Preservation Archaeology Training: Gaining Confidence

Student Post: Time Well Spent

By Deborah L. Huntley, Preservation Archaeologist

Emily Kvamme reflects on the past month:

First day in the field. Everyone is setting up units in the smoky haze. Click to enlarge.

We take a break from excavating to look at the smoke coming off of the Gila Mountains. Click to enlarge.

I came to this program not knowing whether I would enjoy doing archaeology. Now I know that I do—thoroughly!

Over the past month, I have learned so much by working with different supervisors and seeing how their methods differ slightly, and I’ve gotten a feel for what works best for me. Working with different students has helped, as well. As I look back to the first week, when I was just learning the basics of how to set up units and how strata and levels work, I am amazed at how much more confident I am in my excavating, surveying, mapping, and recording. There are only seven days left now, and everyone is mapping their units, writing unit summaries, and completing any remaining excavation.

Our whole camp has become like a family, and we have learned how to work as a team. I have become so fond of our routine: waking up in the early morning, heading into the field, working hard, and coming back satisfied by a good day’s work. Showering off the dirt—incredible amounts of dirt—in the solar shower, listening to evening lectures, socializing at the cold creek spot, and field trips to other sites are experiences I will look back on for the rest of my life.

This field school has affected me personally and professionally. I am sad to part ways, but I’ll be leaving with exactly what I came for, and I am eager to get back into the field.