Archaeological Vacations

Lesson 2: What Can I Do

The Work

Archaeology is hard manual labor, sort of like gardening. Though you need not be an Olympic athlete, archaeology does require some level of fitness. Sore back, legs, shoulders, and hands are facts of life after a day of digging.

If you are volunteering for only a day or two this shouldn't be a large problem. However, if you are taking a field school that lasts several weeks, you need to be aware of these potential difficulties. The good news is that after about a week of digging you will be in great shape and the aches and pains will disappear.

Digging is both exciting and monotonous. Some days you won't find anything worthwhile while the guy beside you is finding so many artifacts that he is complaining. Try to remember that the lack of artifacts also tells archaeologists information about the site. Archaeology is a team effort.

The elements are probably the most difficult part of archaeology. Archaeology is like camping. Throughout any one day, you may start out the morning excessively cold or wet and by afternoon be so hot that you are sure your brain is baking. Furthermore, the only wind that seems to blow at any archaeological site always sends dirt directly into your face.

Bugs are often attracted to archaeological sites. The rule is that even if the general area seems to have no bugs, the archaeological site you are working at will have plenty.

Likewise, animals are often attracted to archaeological digs. It can be quite beautiful to see the deer watching you work. However, when the cows want to eat your clipboard or the gophers want to eat your lunch it isn't quite as amusing.

Moreover, I recommend that your lunch always be in sealed plastic containers. Gophers can eat through these containers but it takes them a while. Hopefully you will catch the suspects before they eat your entire lunch.

Similarly, at one site, we had a huge male Big Horn Sheep that decided to investigate our lunches. Fortunately, no one was hurt. After a few sniffs of a backpack here and there, he just trotted off back into the forest.

Other dangers at archaeological sites include sharp artifacts, uneven ground, holes, traffic, and machinery.

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