santa Fe to Zuni Pueblo to demonstrate ancient technologies for the group.
Mary taught the students the craft of flint knapping, how to weave sandals out of yucca leaves, and how to make cordage out of yucca fiber. Students patiently and persistently practiced twisting the wet fibers into tiny bits of rope. Once complete, they created beautiful yucca bracelets with shells.
Overall the field school in Zuni Pueblo was a sweeping success. The students were engaged during every activity, and their inspired reflections on the week's events were a clear indication that the field school was a unique opportunity for learning about the field of science and archaeology. Feedback from participating teachers was just as positive.
Whether or not the middle schoolers will now pursue careers in science or archaeology is still unknown, but regardless of whatever path they choose, "They have hope and a little more direction, motivation, and courage to move upward in their lives," says Zuni Middle School Science Teacher Mark Carling.
"The students had a really fun time," reflects Dr. Jones. "Science isn't as hard as some people think it is - it's fun! And now these kids know just how cool it can be."
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Time Team America recently made a visit to the Josiah Henson Special Park in Bethesda, MD. In the 18th and 19th centuries this former plantation belonged to Isaac Riley, and was where Josiah Henson lived and worked as an enslaved person for over 35 years. In 1830 Henson fled from slavery and lived out his life in Canada where he narrated his story into an autobiography. Henson's slave narrative was one of the inspirations behind the famous Uncle Tom's Cabin, written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. While the TV show was busy uncovering difficult stories of inequity in America's past, our field school was inspiring a new generation of high school students to become scientists. "I came here to explore my options, because I might pursue a science career, so, it was a really good experience," says Emmanuel.
The field school was held at the Needwood Mansion in Rockville, MD. Here the students learned the basic principals of archeology, participated in multidisciplinary science workshops, and did hands on activities that related to archaeology. Field school director Dr. Alex Jones had the help of a spirited group of volunteers, two of them even dressed up in 19th century period clothing to give the students an authentic tour of the mansion and grounds. 
The first task the students were given was to measure out a grid like archaeologists do before digging a pit. Many of the students finished quickly, only to realize that their squares were not as square as they thought. Field school instructor Dr. Jones offered guidance, but primarily left it up to the students to come up with their own mathematical strategies.
Students kicked off day two by quite literally getting their hands dirty - filthy in fact. Analyzing soil is an important part of the archaeological process, and Pedologist John Wah came to Needwood to help the students learn why. Each high schooler was given a muffin tray with different soil types in each cup. They were asked to identify the soil by texture, color, and mineral content. The students were introduced to Munsell charts, which helped them classify the different properties of each soil.
One highlight of the activity was watching the students try and "ribbon" the soil, a process by which the soil is wetted, rolled into a ball, and squished with the thumb and forefinger into a thin strip of stiff mud. This process identifies the sand, silt, and clay content of the soil..
After identifying soil types, the students learned first hand what it's like to clean that soil off of artifacts. Using water, a tooth brush, and good old fashioned elbow grease, the students got to work restoring a box of earth-covered trinkets.
Technology and mathematics was the focus of a third workshop on day two, with survey techniques from Dr. Jonathan Burns. Survey and mapping is often the first step in any archaeological dig, and therefore an important part of the process for students to understand. Each student got to try out a theodolite, a small telescope-looking instrument that measures the angles of a landscape.
Next Dr. Burns introduced the students to the Total Station, a standing tripod tool that takes measurements to help generate a map. This instrument is so accurate in pinpointing the distance between two objects, that the technology has remained relatively unchanged since its introduction in the 90's. You can learn more about how cool the Total Station is by clicking here. 
After a full day of science workshops, students finally got a much-anticipated tour of the Henson site where Time Team America was excavating. They learned about the history of the location, and got to speak with Time Team American members Chelsea Rose, Jeff Brown, and Meg Watters about the ins and outs of archaeology.
Students wrapped up day two with a field trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. They toured exhibitions on early human origins, development of world cultures, and ancient and modern mammals. But the highpoint of the tour was when Forensic Anthropologist Douglas Owsley gave the students a private showing of a mummified human body. 
Every eyeball in the room was glued to that mummy. And afterwards, students showed little hesitation when they got to piece together a puzzle of bones from a human skeleton.
From human bones to animal bones, day three of the field school started bright and early with Zooarchaeologist Dr. Edward Otter. Sporting an ironic fish-bone-patterned shirt (Fish bones, Dr. Otter, get it?), Dr. Otter brought a huge assortment of animal bones for the students to see and analyze. Furthermore, each student got a box of bones (birds, rats, mice, etc) to sort by size and shape. "This kind of looks like a femur," one students says, and, "this kind of looks like a shoulder bone," says another.
As the students wondered how sorting these little tiny bones related to archaeology, the answer, explained Dr. Otter, is context (as it often is with archaeology). Classifying the animal bones found at a site can help archaeologists determine what time period they're dealing with, what kind of diet the humans at that site may have had, and marks on the bones can sometimes indicate what types of tools the humans used to kill and process the animal.
Similarly, the study of botany also gives archaeologists context for a site. Greg McKee of the Smithsonian Institution showed students how humans used plants in their day-to-day lives before metal or plastic. People made everything out of plant materials, from clothing to weapons.
With all of their new-found field school knowledge, it was time for the students to do some actual digging. But first, Dr. Jones had to chase off an unwelcome inhabitant from the pits.
After all of the touring and lecturing and workshops, digging in the pits at the Needwood Mansion seemed to be a highlight for many of the teens. Not every high schooler can say that they've had hands on experience excavating at an archaeological site.
On day four students braved the long bus ride to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. This state-of-the-art laboratory serves as a processing, preservation and storage facility for artifacts found both on land and under water. The MAC lab houses over 8 million artifacts, and specializes in conserving larger artifacts.
The last day of field school was reserved for debriefing and reflections. Overall Dr. Jones felt like the students received the program well. They had a great time, and they got excellent exposure to a multitude of science careers. "These kids got to participate in activities that
many people only hear and dream about, but never in their lifetime are able
to experience," says Jones. A handful of the students even got to talk about their field school experience on a local news segment...
"[Archaeology] is definitely something I'm going to think about now, it was a great experience and it definitely opened up a couple doors for me..." -Anna
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Courtesy of Provo Police DepartmentIf you've ever passed a construction site, been stuck in a "workers ahead" traffic jam, or picnicked in a public park, you've probably seen a Total Station. They're usually accompanied by one or two people wearing brightly colored vests and taking scrupulous notes. What you may not know is that these tall yellow tripodic devices are also used by archaeologists in the field. And to archaeologists, these machines are totally cool.
"When I was at Colorado State, when we first got it, I was like, 'Oooh
we got a total station? Can I take it out and use it?'" remembers Dr.
Jonathan Burns. There's a steep learning curve, he explains, but the
more you learn about the Total Station the more useful you are on site,
making you more likely to become crew chief. It didn't take him long to buy one of his own so that he could use it whenever he wanted and nowadays he, "...would never start an excavation or survey without it."Time Team America field school director Dr. Alex Jones doesn't hide her enthusiasm for the Total Station either. "I tell my friends that if I ever get married, forget the diamond, just get me a Total Station!" she laughs. "Seriously! People see them all the time on the side of the road or in a field, but I don't think they realize just how valuable they are."
What makes the Total Station so special? In a word: accuracy. The measurements made are so precise that they're accurate down to a millimeter. This machine is so accurate in fact, that in over 20 years the technology has gone relatively unchanged. You can get newer models with GPS or photographic measuring functions, Burns explains, but all of those technological "improvements" actually end up making the measurements themselves less accurate. So many archaeologists prefer the older models
-- tried and true.
At the most basic level, the Total Station, or EDM (Electronic Distances Measurement), is a tool that is used to measure the distance between two points. By positioning the station in the middle of a site and establishing two reference points, or datums, the device uses trigonometry and triangulation to calculate the distance between any two objects. After collecting datum points all over the site, the data is processed by computer software and used to generate a map of the site. Generally, a survey is done at the beginning of an archaeological dig in order to give the excavators a basic outline of the area. But additional surveying occurs throughout the dig, expanding the site map to give archaeologists more and more context. The more datums, or reference points, that are collected during the survey, the more detailed the map will be.
