Dig deeper into archaeology

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, WI — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:00:40 GMT

As a pre-teen, we lived in Beloit, WI and I would go to the Beloit College Museum after school, (just across the park from my grade school). There I would spend hours looking at the artifacts from the burial grounds found when digging the foundation for the college. I think but am not sure if it was the Archeologist Strong who founded the college and my Grade School. I had the "run of the place" and would look at but not touch some of the items in the class room where the students were working. Once I fell asleep behind the door to one of the rooms and when I woke up, it was after dark about 8 in the evening. I repectfully closed the big doors behind me when I came out of the museum. The whole building was for me a sacred place. I hope it is still there as I left it.

Dig deeper into archaeology

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, WI — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:37:37 GMT

The museum I was referring to is the Logan Museum of Anthopology.
www.beloit.edu/~museum/logan

It is still there and just as I remember it. Such a grand building. I believe the big doors were blue at that time. I may have gotten some information wrong due to my being there in the 1950s and an impressionable 9 year old. It seems the school is still teaching like they did back then - hands on. The only way to learn.
I wonder if they still have the "cave" which housed, I believe, a rock drawing and some flint stones for making fire.

Dig deeper into archaeology

Mike, West Palm Beach Fl. — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:55:31 GMT

There are so many sites in the Yucatan of Mexico that on dozens of visits, I have only found a small amount.

Over the years, I have worked with at least 3 maps (including PEMEX MAP) and spoken with locals to find some of the more offbeat Mayan Ruins.

Small towns offer basic accomodations, and small restaurants (local, basic food) and sometimes you will find the best local entertainment right in the plaza of the town.

If you speak some of the language, you will be almost guaranteed a much better time in small places, looking for/at some great ruins, meeting the wonderful locals and just enjoying yourself so much more than some fancy hotel on some crowded beach full of tourists. The locals enjoy telling you about themselves, their towns and some know of their history and are very proud of it.

Off the beaten path is where it is all at. Try it sometime. Make it a day trip from somewhere else, or delve into it wholeheartedly. You will be rewarded greatly.

Dig deeper into archaeology

Artifactor — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:03:07 GMT

I have found that most archaeologists are more than happy to examine your personal finds, answer questions, or even invite you on a dig.
Just remember, unauthorized digging is unethical or possibly illegal. However, surface hunting in eroded areas poses no problem for future professional digs because these items are out of context, or displaced from their original location. Many of my best intact finds have been obtained this way, not having been damaged from farming implements as can be the case when searching a freshly plowed field.

Dig deeper into archaeology

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:43:57 GMT

I wish I was independantly wealthy so that I could try all of these. I would really like to look at the glyphs of that make up the Mayan calendar. It facinates me that they have such an accurate calendar from way back then. Then again, I guess they didn't have all the distraction of now; look at the design and range calculations on the big guns of the U.S.S. New Jersey -- not improved upon from when they were first made.

The other item that I would like to help is figure out how the Mayans came to the conclusion that the world would end (or at least change) 12/21/2012.

Dig deeper into archaeology

steve smyth — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:35:23 GMT

Re Mayan predictons...I wanna know how they envisioned 2012 in the first place.
With zero personal belief in the mandates of time, I can't figger they had anything specific in mind, but...with the way things are going, there will be some significant change right about that date.
It's all part of the natural course of events...the predictions survived...what else didn't?
Some individuals just seem to have the ability to foresee.
It's tougher now, with so many more factors than The Mayans had to consider, but not impossible.
2012 sounds right on target to me, eh?
do do doo do...click my name for more amazing stuff.
enjoy!

Dig deeper into archaeology

charles queen — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:05:19 GMT

Here in Kentucky many farmers will let you roam their fields, best time is after they plow them and there are all kinds of arrow heads and such to be found,also civil war items as well

Dig deeper into archaeology

jonathan penson cumming ga — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:31:07 GMT

can you list the questions that are answered on a dig?
or recommend a book that will numerate the parameters for a dig?