Student Blog — The Life of a Shovel Bum

Bradley Navaranjan

It’s the middle of week three from the Nassau Mills field team and I am exhausted but thrilled to have been part of an archaeological team to fulfil my dream, to become an field anthropologist or a “shovel bum”.

The most memorable tool for an archaeologist is a trowel, for their first excavation unit, however for me it is the mattock. It’s because when removing the rocks from the beta soil level the mattock not only makes it a little easier but also gives a feeling of strength and rhythm when hitting downward. It’s also how I found most bone remains of a lamb mandible, teeth, and femur. I have been working in a trench hopefully located in the area of a summer kitchen. Uncovering then holding artifacts gave me a sense of accomplishment in the moment, not even a crowd congratulating me with a Nobel prize could compare!

The next unit in the woodland area north of Champlain college further excited me to deepen my role as a field technician. On our unit BcGn-15 N760 E620 Esther screened while I shovelled, revealing large refined white earthenware edgewear pieces from the neoclassic or even embossed styles. The earthy colors of green with pink flowers got my attention because they reminded me of certain plates we found on our previous excavation area.

The challenge with this square unit was the steep slope making the northeast and northwest corner difficult to dig because of the falling dirt when shoveling from the inclined south side. Despite all that Esther and I were still able to make a stratigraphy chart and uncover plenty of artifacts.

Some other points:

  • Stage 3 excavating allows me hand on experience and knowledge of human material culture
  • I enjoy socializing with the crew, especially August’s guess the animal game.
  • I love this work and to be called a shovel bum
  • Finally getting down in the trench is my kind of archaeology

“Bradley Shovel Bum is ready to get dirty.” — Bradley’s frontal lobe