Map of Justice William Smith House in Mercersburg, PA, Courtesy of AXIS Research, Inc.Part of the reason that the Total Station is so precise is because it measures very straight. The electronic signal it emits across a site is relatively unaffected by slopes or other features (rocks, shrubs, etc.) in the landscape. Surveyors who use measuring tapes, on the other hand, face the inevitable introduction of "slop" into their data. As they pull their tapes up or down even a gentle slopes in the ground, that fluctuation leaves a lot of room for error in their measurements. The more room for error, the more room for interpretation and compensation.
"Back in the day, if you had 10 different archaeologists map this yard with just tapes and line levels, you're gonna get 10 different maps," Burns says.
Burns demonstrates how to use the Total Station for Time Team America's field school students in Bethesda, Maryland. He helps them establish a baseline, and shows them how the electronic signal sent out by the main instrument is reflected back by a prism in the top of the red and white pole at the other end.Burns also explains to the students that mapping is essential to archaeology, or to any survey site, because it provides the scientist with critical context for the study. And context gives the features meaning. The space in between artifacts, or their position on a site, can be just as important to understanding their significance as knowing what the artifacts are themselves.
"If you don't have the grid and the context established with [the Total Station], then they're just artifacts," Burns says.
Ultimately, the Total Station is all about being able to communicate. The maps that it helps to generate are an extremely important form of communication, allowing scientists to record and share their findings with other people. When the data from a site is recorded accurately, the study can live on even without the site. Records make it accessible to other scientists from all over the world. Or, the study can be revisited in the future. "100 years later someone could come excavate my site if my datums survived," Burns says enthusiastically, "So that's one of the beauties of [the Total Station] too..."
So the next time you pass by one of these big bright instruments in the road, stop and think about what's being surveyed. Imagine it's an archaeological dig site, and
think about how the map that's being created will help inform decisions
that are made about that area. Appreciate the fact that as fast as technology changes these days, the Total Station has remained relatively unchanged for over two decades. Accuracy, context, communication - that is why the Total Station is so totally cool.Comments | Comment on this entry
"It's shocking," said seventh grader Ravin about the Folsom people who once hunted bison in her neighborhood. "I never knew anything about them."As she and her fellow Time Team America field school participants learned, Northwestern Oklahoma was a very different place 10,000 years ago.
This June, Time Team America field school director Dr. Alex Jones led a group of Woodward, Oklahoma girls on a week-long discovery of how archaeological sciences can reveal the ancient past lying beneath their feet.
The field school kicked off with a trip to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History in Norman, Oklahoma, where the girls learned the process (such as measuring grid lines and sifting the soil) of excavation on simulated digs in the Museum's archaeology lab. 
At the University of Oklahoma, they took an exclusive tour of one of the few American DNA labs researching ancient DNA. Archaeologist Lauren O'Shea, who studies prehistoric bison DNA, showed the girls how genetic analysis can reveal clues about animals and the people who hunted them. Below, Kat suits up next to the ancient DNA lab. 
At the Badger Hole excavation site, students walked across the very spot where Folsom hunters brought down a herd of bison 10,000 years ago. Archaeologist KC Carlson led the students through the bone beds where Time Team America was filming.
The girls re-lived the preparation for a Folsom bison hunt by flint-knapping their own spear points under the guidance of Choctaw archaeologist Ian Thompson. 
Ian then armed the girls with atlatls and led them on a hunt (for hay bales, not bison).Back in Woodward, scientific illustrator Kathleen Rowland joined the field school to demonstrate how she draws spearpoints and other artifacts unearthed from archaeological sites for scientists around the world. Later, students got their hands dirty learning from soil expert Brian Carter how to glean clues about a site's past by analyzing soil.
Television producer Ed Jahn and TTA archaeologists Chelsea Rose, and Joe Watkins, along with Meg Watters, geophysicist, broke away from the excavation to remind the girls of the richness of their neighborhood's prehistory."What you have here is awesome," Jahn said. "A TV production crew and all these archaeologists came to your town because the whole nation should know about this incredible bone bed."
"We're talking about a time when maybe 3,000 people lived in all of North America," Watkins added. "They didn't write down what they did when they went bison hunting. But by looking at all the bits and pieces of information, we can reconstruct that past history. And after doing this for 43 years, for me, it's still more exciting than a mystery book."
Field school wrapped with a Folsom lunch, where students dined as Oklahomans did 10,000 years ago on a meal of cactus, nuts, berries and bison (and a salad with ranch dressing.)
"I'll never look at the soil the same way again," Ravin said at the end of the week. "Now that I know a lot about the Folsom people that lived here, I want to learn more about other ancient people in other places."
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Courtesy Library of Congress
It's hard to imagine a beast more American than the American bison. Consider our past 300 years together:
- 1700s: Millions of these one-ton ungulates roam North America; their annual migrations dictate the lives of many Plains Indian tribes.
- 1800s: Expansion by white settlers causes bison habitat destruction; and commercial trading leads to over-hunting of the animal
- 1820s: Bison are driven to extinction east of the Mississippi
- 1832: Celebrated western artist George Catlin predicts continent-wide extinction of American bison
- 1889: A North American survey counts 1,091 bison
- 1915: Four bison preserves established
- 1960s: Commercial bison ranching begins
- 1995: Over 300,000 bison live in ranches and ranges throughout North America
- 2011: 60,000 bison processed for American consumption
Courtesy Library of Congress
Long before horses and Winchesters, bison shared an ancient and intertwined history with North America's human inhabitants. Last June, Time Team America learned just how deep those roots run when we visited Badger Hole bison kill site in Northwest Oklahoma. The bones we investigated were not only much bigger than those of modern bison, they were 10,000 years older.
The bones
belonged to bison antiquus - the ancient bison. They were 30 percent
larger and carried a pair of horns that measured 3 feet from tip to
tip. 
Much like their descendants, these bison thrived in North America. For over 10,000 years they were the most common large herbivore in the western hemisphere.
All Rights Reserved, Bailey Archive, Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Despite their daunting size, bison antiquus were still hunted by humans. By studying bone beds like Badger Hole we know that Paleoindians developed sophisticated strategies to herd, trap, kill and slaughter these animals. Spearheads and projectile points found amongst the bones of bison antiquus suggest that Folsom people were heavily dependent on the bison antiquus for their survival.
Were it not for these bison kill sites archaeologists would know far less about the Folsom people who left little evidence of their existence beyond their hunting technology. Thus, discovering bison history reveals human history.
Even the earliest known art object ever found in North America was painted on the skull of a bison (read about the Cooper Skull).
If we reach further back, before the earliest known human forays into North America, we encounter what might be the king of the mega-bison. Meet bison latifrons.
This titan was twice the size of the modern bison, standing eight feet at the shoulder, weighing more than a car, and stretching a six-foot horn-span. Herds are thought to have traversed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to Alaska, where they populated all of North America.
All Rights Reserved, Bailey Archive, Denver Museum of Nature & Science
All Rights Reserved, Bailey Archive, Denver Museum of Nature & Science
As the climate changed, so did the predators, and the bison evolved in order to survive. Whereas bison latifrons fended off saber-toothed cats with their mass and their weapon-like horns, bison antiquus found flight rather than fight a better strategy against packs of gray wolves. Over time the bison's body became more compact to run faster, and their horns became less necessary for battle - so they shrunk accordingly.
University of California Museum of Paleontology
From stone projectile points found in bison bone beds, to the oldest known cave paintings discovered in Spain, the connection between bison and human histories is ancient. As early as 20,000 years ago, the first modern humans in Europe were painting images of bison on the walls of their caves.
The paintings at Cave Altimira not only tell us a story about the past, they have even been said to have influenced such modern artists like Picasso. Few other creatures have affected as many generations of humans as the bison.
The American bison may be smaller than its ancestors, but certainly no less significant. Their resilience in the face of near extinction is an opportunity for modern Americans to reconnect with the bison. By learning about their history we not only gain an appreciation for the animal, we learn about our own human ancestors and our deep rooted connection with the bison.
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It's an unassuming sign on a lonely road 20 miles from the nearest town.
But just beyond this gate in 1994, Dr. Leland "Lee" Bement unearthed one of the most significant artifacts found in North America. The object itself would prove as haunting as the site where it was discovered.
10,000 years ago, the Cooper Site in NW Oklahoma was a dead-end gully into which Folsom hunters herded bison for the slaughter. Cooper was unique in it's stratigraphy; bones from three separate bison kill episodes were stacked atop each other like layers of cake. Lee was excavating the lowest bone layer when he made his discovery.
