Rocks and Dirt

I truly believe that the basis of archaeology is rocks and dirt. You're probably saying, "Duh!" We visited the site today and spent our time not setting up but throwing rocks and moving dirt. Oh, and setting up two porta potties.

Asi, our intrepid do everything guy, spent the past year after we left cleaning out brush and getting the cistern tunnel back to what it was originally. We didn't get to see it yet because he was moving the dirt the sifters dumped last year from near the opening of the cistern to another location nearby. This location had been dug out years ago, and nothing of archaeological significance was found. So, Asi filled it in with our dirt.

An Australian man, whose wife is studying archaeology at Hebrew University, is helping Asi. He covered the excavation site with linen (yes, linen), and we threw rocks on the linen to hold it down as Asi brought the dirt over. The factoid of the day is this: Before covering up the linen, current coins are placed in the excavation site (in the corners of each room). When, or if, someone digs there many years from now, the coins will identify the date it was filled in. Very clever, I think.

We didn't do much else today, but Sunday we will set up camp. My "pottery barn" will be separate from the meeting/lunch/conversation area, which will make what I do much easier, with less chance of confusion. I am thinking that will make the whole artifact registration much more efficient and accurate. We'll see.

Tomorrow, we're doing some touring. A couple of the sites are where people want us to work next year. Yes, next year. We had been told that next year would be for the final report writing for Gezer, but tonight we were told about these two sites, both of which would be marvelous! Much excitement already for next year.

We're still recovering a bit from jet lag and all the dirt moving today, so it will be early to bed for both of us. More people came in today, but some flights were delayed due to weather, so there will be five people coming in during the night - at 1:00, 2:30, and 4:00. I pity the driver of the van that will be picking them up, but he doesn't seem to mind. He then "gets" to give a short tour/presentation of the Gezer site for a group at 8:00 am. He will be one tired puppy when tomorrow is over. There were two biking clubs and three tour buses through the site today, and it really isn't set up yet for tourism. People are excited about what we're doing.

Good night! The man who knows how to put photos on is one of those who won't get in until morning, so I'm hoping to be able to put pictures on tomorrow. Bless you all!

M.