MAY 3 and 6, 2006

From: Scott Beld
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 8:41 PM
To: Oxbow Archaeologists
Subject: Sias East (20MD263) - May 3 and 6, 2006

Hi Oxbow Archaeologists,

We made it out to the site Wednesday (5-3-06) and yesterday (5-6-06) and continued to excavate in the 110 West Block (see Photo 1). Both days were sunny and pleasant!

Wednesday was a little more interesting as far as artifacts were concerned. In the afternoon I excavated the 0-20 cm (plow zone) level of unit 1S-112W and recovered another notched rimsherd and two rather large decorated bodysherds (see Photo 2 and Photo 3). Forgive dirt on the decorated bodysherds – they haven’t been cleaned yet because of the large amount of char on them – we’ll certainly be able to get dates!

Marianne and Nik came Wednesday evening (see Photo 1) and we excavated the 0-20 cm (plow zone) level of unit 2S-111W. Marianne found a small expanding stem point of Bayport chert (see Photo 4).

On Saturday Marianne, Nik, Dave and I worked on units 0S-111W, 1S-112W, 2S-111W, and 2S-112W (see Photo 5 – looking south). In the morning we excavated 1S-112W, 20-25 cm (bottom of plow zone), 2S-112W, 0-20 cm (plow zone), and 0S-111W, 0-20 cm (plow zone). In the afternoon I excavated 1S-112W, 20-25 and 25-30 cm. We recovered several Bayport chert flakes, some GTP and bone fragments. In general the density seems less than the units we excavated last year (under black tarp in Photo 5).

I’ve just checked to weather and it looks like it could be rain on Wednesday, so let’s plan on working in the lab. I should be to the RB by 5:00.

Next Saturday we’ll plan on digging.

Hope to see you at the site!

Scott

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Scott G. Beld, Ph.D.
Research Laboratory Specialist - Intermediate
The University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology
1109 Geddes Road
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079
Phone: 734-764-0489 (UMMP Main Office)
            734-763-9253 (My Office)
Fax:      734-936-1380
Email:   sbeld@umich.edu
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