It had been a sweltering summer. The archaeologists were two weeks into their excavation, meticulously brushing soil from femurs and rib cages while exchanging small talk across the sprawling bed of bones.
"Every so often somebody would drop out of the conversation," Lee recalled. "And you knew they found something, usually a projectile point."
On this particular day, it was Lee who went silent. Something peeking out from beneath a couple of leg bones caught his eye.
"I began cleaning it off, and saw it was this sun-bleached skull with a brilliant red zigzag design on it. Everyone gathered around, nobody said a word, just stood there staring at it, wondering, is this thing real?"
Nothing like it had ever been seen. The design, known as a lightning bolt, was unmistakeably man-made.
"When you find something like that, you're very careful in cleaning it up," Lee said. "We took a gazillion photos of it."
Nearby, the crew found the animal's skeleton, suggesting the skull had not been taken to or away from the site. The implications were profound. Lee and his crew wanted other archaeologists to witness the skull where it lay, but this was the pre-cell phone era. They carefully draped a cloth over the skull, covered that with a dustpan and some more soil, and headed back to town to make phone calls.
"It had been absolutely dry for the past month," Lee said. "That night, we got two inches of rain."
Lee and the others feared the worst: that after being buried for 10,000 years, the sudden deluge would wash away the paint.
"When we went back to the site, everything was mud. So we let it all dry out, then slowly peeled off the cloth, and there it was, the red lightning bolt intact."
The skull was taken to a lab, where the red hematite paint radiocarbon dated to roughly 10,500 years ago. That makes the Cooper skull the oldest painted object ever discovered in North America. The image below represents where a Folsom hunter or perhaps a shaman painted several designs. Only the lightning bolt was visible to the naked eye. The story doesn't end there, however.
Six years passed. The skull was documented, conserved and studied. Papers and books were written about it. Then, in 2000, the brand new Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History was constructed. The skull would find a permanent home in an exhibit dedicated to the Folsom culture, surrounded by a re-created Cooper site and protected by a plexiglass cube.
"The night before the grand opening," Lee recalled, "a freak thunderstorm came through with such intense rain that it clogged the drain system on the roof. The water was diverted and found its way into the building, where it ran across the ceiling and trickled down, directly on top of the case holding the skull."
Coincidence? Maybe, Lee said. "But that was the only leak in the whole building."
The skull, Lee believes, served a talismanic purpose for the Folsom
hunters as a pre-hunt charm placed at the dead end of the gully to
draw animals to the kill. Later bison hunting cultures are known to
have conducted ritual bison-calling ceremonies to bring themselves safety and success.
"We can't make a direct connection between modern hunters and what was happening 10,000 years ago," Lee says. "But we can assume that when hunting large, dangerous animals, you wanted as much good luck as you could get."
No other Paleoindian painted objects have been found in North America. But a mammoth skull decorated with geometric designs, including zigzags, was discovered in Russia in the 1980's. Lee hopes the Cooper skull will help archaeologists further link the prehistoric cultures of North America to the Old World.
But just beyond this gate in 1994, Dr. Leland "Lee" Bement unearthed one of the most significant artifacts found in North America. The object itself would prove as haunting as the site where it was discovered. 
10,000 years ago, the Cooper Site in NW Oklahoma was a dead-end gully into which Folsom hunters herded bison for the slaughter. Cooper was unique in it's stratigraphy; bones from three separate bison kill episodes were stacked atop each other like layers of cake. Lee was excavating the lowest bone layer when he made his discovery. It had been a sweltering summer. The archaeologists were two weeks into their excavation, meticulously brushing soil from femurs and rib cages while exchanging small talk across the sprawling bed of bones.
"Every so often somebody would drop out of the conversation," Lee recalled. "And you knew they found something, usually a projectile point."
On this particular day, it was Lee who went silent. Something peeking out from beneath a couple of leg bones caught his eye.
"I began cleaning it off, and saw it was this sun-bleached skull with a brilliant red zigzag design on it. Everyone gathered around, nobody said a word, just stood there staring at it, wondering, is this thing real?"
Nothing like it had ever been seen. The design, known as a lightning bolt, was unmistakeably man-made. "When you find something like that, you're very careful in cleaning it up," Lee said. "We took a gazillion photos of it."
Nearby, the crew found the animal's skeleton, suggesting the skull had not been taken to or away from the site. The implications were profound. Lee and his crew wanted other archaeologists to witness the skull where it lay, but this was the pre-cell phone era. They carefully draped a cloth over the skull, covered that with a dustpan and some more soil, and headed back to town to make phone calls.
"It had been absolutely dry for the past month," Lee said. "That night, we got two inches of rain."
Lee and the others feared the worst: that after being buried for 10,000 years, the sudden deluge would wash away the paint.
"When we went back to the site, everything was mud. So we let it all dry out, then slowly peeled off the cloth, and there it was, the red lightning bolt intact."
The skull was taken to a lab, where the red hematite paint radiocarbon dated to roughly 10,500 years ago. That makes the Cooper skull the oldest painted object ever discovered in North America. The image below represents where a Folsom hunter or perhaps a shaman painted several designs. Only the lightning bolt was visible to the naked eye. The story doesn't end there, however.
Six years passed. The skull was documented, conserved and studied. Papers and books were written about it. Then, in 2000, the brand new Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History was constructed. The skull would find a permanent home in an exhibit dedicated to the Folsom culture, surrounded by a re-created Cooper site and protected by a plexiglass cube. "The night before the grand opening," Lee recalled, "a freak thunderstorm came through with such intense rain that it clogged the drain system on the roof. The water was diverted and found its way into the building, where it ran across the ceiling and trickled down, directly on top of the case holding the skull."
Coincidence? Maybe, Lee said. "But that was the only leak in the whole building."
The skull, Lee believes, served a talismanic purpose for the Folsom
hunters as a pre-hunt charm placed at the dead end of the gully to
draw animals to the kill. Later bison hunting cultures are known to
have conducted ritual bison-calling ceremonies to bring themselves safety and success."We can't make a direct connection between modern hunters and what was happening 10,000 years ago," Lee says. "But we can assume that when hunting large, dangerous animals, you wanted as much good luck as you could get."
No other Paleoindian painted objects have been found in North America. But a mammoth skull decorated with geometric designs, including zigzags, was discovered in Russia in the 1980's. Lee hopes the Cooper skull will help archaeologists further link the prehistoric cultures of North America to the Old World.
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"You can't email an artifact," says Kathleen Rowland. "But through illustration, I can put an object in the hands of countless people."
Kathleen, a scientific illustrator, was invited to spend a morning with the Time Team America Field School in Woodward, Oklahoma to demonstrate her craft, which, she emphasized, is not expressive art. "Artists want to express themselves. Illustration really is about the object."
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
Despite advances in photography and 3-D imaging, freehand illustration remains the standard for publication of archaeological artifacts. Illustration is extremely accurate, highly replicable and easily transferable. Black and white reproduces better than color, and drawings can reveal details obscured by shadow, focus and color in conventional photography (below).
Illustration also gives artifacts a unique sort of permanence. As new information comes to light, future archaeologists who lack access to the original artifact can make discoveries and draw connections by studying a drawing.
HOW IT'S DONE
Kathleen, a scientific illustrator, was invited to spend a morning with the Time Team America Field School in Woodward, Oklahoma to demonstrate her craft, which, she emphasized, is not expressive art. "Artists want to express themselves. Illustration really is about the object."
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
Despite advances in photography and 3-D imaging, freehand illustration remains the standard for publication of archaeological artifacts. Illustration is extremely accurate, highly replicable and easily transferable. Black and white reproduces better than color, and drawings can reveal details obscured by shadow, focus and color in conventional photography (below).
Illustration also gives artifacts a unique sort of permanence. As new information comes to light, future archaeologists who lack access to the original artifact can make discoveries and draw connections by studying a drawing.
HOW IT'S DONEBefore a pencil ever touches paper, an archaeologist must first tell the illustrator what's important about the artifact to be drawn. In the case of this stone tool (below), the archaeologist was interested in the direction of the flake scars, which can reveal clues about its origin.
Illustrators generally follow guidelines to ensure that no aspect of their drawing is left to interpretation. For instance, the light source is always positioned at the upper left of the artifact at a 45 degree angle directed downward towards the lower right. This way, shadows fall in the same direction on all scientific artifact illustrations.
