
A compelling chronicle of a mid‑twentieth‑century excavation, this report follows the determined efforts of an amateur archaeologist who refuses to settle for anything less than “real archaeology.” Through a series of letters, field notes, and vivid anecdotes, listeners hear how his relentless curiosity pulls together a diverse team of professionals, volunteers, and friends, all working together under rain, mud, and the occasional flood.
The narrative delves into the painstaking day‑to‑day tasks that define a dig: washing and cataloguing thousands of pottery shards and projectile points, drawing ground plans of ancient house foundations, and constructing vertical profiles of the site’s layers. Along the way, the author shares the practical challenges of communication, equipment, and method, offering a clear window into the meticulous craft of field archaeology. For anyone fascinated by the blend of passion, teamwork, and scientific rigor that brings a forgotten landscape back to life, this account provides both inspiration and a solid introduction to the discipline.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (155K characters)
Series
The Missouri Archaeologist, Volume 24: December 1962
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2020-02-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Drawn to archaeology by a desire to do careful fieldwork, this little-known writer documented an Arkansas excavation with the patience and persistence of a serious amateur. His surviving work offers a hands-on look at how local researchers helped preserve pieces of North American prehistory.
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