midden-maiden

[midden-maiden]

oh how i love my little test tubes of cave dirt. my sweet sweet soil. they can fit so many secrets

[midden-maiden]

I do not want my fantasy media to be realistic. I want my fantasy media to be convincing.

[midden-maiden]

All of the above! On top of all this great advice I will just add my little contribution.

1. Learn the signs for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration. Keep an eye on yourself and others and don't be afraid to speak up. YOUR SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING.

2. Related to hydration, I like liquid IV or nuun to help with hydration and electrolytes. Remember it should be a 1:1 ratio of electrolyte solution to water. Alternate! I have a 32oz bottle so I would drink 32 oz of electrolyte solution and then 32oz of water. If you are using Gatorade, half the Gatorade! The sugar in it does not help a ton with hydration so for 32oz of water do 16oz of Gatorade.

3. Bring mole skin for blisters. And Neosporin or other antibacterial cremes for cuts and scrapes. You will thank me later.

4. If you have your field shoes start breaking them in ASAP.

5. Walking in sand can be real funky and really mess with your joints. Stretch when you get back to camp to avoid pain and tendonitis.

6. Remember to keep your field journal up to date. This is a very important part not only of the archaeological work but it really helps your mental state when you are out in the field. Write in the rain journals are my preference but any brand that makes your waterproof papers will work. Please please please get waterproof journals.

7. It's tough to cover everything, but don't worry you will learn! That's what field school is for! Have fun, learn, and get a little dirty! (Not field flings though that shit gets MESSY keep everything professional in the field ALWAYS for your safety and the safety of others.)

Hi! So this summer I'll be doing my first archaeological internship. I still have a lot of time, but it takes place in a desert and they haven't told me exactly what my role will be yet. I don't want to be too presumptuous about my tasks, but what basics should I be bringing? Thanks!!!!

Hi there, I would check out the fieldwork advice section in my advice master list. I also think that it's totally valid for you to reach out to the people running the internship to ask to be put into touch with interns they've had before and/or ask what they will be expecting you to do.

I haven't ever worked in the desert, so I'm going to tag my favorite desert archaeologist @midden-maiden to see if she has any advice.

-Reid

#more good desert advice #I also use bandanas to go under my baseball caps when I don't have a wide-brimmed hat with me #just archaeology things #fieldwork #desert life #archaeology #archaeology advice #THE dirt child speaks #i briefly emerged from the hell that is grad school

[midden-maiden]

vintage pillow belonging to my mother that gets funnier the longer I look at it

[midden-maiden]

After a long day...

[midden-maiden]

(goes through an extended magical girl transformation, by the end of which I look the exact same, except I immediately shoot you with my perfectly normal gun that wasn’t there before)

[midden-maiden]

Yes! Please contact your SHPO or THPO office! There are some areas that also have historic preservation offices on a county level (Texas specifically) that may be able to help as well.

They may ask for pictures and some basic information.

I will note that if it is private land, they cannot enter the property to look at artifacts or anything without permission (Trespassing is illegal).

I must also add that collecting or taking archaeological materials from public land is illegal.

But your SHPO/THPO or historical offices will let you know what they need/want from you if you find something on your land. Each place will be slightly different based on state legislation. If you do have a THPO I HIGHLY recommend getting them involved.

What should people do when they find items like arrow heads when digging in their yards?

Contacting your local State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) or Tribal Historical Preservation Office (THPO) would be a great place to start! They will probably be the best positioned to give you further instruction. I'll tag @midden-maiden who has some experience working for SHPO.

-Reid

#shpo #thpo #archaeology #THE dirt child speaks

[midden-maiden]

This is why fieldwork safety is of utmost importance. I've been in situations where it felt like my safety was not the primary concern, and I constantly worried about things like this happening.

OSHA guidelines are written in blood. They're there for a reason. Don't ever let someone convince you to compromise on your safety. (link to tweet) (link to news coverage)

[midden-maiden]

The incredible bond between archaeologist and their flannel shirt

[midden-maiden]

I cannot believe there are people who genuinely believe that ethnic groups living in deserts walk around half naked to “deal with the heat” and that we actually wear typical bellydancing garb casually…orientalism truly has rotted your brain

[midden-maiden]

I’m crumbly like a dirt don’t pick me up

[midden-maiden]

[midden-maiden]

[midden-maiden]

[midden-maiden]

I know. I know. I KNOW

I think the only universal experience amongst archaeologists is that we have all, at least once, enjoyed digging a really nice hole and then gotten very sad when there was nothing in it.

#archaeologists #archaeology #archaeology side of tumblr #archaeology humor

[midden-maiden]

Tomorrow we are doing PEDESTRIAN SURVEYS!!! I am so hyped to walk slowly and look at the ground

[midden-maiden]

My dear anon-

WHAT DESERT ARE YOU IN THAT DOESNT HAVE TICKS? MY DESERT HAS TICKS AND SNAKES AND SCORPIONS!?! I WANT YOUR DESERT

How I avoid tick bites: Became a desert archaeologist. Downside: Snakes and scorpions.

Tbh I'll take the ticks over snakes and scorpions any day. I'll let @midden-maiden handle the desert.

-Reid

#archaeology #give me your desert anon