Kathleen begins by taking precise measurements and drawing an outline in pencil.
Flake scars are then measured and rendered in pencil.
Once the major outlines have been completed, a translucent plastic sheet is taped over the paper. The pencil drawing is then traced in ink.
At this point, directional lines indicating the slope of flake scars are added. For fine-grained stone projectile points (below), lines are used to convey shading. Stippling, or dotting, is used to shade rough-grained stone or pottery (right).
Finally, a profile outline of the artifact is drawn.
The result is a highly accurate "map" of an object, meticulously executed down to the slightest, millimeter-wide notch.
"You have to love the science you've chosen to draw," Kathleen says. "Otherwise the process can be quite torturous."
An artifact like the one pictured above may take seven hours to complete. For Kathleen, the payoff is a profound one.
"Every artifact represents a human," she says. "While I'm illustrating, it's impossible for me not to think of the person who created this pottery or stone tool. They come through in their work. And I hope they realize someone is still admiring it."
All illustrations Copyright Kathleen Rowland
Illustrators generally follow guidelines to ensure that no aspect of their drawing is left to interpretation. For instance, the light source is always positioned at the upper left of the artifact at a 45 degree angle directed downward towards the lower right. This way, shadows fall in the same direction on all scientific artifact illustrations.
Kathleen begins by taking precise measurements and drawing an outline in pencil.
Flake scars are then measured and rendered in pencil.
Once the major outlines have been completed, a translucent plastic sheet is taped over the paper. The pencil drawing is then traced in ink. 
At this point, directional lines indicating the slope of flake scars are added. For fine-grained stone projectile points (below), lines are used to convey shading. Stippling, or dotting, is used to shade rough-grained stone or pottery (right). Finally, a profile outline of the artifact is drawn.
The result is a highly accurate "map" of an object, meticulously executed down to the slightest, millimeter-wide notch.
"You have to love the science you've chosen to draw," Kathleen says. "Otherwise the process can be quite torturous."
An artifact like the one pictured above may take seven hours to complete. For Kathleen, the payoff is a profound one.
"Every artifact represents a human," she says. "While I'm illustrating, it's impossible for me not to think of the person who created this pottery or stone tool. They come through in their work. And I hope they realize someone is still admiring it."
All illustrations Copyright Kathleen RowlandComments | Comment on this entry
In terms of archaeology, the four corners region in America's Southwest is something of a North American Egypt.
Which makes it the perfect location for an archaeological field school.
The field school's experiential approach immersed students in Pueblo life to better understand the people and cultures whose artifacts and dwellings they would later excavate. Here, Audrey practices weaving techniques in Crow Canyon's reconstructed pueblo.
At nearby Mesa Verde National Park, the field school participants explored some of the most spectacular ruins in North America. Here Keanna demonstrates the use of a mano at the Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling.
Students were given an exclusive opportunity to excavate a Basketmaker III site under the supervision of professional archaeologists, including experts from Time Team America.
After excavating, students learned the importance of analysis back at the Crow Canyon lab, where artifacts were sorted, washed, weighed, and databased.
Students came from different backgrounds and regions and latched onto different aspects of archaeological science. But by the end of the week, they were unanimous on one point: they didn't want field school to be over.
"The best part." Hanna said, "is finding something and being the first person to touch it in a thousand years."
"That," Aaron added, "and being able to get your hands in the field, instead of typing on a keyboard."
Which makes it the perfect location for an archaeological field school.
This June, Time Team America partnered with the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colorado, to train high school students from Southwest Colorado and New Mexico in the exploration of ancient Pueblo cultures, and the science of archaeology.
Students learned to study artifacts within the context of the culture that created them. Below, Josh examines the difference between a rock and a mano, a stone tool used by the Pueblo people to grind grain into meal.
Students learned to study artifacts within the context of the culture that created them. Below, Josh examines the difference between a rock and a mano, a stone tool used by the Pueblo people to grind grain into meal.
The field school's experiential approach immersed students in Pueblo life to better understand the people and cultures whose artifacts and dwellings they would later excavate. Here, Audrey practices weaving techniques in Crow Canyon's reconstructed pueblo.
At nearby Mesa Verde National Park, the field school participants explored some of the most spectacular ruins in North America. Here Keanna demonstrates the use of a mano at the Spruce Tree House cliff dwelling.
Students were given an exclusive opportunity to excavate a Basketmaker III site under the supervision of professional archaeologists, including experts from Time Team America. 
After excavating, students learned the importance of analysis back at the Crow Canyon lab, where artifacts were sorted, washed, weighed, and databased.
Students came from different backgrounds and regions and latched onto different aspects of archaeological science. But by the end of the week, they were unanimous on one point: they didn't want field school to be over."The best part." Hanna said, "is finding something and being the first person to touch it in a thousand years."
"That," Aaron added, "and being able to get your hands in the field, instead of typing on a keyboard."
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It's one of the most familiar scenes in the history of the American West:
(image courtesy Library of Congress)
But 10,000 years ago, paleoindians hunted bison without horses, bows or arrows. And those bison were significantly larger. How did these early North Americans do it? That's one of the questions that sent Time Team America to Oklahoma.
In the summer of 2011, archaeologist Dr. Lee Bement and his team discovered the remains of a group of bison antiquus (the predecessor to modern bison) at a site called Badger Hole. The bison had been killed and butchered by Folsom people, as evidenced by a projectile point found among the bones. How many bison were killed here? Below, Chelsea Rose and principal archaeologist Dr. Bement investigate.
The same floodplain that witnessed battles between man and bison now hosts a bevy of archaeologist hazards: rattlesnakes, ticks, oppressive heat, tornadoes and electrical storms. On the first day of Time Team America's dig, tragedy nearly struck in the form of a cow that stampeded directly into our dig site.
(artist's rendition courtesy Shervin Hess)
Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.
Just down the road in Woodward, Time Team America hosted it's second archaeological field school. Fourteen local soon-to-be seventh grade girls dug deep into the ancient Folsom way of life and experienced cutting-edge archaeological tools. More on that soon.
(image courtesy Library of Congress)But 10,000 years ago, paleoindians hunted bison without horses, bows or arrows. And those bison were significantly larger. How did these early North Americans do it? That's one of the questions that sent Time Team America to Oklahoma.
In the summer of 2011, archaeologist Dr. Lee Bement and his team discovered the remains of a group of bison antiquus (the predecessor to modern bison) at a site called Badger Hole. The bison had been killed and butchered by Folsom people, as evidenced by a projectile point found among the bones. How many bison were killed here? Below, Chelsea Rose and principal archaeologist Dr. Bement investigate.
The same floodplain that witnessed battles between man and bison now hosts a bevy of archaeologist hazards: rattlesnakes, ticks, oppressive heat, tornadoes and electrical storms. On the first day of Time Team America's dig, tragedy nearly struck in the form of a cow that stampeded directly into our dig site.
(artist's rendition courtesy Shervin Hess)Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.
Just down the road in Woodward, Time Team America hosted it's second archaeological field school. Fourteen local soon-to-be seventh grade girls dug deep into the ancient Folsom way of life and experienced cutting-edge archaeological tools. More on that soon.
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The Southwest US is home to some of the densest archaeology in North America, largely thanks to a preservation-conducive climate and a diversity of cultures spanning thousands of years. This made SW Colorado the ideal region for Time Team America's first foray.
This week, the Time Team field school toured Mesa Verde, the first American national park created specifically to "protect the works of man," as Theodore Roosevelt put it. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here's what a park tour looked like circa 1939 (image courtesy Library of Congress)
And today, with our Time Team/Crow Canyon field school participants.
The Puebloan architecture remains as magnificent as ever. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring site is Cliff Palace. With 150 rooms and 32 Kivas, it is the largest known cliff dwelling in North America.
Back at the Dillard site, Justine, Allan, Chelsea, Meg and Joe, and the rest of the Time Team crew, wrapped up an intense three days of survey and excavation.
Fate saved the best for last, in the form of several unexpected Day 3 discoveries. Here, Chelsea wields one half of a piece of Basketmaker III technology. What is it? Clue: The dark part is a depression.
