Student Blog — Field School Musings

Emma McDonald

When I first learned that the archeology stream at Trent had a field school requirement and that you needed to participate in at least one to qualify for a degree, I was ecstatic. I have had an interest in archaeology, history and finding interesting things from a young age with most of my birthdays being celebrated collecting found items at what my family calls the sea-glass beach (Ashbridges Bay, Toronto). So when there was an opportunity to find similar interesting objects in pretty much my own backyard (at least where I’m renting) I couldn’t sign up quickly enough!

The first week our group met for the field school was really exciting since we learned about the different kinds of bottles (how the color, bottle/finishes, Manufacturers’ Marks, and ceramics (style, colour, and Manufacturers’ Marks) can be used to approximately date these kinds of artifacts as well as the history of the campus in its relation to the old Nassau Mill. We also reviewed the Archeological Standards and Guidelines that are set out by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport which I had learned about a few months prior but I found it helpful to be refreshed on the requirements.

I was very excited in our first week when we went out to the BcGn-15 (site at the far end of campus north of Champlain college). I have always had an interest in edible and non-native plants. When we were visiting the site of a possible home, I spotted what I thought was a variety of mint, which does not typically show up in this area. In doing so, I almost fell into a hole. After further investigation, I realized that it was a sublevel of a building, causing me to call to James, the instructor, “Um, James, I think I found a basement?” all this to say, it was a great first week. 

We moved to the BcGn-23 site (near the Trent University) on Thursday (May 2nd) and stayed there until Monday, May 13th where we excavated the former Nassau Mills owner’s home with both Stage 3 (test excavation (1x1m units) and Stage 4 (full excavation). What I found fun was that I had the opportunity to work on many different excavation units with only unit F providing difficulty with the heavy gravel soil covering the artifact rich midden (trash heap) layer. I attended my grandfather’s funeral and was not present Friday when all the finds from the pit were found, but I was happy for my group all the same!

Finally last week was scattered between lab work and Stage 3 work at BcGn-15. I quite enjoyed the lab work where I sorted through bags of our finds from this year (perfect work to listen to podcasts …lol). Finally last week consisted of digging a 1x1m test unit only to find a lot of rocks (but that’s just the way of life when you’re digging). 

All in all, I am very excited for my final week and our stage two (surface ground survey) walk in the woods that we’ll be going on this week (weather permitting). There has not been one element of this experience that I haven’t enjoyed entirely and I thank James and Kate for this wonderful experience.