Archaeology Misc: June 2009 Archives

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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