The Time Team pushes on to Oklahoma, but the dust will not settle at the Dillard site anytime soon. Crow Canyon will continue with their archaeological work, and the field school participants will continue to learn about Pueblo cultures and the scientific methods used by archaeologists, while this guy keeps a sharp eye out for wayward trowels.
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^ Great Kiva, Dillard Site
After a four-year hiatus, the Time Team archaeologists reconvened at the Dillard Site in Southwest Colorado to investigate a Basketmaker III community. This stunning landscape has played host to humankind for more than a thousand years.
While excavation and filming got underway, the Time Team field school commenced at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. Below, high school students from SW Colorado and New Mexico learn about ancestral Pueblo architecture and fire-making in the Center's replica pithouse.
Later in the afternoon, students tried their hands at atlatl-hunting. Their quarry: Crow Canyon's resident plastic decoy turkey Ralph.
Turkeys were among the many species encountered by the people of Mesa Verde. Today, the area remains a wildlife hotspot. The Dillard site is crawling with prairie dogs, rabbits and marmots. But I was curious about what lurks around our excavation site when all of the people leave. So I placed a camera trap a few feet away from the Great Kiva.
And I got a bobcat! Captured here in a rather blown-out infrared flash. This confirms that non-humans also have an interest in archaeology! Maybe not. But like the land itself, wildlife is another element of Mesa Verde's natural heritage. Comments | Comment on this entry
While Time Team America producers and crews are filming new episodes of the series this summer, Dr. Alexandra Jones, an archaeologist and educator by trade, along with a team of educators from a variety of backgrounds will run Field Schools in locations near the dig sites. The field schools will be guided by questions similar to those that the Time Team endeavors to help answer at each of the dig sites. These questions can only be answered by utilizing scientific methods used by archaeologists every day.At each of the four digs, approximately 25 to 40 youth will engage with professional scientists, participate in excavation and lab work, and classify and document artifacts, working as archaeologists to reconstruct and understand the past. Field School participants will also get the chance to blog about their experience and share their enthusiasm and knowledge with families and peers.
What makes this an especially exciting and unique field school is that during the program the producers will film the activities of camp participants and instructors. These videos will be featured online to illustrate the variety of engaging activities the campers will experience at the excavation site and on field trips.
Crow Canyon Field School
June 3rd- 8th, 2012
Cortez, Colorado
During the field school, students will participant in archaeological excavation activities, laboratory work, field trips to Mesa Verde and Anasazi Heritage Center and other activities. Under the careful supervision of staff archaeologists and educators, students will conduct excavations at Crow Canyon's current site, contributing to the Center's ongoing research into ancestral Pueblo culture.
Badger Hole Field School
June 10th - 14th, 2012
Woodward, Oklahoma
During the field school, students will participant in scientific illustration classes, technology demonstration classes, field trips and other activities. Students will travel to an archaeological site and to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norma, OK. They will have an opportunity to visit an archaeological site adjacent to Woodward, OK, where archaeologists and other scientists will train them on various scientific techniques related to archaeology. While at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, the students will work with museum staff to learn about material conservation techniques utilized in the lab.
For more information on the Badger Hole Site Field School, see the Participant Guide (pdf).
To apply, first fill out our online registration form. Then download and sign the documents in our Signature Forms Packet (pdf). Bring these documents with you the first day of field school. Deadline for application is May 30, 2012.
Josiah Henson Site Field School
August 13th - 17th, 2012
Rockville, Maryland
During the field school, students will participant in archaeological excavation activities, soil classification lessons, archaeological conservation workshops, field trips and other activities. The students will travel to an archaeological site and to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC) in Saint Leonard, Maryland. They will have an opportunity to excavate at an archaeological site in Maryland, where archaeologists and other scientists will train them on various scientific techniques related to archaeology. While at the MAC the students will work with archaeological conservationists to learn about material conservation techniques utilized in the lab.
For more information on the Josiah Henson Site Field School, see the Participant Guide (pdf).
To apply, first fill out our online registration form. Then download and sign the documents in our Signature Forms Packet (pdf). Bring these documents with you the first day of field school. Deadline for application is June 15, 2012.
Instant Film for portraits provided by The Impossible Project.
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We are researching a captivating location for Time Team America's second season -- Crow Canyon Archaeological Center just outside of Cortez, CO. This area may have been home to one of the largest Basket maker communities known in the Mesa Verde region. Surveys show about 120 pit houses probably 1500-1600 years old. But recent tests make archaeologists wonder if there might be far more pit houses, as many as ten times more. Was the population boom even larger than suspected? Why? Where you find pit houses, you also find tools, evidence of what people ate and how they lived. We can't wait to see what we discover!
Photo: Students learn excavation techniques at Crow Canyon's current excavation site. Courtesy Crow Canyon Archaeological Center.
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Time Team America's British cousins have sent a special treat to congratulate their U.S. counterparts on a great summer of discovery, exploration, finds, and adventure.
In Time Team: Special Edition, the United Kingdom's groundbreaking archaeology series takes viewers on an expedition to Jamestown, Virginia, where a British company's commercial enterprise planted the seeds of the United States. There have been nearly a million finds from the site's trenches, but this anniversary special is far more than just an excavation. The team retrieves piles of perfectly preserved 17th-century pieces, traces the names and life stories of the early American pioneers, and learns why a third of them died within months of arrival. The colonists at Jamestown went looking for gold and silver. Instead, they found fertile soil, tough conditions and the beginnings of the world's most powerful nation.
Then, in part two, Britain's most famous archaeologists discover what secrets lie buried beneath several of the world's most famous English residences. Time Team tears into the Queen's gardens in an unprecedented opportunity to unearth the secrets of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, where the royal finds include the foundation of a 14th-century building where Edward III honored the legendary Arthurian knights.
You can see it on Wednesday, August 19 at 8/7 Central on most PBS stations (please check your local listings).
Watch a Preview:
Was it tin of shortbread? A lovely selection of teas? An decorative plate bearing a likeness of Her Majesty the Queen?
No! Time Team sent over a two hour special!
In Time Team: Special Edition, the United Kingdom's groundbreaking archaeology series takes viewers on an expedition to Jamestown, Virginia, where a British company's commercial enterprise planted the seeds of the United States. There have been nearly a million finds from the site's trenches, but this anniversary special is far more than just an excavation. The team retrieves piles of perfectly preserved 17th-century pieces, traces the names and life stories of the early American pioneers, and learns why a third of them died within months of arrival. The colonists at Jamestown went looking for gold and silver. Instead, they found fertile soil, tough conditions and the beginnings of the world's most powerful nation.
Then, in part two, Britain's most famous archaeologists discover what secrets lie buried beneath several of the world's most famous English residences. Time Team tears into the Queen's gardens in an unprecedented opportunity to unearth the secrets of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, where the royal finds include the foundation of a 14th-century building where Edward III honored the legendary Arthurian knights.
You can see it on Wednesday, August 19 at 8/7 Central on most PBS stations (please check your local listings).
Watch a Preview:
Enjoy!
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We hoped you enjoyed the final episode of Time Team America. Many of the Time Team crew have commented that this was their favorite dig of the season because it was the first chance they had to start the archaeological investigation from scratch. The Team was proud to be able help get the Fort James project off the ground and begin the process of preserving this important frontier site. You can read more about the results of the dig on the Site Update page and the Fort James Archaeology Report which is available for download.
The other notable aspect of this episode was it showcased some advanced geophysics technologies that had never been used before on a U.S. archaeological site. Meg explains it all in her Fort James Dig Diary.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
The other notable aspect of this episode was it showcased some advanced geophysics technologies that had never been used before on a U.S. archaeological site. Meg explains it all in her Fort James Dig Diary.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
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Following up on this week's Range Creek episode, climber and paleoecologist Larry Coats emailed us this week with an update and photos of his work surveying the high ridges of Range Creek Canyon. It turns out he's recently climbed up to two new sites he spotted from the helicopter during last summer's Time Team America dig. You can read more about it on the Site Update page.
Also, be sure to check out our slideshow of images made from the 3D laser scans taken at the site. It includes a very unique group photo.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
Also, be sure to check out our slideshow of images made from the 3D laser scans taken at the site. It includes a very unique group photo.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
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Hope you enjoyed the New Philadelphia episode. Since the Time Team America dig in June 2009, the New Philadelphia site has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. This is a huge milestone for everyone working on the New Philadelphia Project. To find out more, watch a video of site manager Chris Fennell describing the work that went into developing their National Registry proposal. You can also read our site update or visit the New Philadelphia Project Web site.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
Do you have questions or comments about this week's episode? Get the conversation started in the form below.
