Month: May 2024

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. 

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

Mason McCarthy

On the first day of excavation on site BcGn-23, myself as well as two others were assigned to a 1×1 unit with the objective of locating the west wall. This unit brought with it many questions, which taught me first hand the constant adjustment of archaeological interpretation. Very early on in the excavation of our 1×1 unit, we found a rock layer that was initially thought by both us and our instructors to be the rock wall, so we shifted from shovels to trowels to be more careful while uncovering it.

As the rocks were uncovered it was found that the entirety of the 1×1 had this rock layer, and since we were looking for the edges of the west wall for structure 1 this created some questions, which then lead to the decision for our 1×1 to be expanded 50cm west in the attempt to find where the rocks lead. Within the 50cm extension the rock layer continued throughout so we carefully test under each rock before removing them, that way we could understand more about what was happening since our initial hypothesis about it being the wall was proving to be incorrect based on the depth of the rock layer as well as the size of the rocks. The rock layer would later be confirmed to be backfill and not the wall, which was reflected in the until next to us who had succeeded in uncovering the wall.

On the second day of excavation, our team joined up with the one next to us to create a 2x5m trench that would connect our units, in doing this we were able to use the uncovered wall in the other unit as reference for understanding ours, and in knowing where the wall supposedly should be. This trench would be labelled OA1-E. As a team we were successful in uncovering the west wall but the south end of the trench, mainly the southeast corner, still created many questions for us such as why we were finding materials like nails and bones, as well as why we were finding so much charcoal and slag. Ultimately, we were instructed to remove the rocks in the southeast corner, which was frustrating because of how much time we spent trowelling and cleaning them, but it was also extremely satisfying to finally say goodbye and be able to see our corner better.  Before they could be removed, though, a few of us had to use a planning frame to draw the rocks in the corner, which I would discover was not my strongest skill.

After the removal of the rocks, the wall became clearer and based on materials we could interpret that the southeast corner of our trench may have been located where in the past materials were put and then burned.

Mason McCarthy

Arthur may only be a small bee, but he is a hard worker. On May 21st of 2024, Arthur could be found assisting Caroline and myself all morning in our stage 3 1x1m unit, on site BcGn-15. He was a great morale-booster and tried his best in assisting us with digging and removing roots, unfortunately due to his size he was not very efficient. But despite that, he never gave up. He was great company to have in our unit, and we believe that Arthur goes to prove that Archaeology is for anyone who puts their handwork and passion into doing their best.