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Hope you enjoyed Time Team America's exploration at Topper, one of the country's most important and controversial Clovis sites. You can read more about the archaeological debate about pre-Clovis evidence in Time Team archaeologist Dr. Adrien Hannus' Dig Diary. About.com archaeology blogger Kris Hirst also discusses the controversy in her review of the Topper episode and blog post about the 50,000 year-old date.
Now that you've learned more about the research happening at Topper, what do you think? Share your comments and questions here.
Now that you've learned more about the research happening at Topper, what do you think? Share your comments and questions here.
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Hope you enjoyed our three-day adventure in search of the Lost Colony at Roanoke Island. Do you have questions about the Fort Raleigh dig? We invite you to post them here. We'll select five viewer questions and do our best to dig up the answers.
In the meantime, you can read our site report for more info about what's happened since the Time Team Dig, visit The First Colony Foundation online or watch the episode again. If you have general comments about the series, try our Viewer Comments page.
We'll see you next Wednesday at 8/7 Central for our expedition into the swamps of Topper, South Carolina to find evidence of the first human inhabitants of North America.
Photo by Crystal Street
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To beam American archaeology into the comfort of your TV room, Time Team America's cast and crew endured countless occupational hazards: wind, pouring rain, searing heat, and tons of dusty, crusty, gritty dirt. But the show must go on and Time Team's three-day limit doesn't stop just because of a little rain. So the crew kept their sense of humor and forged ahead through rain, shine, and everything in between.
Check out this video for a peek behind the scenes to see what the team endured to bring you this season's five exiting episodes. You'll see that everything didn't always go exactly according to plan.
And next week, plan to tune in to your local PBS station for the gripping premiere episode of Time Team America: Wednesday, July 8 at 8 (7 Central).
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At Time Team America, the most dramatic moments of archaeology often come from the process of excavation: deciding where to dig, working together as a team, trying to beat the clock.
Still, you can't argue with the pure thrill of uncovering a very special find. We asked some Time Team America team members about their most heart-pounding discoveries to date.
Dr. Adrien Hannus The Clovis points and bone tools associated with a mammoth kill/butchering location called the Lange/Ferguson site on a ranch within the White River Badlands of South Dakota.
Eric Deetz In 10 seasons at James Fort, the site of the 1607 English settlement I was lucky enough to dig up truly amazing artifacts such as 15th century armor, Elizabethan coins, not to mention being one of the crew that found the fort itself. But the one find that really sticks in my mind is a jeton or casting counter (jetons were used to keep count much like an abacus) made by Hans Krauwinkle at the end of the 16th century. On one side was the goddess Fortuna and the other was Fama the goddess of fame. Fame and fortune - exactly what the colonists were seeking in 1607 and to a degree what we as archaeologists are seeking as well.
Chelsea Rose I love finding clay pipes. I am not sure why, they are not very rare or fancy, but is always exciting to find one. I think it may be because when you find a pipe, you not only found something someone owned and used, but something they put in their mouth. Now that is the kind of personal connection that makes archaeology so cool -- 200 year old spit.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky I have yet to have my best find. Since moving to the east coast, my dream is to find a wig curler. I am sure it is just a matter of time....I just hope I don't mistake it for a porcelain doll leg.
Dr. Meg Watters A Roman Villa in Vescovio Italy, or no, wait... a Nubian temple in Gebel Barkal, Sudan or was it the shaft tomb on the Giza Plateau??
Editors' note: She's not kidding.
Are you on a parallel wig-curler quest? Do clay pipes get you going, too? Or are you simply seeking more fame and fortune?
Post your favorite find story below or at www.facebook.com/timeteamamerica.
Photo by Meg Gaillard.
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Playing favorites can get you into trouble, but Time Team America's archaeologists tossed caution to the wind to brief us on some of their pet places.
Dr. Meg Watters Let's see... was it the pig farm? No...... must have been either the Vilcabomba Inca burial survey in the Andes, where we flew up to our high-altitude camp in an old Russian helicopter, or looking for the Manilan shipwreck carrying Ming Dynasty porcelain on the Baha Peninsula, Mexico where we putt-putted out to our site, camped on the beach, and almost ran out of food.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky It has to be the Donner Party site in California. It was truly surreal to pick up broken bits of dishes and chopped bone from around their fire hearth, knowing the suffering they endured during the winter of 1846-47.
Dr. Adrien Hannus Certainly the Lange/Ferguson site. My special focus in North American archaeology is the early peopling of the New World. Lange/Ferguson is a Clovis site at which two ice age mammoths were killed and butchered about 12,000 years ago. The site not only yielded several Clovis points, but also provided the best evidence yet recovered in the New World for a bone tool industry associated with the Clovis culture. Flaked bone tools provided the hunters with sharp and easily discarded cutting tools, thus reducing the need for stone tools.
Eric Deetz Hands down Jamestown. I spent a fifth of my life there, I met my wife there, and had the best mentor you could ask for in Bill Kelso. The archaeology was mind blowing and the crew became like family. In some cases it was family.
Chelsea Rose I have to say my favorite site ever was the Time Team dig at the Fort James site in South Dakota. It was beautiful, the archaeology was interesting, and I was constantly surrounded by giggling hoards of Hutterite children. They let me practice my German, and I taught them archaeology -- it was a wonderful arrangement!
Have you been to a site that is forever burned into your memory (for better or worse)?
Share your stories below!
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Every trade has its extra-super-duper-top-secret-weapon. A photographer we know gets amazing lens effects with pantyhose. One makeup artist won't leave the house without a supply of toilet seat covers for blotting shiny spots.
You get the idea.
So we asked some Time Team America members about their extra-super-duper-top-secret-dig kit weapon. Here's what they said:
Chelsea Rose, Digging Team Leader: A little "leaf trowel" from Scotland. If a pointy trowel and a square trowel had a baby, it would be a leaf trowel.
Julie Schablitsky, Archaeologist : A bamboo chopstick lifted from my favorite Thai restaurant and sharpened in a pencil sharpener. Bamboo won't scratch bone or other easily damaged artifacts.
Joe Watkins, Archaeologist: A trusty 4-inch rectangular trowel to create square corners, slice through deposits, and flick centipedes out of dig units.
Meg Watters, Geophysicist: Duct tape and my soldering iron.
Eric Deetz, Excavation Strategist: Atomic fire balls. Nothing raises the crew's moral on cold days more than handing out these little hot jawbreakers. (Hey Eric--FYI it works for TV crews, too!)
Do you have a secret tool of the trade? Inquiring minds want to know!
photo credit Thomas Hawk / flickr / Creative Commons
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A backhoe on an archaeology dig? Is that really a good idea?
It's no problem when you have a master operator like Time Team America's Ian Barclay. With his steady hands at the controls, he can quickly remove layers of topsoil while preserving the delicate archaeology underneath -- saving the team countless hours of digging.
To show off his skills, Ian performed a number of backhoe tricks for the crew at the Fort Raleigh site, including this fancy maneuver with a banana.
If you like this video, checkout The Great Trowel Debate. There is also more to explore at our Facebook page.
It's no problem when you have a master operator like Time Team America's Ian Barclay. With his steady hands at the controls, he can quickly remove layers of topsoil while preserving the delicate archaeology underneath -- saving the team countless hours of digging.
To show off his skills, Ian performed a number of backhoe tricks for the crew at the Fort Raleigh site, including this fancy maneuver with a banana.
If you like this video, checkout The Great Trowel Debate. There is also more to explore at our Facebook page.
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When transitioning from citizen to archaeologist, there is a right
of passage that we each must go through: fieldschool. Here we learn how
to most effectively wield a trowel, how to use fancy words like
dendrochronology and microblade in casual conversation, and most
importantly how to excavate. I did my University of Oregon fieldschool at Thompson Mills State
Heritage Site, under the watchful eye of Dr. Julie Schablitsky. We
excavated amongst peacocks and blackberries, alongside Oregon's oldest
water-powered grist mill. While I witnessed many wondrous things at fieldschool (such
as an abundance of worms tied in knots in my unit, and my dig partner
Danny doing the human centipede dance at lunch), I also learned a few things. Here are some key lessons about excavation I've picked up over the years.
Archaeology is a team-sport.
If you don't have a sense of humor or are not willing to cram
into a 1x1 meter unit with another sweaty person wielding a sharp
trowel, archaeology may not be for you. Fieldwork requires
communication, cooperation, and collaboration in order to function
smoothly.
The Three R's of Archaeology: Reading, Recording, and wRiting.
- Reading: A lot of work goes into all stages of a project, but most archaeologists would agree that the better prepared you are before you step foot on the site, the better you will be able to get the most out of your time in the field. So read up and do your research!
- Recording: Trust me, you will not remember where that bit of clay pipe came from next week, or even by the end of a long day. Write down everything, make lots of sketches, and artifact doodles are good too.
- wRiting: An important part of the archaeologists job is writing reports, articles, or books on their research. An archaeological project is not truly done until the results are written up and available for other researchers or interested parties to read.
The Hypotenuse of a 1x1 meter (or 5x5 foot) square.
I'll be the first to admit it. I was one of those, "when am I ever
going to need geometry in the real world?" people. And, who'd have
thought, people actually use this stuff!?
Don't be scared, other than the odd statistical calculation, you
mostly just do a lot of measuring (which, by the way, is often done
using that wacky metric system). So go ahead, ask any archaeologist
what the hypotenuse is -- they will know! (or they have been digging very
crooked squares...)
Stratigraphy: it's not just for chocolate cake.
Archaeologists are always fretting about their sidewalls. Keeping your excavation unit tidy is more than just a source of pride,
it is also useful for getting a clean profile view of the soil
stratigraphy. Soil and other material accumulates over time on the
ground, and by observing and identifying the different strata, or
layers, you can start to piece together information about the site.
Dark organic layers can indicate human occupation, ash can be left from
a fire event, sediment from a flood, etc. So keep those walls nice
and straight!
Provenience is where its at!
Almost more important than the artifact itself is its context, or is where an artifact is located in space and time. Context can be established by recording the 3-dimensional placement, or provenience, of the artifact (usually depth, and horizontal measurements), and how it is associated with the other archaeological finds in the deposit. By establishing the context of archaeological material, you can figure out events or activities that led to the placement of the artifact in the archaeological record. So when your trowel hits upon that amazing projectile point, take a deep breath, grab your tape, and measure that darn thing before you pull it out!
Almost more important than the artifact itself is its context, or is where an artifact is located in space and time. Context can be established by recording the 3-dimensional placement, or provenience, of the artifact (usually depth, and horizontal measurements), and how it is associated with the other archaeological finds in the deposit. By establishing the context of archaeological material, you can figure out events or activities that led to the placement of the artifact in the archaeological record. So when your trowel hits upon that amazing projectile point, take a deep breath, grab your tape, and measure that darn thing before you pull it out!
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As a group of fairly educated public television viewers, the Time Team America production crew had certainly heard of the Lost Colony at Roanoke Island. Some of us even knew enough to whisper "Croatoan" ala Citizen Kane when we heard our first shoot was at Fort Raleigh. But after spending a few days steeped in the mystery of Roanoke, we learned about a few new pieces of the puzzle:
- Metallurgy. Excavations at Fort Raleigh in 1991 unearthed the remains of a science center. Archaeologists believe the first colonists were testing various metal ores at the site. (However, that dig still didn't turn up any domestic artifacts that would point to the location of the colonists' homes.)
- The sign. The Roanoke colonists sent their leader, John White, back to England for supplies. Before White left, the settlers had agreed to leave a sign if they decided to move their camp. Further, they would use the mark of a cross if they were in danger. When White returned to the deserted colony he found the word Croatoan carved onto a post, but no cross.
- The techniques of discovery. Archaeology isn't just about finding artifacts. Subtle differences in the color and texture of the soil can provide a great deal of information, such as the location of decayed wooden support posts from centuries-old structures.
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This summer I am excavating two 18th-20th century archaeological sites in Bladensburg, Maryland. Bladensburg played a pivotal role in the War of 1812 and, as part of the upcoming bicentennial celebration, the Maryland State Highway Administration is studying the historic buildings, archaeological sites, history of transportation, and the Bladensburg battlefield located along our highway right of way.Right now we are in the middle of an archaeological excavation at the Magruder House. This home allegedly served as a hospital after the Battle of Bladensburg so we are trying to find evidence of American and British troops such as munitions, uniform accouterments and buttons.
Like the excavations I worked on for Time Team America last summer, our team here at Bladensburg has a limited time to investigate the site. We are half-way through our two week excavation and have only one week of digging left to confirm that the house played a role in the battle. The good news is that we have found a late 18th century British Coin. It is not the smoking gun we were looking for, but it's a start!
Next month we begin a dig at the Market Master's House. This is the home that sat on the edge of the town's market square where enslaved people of African descent were bought and sold. Here we will gather archaeological information that will enable us to reconstruct the lives of the people who lived in this house since the 1760s.
As part of our public outreach efforts for the project, the field staff is publishing a Bladensburg blog. You can visit the web site to read more about the excavation and see what we find new each day.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky is a lead archaeologists for Time Team America. As an archaeologist with the University of Oregon and Maryland State Highway Administration, Dr. Schablitsky conducts research and publishes on historic-period archaeology sites in both the United States and the UK.
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Time Team America takes a group of archeologists and scientists and puts them in a tough situation: they have just 72 hours to investigate a site and report back on their findings. Archaeology is both time and labor intensive. Some sites can take months or even years to excavate properly. With only three days to work with, Time Team brings on specialists and experts in order to hone in on key aspects of a site that we can focus a lot of attention on in little time. This allows us to get results without sacrificing the science.Time Team America uses the same processes and techniques as other archaeologists. So how do they expect to learn anything useful in three days? Some scientists express skepticism about the three-day format. How can you fast-track real science? Isn't speed the enemy of truth? Time Team's archaeologists feel the pressure more than anyone, yet they're able to stand behind all of the archaeology that happens in that busy three-day window.
It's a matter of focus. Time Team's goal is not to make sensationalistic case-closing pronouncements about complex archaeological matters. Instead, they try to uncover new leads that will help archaeologists in their future excavations and research.
The team also brings in technology, additional experts, and crew that most digs couldn't otherwise afford. With these additional resources they can quickly analyze and investigate a few key questions about the site. When the cameras stop rolling, the team leaves behind an archaeologist to close out any outstanding work and complete the documentation.
It's a win-win situation. The archaeologists at the sites Time Team America visits get some extra muscle and critical data to help them advance their research. The audience gets to experience archaeology as it happens, minus the sore knees and blisters.
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When we started asking archaeologists on the Time Team America digs about their favorite tools, an unexpected debate emerged: pointy or square.
It seemed trivial at first, but as we spent more time in the field, it became clear that this is the archeological equivalent of Mac vs. PC.
It seemed trivial at first, but as we spent more time in the field, it became clear that this is the archeological equivalent of Mac vs. PC.
Does an archaeologist's choice of trowel reveal something fundamental about his or her personality? We're not sure yet, but watch this video and judge for yourself.
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While filming our first season, Time Team America visited sites that ranged from 13,000 year old chert quarries to a late 19th century U.S. Army fortress. Good thing we had team that could handle any challenge. Our Time Team America archaeologists represent decades of experience working on sites all over the world. Each brings a unique set of skills and experience to the Team. They all share a belief in the importance of exploring our past and a desire to show the public how fun and exciting archaeology can be.
Colin Campbell
The Team's only non-archaeologist, host Colin Campbell is also the team artist. Putting pen to paper, he helps us imagine the past. When Colin isn't traveling with Time Team America, he works as an environmental artist at video game studio Big Huge Games outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Adrien Hannus
Our Chief Investigator, Dr. Hannus guides the team's on-site research. He has devoted his talents to working in the Great Plains region for almost 30 years. Fascinated by the theory of migration into the Americas across the Bering Strait, Adrien has researched and written extensively about Early Man in the New World.
Eric Deetz
With thirty years experience in the field, Eric can decipher the past like few others. Known as an adept teacher and excavation director, Eric believes public involvement in archaeology is paramount, and his innovative approach to speaking about history wins audiences over.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky
Dr. Schablitsky is an archaeologist with the University of Oregon. She also works as head of the Cultural Resources Section for the Maryland State Highway Administration. Her current research focuses on the Donner Party of California, 18th and 19th century sites in Maryland, and John Paul Jones' birthplace in Scotland.
Dr. Joe Watkins
Dr. Watkins has a passion for preserving sacred sites of the American West. He's an expert in Native American archaeology and a member of the Choctaw tribe. Joe also has a keen interest in experimental archaeology, which uses replica tools to discover how people of the past went about the activities of daily life.
Dr. Meg Watters
Our geophysics expert, Dr. Watters helps the team see what lies underground before the shovels even hit the dirt. Her technical expertise has taken her to archaeological sites around the world including Native American, Inca and historic sites in North and South America to Nubian settlements in Sudan and Roman, Greek, and Islamic sites throughout the Mediterranean.
Chelsea Rose
As head of Time Team's excavation crews, Chelsea directs the troweling and shoveling. Born and raised in Northern California, Chelsea's passion is researching the California Gold Rush of the 1850's, including nineteenth century Chinatowns and multi-ethnic mining camps.
Colin Campbell
The Team's only non-archaeologist, host Colin Campbell is also the team artist. Putting pen to paper, he helps us imagine the past. When Colin isn't traveling with Time Team America, he works as an environmental artist at video game studio Big Huge Games outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Adrien Hannus
Our Chief Investigator, Dr. Hannus guides the team's on-site research. He has devoted his talents to working in the Great Plains region for almost 30 years. Fascinated by the theory of migration into the Americas across the Bering Strait, Adrien has researched and written extensively about Early Man in the New World.
Eric Deetz
With thirty years experience in the field, Eric can decipher the past like few others. Known as an adept teacher and excavation director, Eric believes public involvement in archaeology is paramount, and his innovative approach to speaking about history wins audiences over.
Dr. Julie Schablitsky
Dr. Schablitsky is an archaeologist with the University of Oregon. She also works as head of the Cultural Resources Section for the Maryland State Highway Administration. Her current research focuses on the Donner Party of California, 18th and 19th century sites in Maryland, and John Paul Jones' birthplace in Scotland.
Dr. Joe WatkinsDr. Watkins has a passion for preserving sacred sites of the American West. He's an expert in Native American archaeology and a member of the Choctaw tribe. Joe also has a keen interest in experimental archaeology, which uses replica tools to discover how people of the past went about the activities of daily life.
Dr. Meg Watters
Our geophysics expert, Dr. Watters helps the team see what lies underground before the shovels even hit the dirt. Her technical expertise has taken her to archaeological sites around the world including Native American, Inca and historic sites in North and South America to Nubian settlements in Sudan and Roman, Greek, and Islamic sites throughout the Mediterranean.
Chelsea Rose
As head of Time Team's excavation crews, Chelsea directs the troweling and shoveling. Born and raised in Northern California, Chelsea's passion is researching the California Gold Rush of the 1850's, including nineteenth century Chinatowns and multi-ethnic mining camps.
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The term New World has been drilled into our heads since grade school, so I think Americans have somewhat of an inferiority complex, archaeologically speaking. One thing I learned traveling with Time Team America, however, is that archaeology is all around us in America. Everywhere.
Episode 1: Fort Raleigh, Roanoke Island, NC (July 8)
Episode 2: Topper, SC (July 15)
Deep in the swamps of South Carolina: North America's first human inhabitants from 13,000, or maybe even 50,000 years ago
Episode 3: New Philadelphia, IL (July 22)
Episode 4: Range Creek, UT (July 29)
Episode 5: Fort James, South Dakota (August 5)
So start looking for all of the archaeology around you. And plan to come with us Wednesdays starting this summer.
In shooting the episodes we went all over the country navigating the historical time line. Here's where we went and what we were looking for:
Episode 1: Fort Raleigh, Roanoke Island, NC (July 8)By the beach: America's 16th century mystery: the lost colony of Roanoke
Episode 2: Topper, SC (July 15)Deep in the swamps of South Carolina: North America's first human inhabitants from 13,000, or maybe even 50,000 years ago
Episode 3: New Philadelphia, IL (July 22)Farm country: The schoolhouse of the first town founded by former slaves before the Civil War.
Episode 4: Range Creek, UT (July 29)Beautiful, remote canyons: The 1,000 year old story of the Fremont Indians - we had to literally camp out for this one.
Episode 5: Fort James, South Dakota (August 5)The prairie: The remains of a Wild West frontier fort from the 1800s
So start looking for all of the archaeology around you. And plan to come with us Wednesdays starting this summer.
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By now you may have checked out some of our first episode. As someone who spent years excavating at Jamestown and who has studied this period since I was a kid, it was awesome to spend our first Time Team dig at Fort Raleigh with the folks from the First Colony Foundation. It was also fitting that Time Team America's first show was about one of American history's greatest puzzles.More than twenty years before the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, adventurous English colonists built Fort Raleigh at the northern end of Roanoke Island. You've heard the story - when Governor John White returned from his supply mission in 1590, the colonists were gone.
Scholars have been studying the same records for more than a hundred years and have not been able to fill in a complete picture of the first colony. But archaeology can uncover new information about where and how the colonists lived and maybe even some clues to what happened to them.
One thing to remember is that the colonists aren't the whole story. The English saw America as a virgin land, but that wasn't the case. Native Americans lived here for more than ten thousand years before Europeans arrived. The key to knowing our true history is knowing how these two groups interacted. They left clues behind, and archaeology can find them.
But archaeology takes a lot of time, labor, and money. Enter Time Team America. With modern technology and added crew, the team was able in just three days to uncover the first new information in years. Work will continue at the site to figure out exactly what we uncovered and hopefully find more of what remains.
So did we find the lost colony? Too early to tell. But hopefully we did find a whole new group of explorers who want to travel the country uncovering the past. If you liked the first episode, tell your friends. They can come with us, too.
Eric Deetz is Time Team America's excavation strategist. He has thirty years of experience in the field as an archaeologist and educator, including more than a decade designing and leading tours at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the new world.
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Now, I want to be clear from the start -- I'm a pretty unlikely person to be hosting a PBS series about archaeology. To be honest with you before I arrived at our first site on Roanoke Island last May, I had never set foot on a dig site in my life.
As it turned out, however, not knowing much about archaeology was actually a job qualification.
On Time Team America we have some of the top scientists and historians in their fields. They are the ones doing the research. As a newcomer to the world of archaeology, my job is a little different.
I try to help make the archeology come to life for the audience. As host, I guide viewers through Time Team's intensive three-day digs by explaining what's happening and getting the experts to talk about what they are doing. As the artist, I get to imagine what life might have been like on the sites we visit, drawing the structures and tools people would have used.
The biggest challenge for me as an artist was figuring out how to translate a few bits of pottery or obscure patterns in the sand into an illustration that was as historically accurate as possible. I quickly discovered that the best way to get a lively discussion going was to get some details wrong (usually not a problem on my first drafts). Our team of archaeologists was never shy about correcting my mistakes. I ended up doing a lot of erasing and redrawing but it was a great way to uncover details I never would have known on my own.
I hope you'll join me on Time Team America and discover archaeology like I did, looking over the shoulders of top archaeologists as they investigate some of the most fascinating sites in the country.
To see the Time Team in action you can watch the full episode from Fort Raleigh on the new PBS Video Portal. And be sure to visit our Facebook page to tell us what you think about the program.
Colin Campbell is Time Team America's host and team artist. He is a 2004 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) where he studied painting, ceramics, and computer animation. Colin works as freelance artist in Baltimore, MD, as well as an environment artist for video game studio, Big Huge Games.
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If you've visited the U.K. in the past fifteen years or so, you may
have been shocked at how much the general population knows about the
science of archaeology. Why are the ladies at the tea shop chatting
about ground penetrating radar? You could assume it's because the
Brits are just more interested in their history, but we think it's
because of a certain very entertaining TV series on Channel 4.This summer, Time Team is launching an invasion onto (actually under) American soil. We've found the smartest, most adventurous archaeologists in the U.S. and sent them out to five of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the lower forty-eight. Just like the Brits, we gave them three days at each location to map it out, dig it up, get dirty, and show us what we've got on this side of the pond.
What did they find? Wild West relics, 1,000 year old native villages, stories of freed slaves, Paleo-Indian tools, and maybe even the lost colony at Roanoke. It was an unbelievable summer. We can't wait to share it with you.
Stay tuned for all the dirt! And tell your friends, Time Team is coming to America.
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