Wonders and Ponders

So I’m in archaeology right now, and we’re just learning about Harris Matrices, which some archaeologist invented in the 1970s to help “convey information.” What ensued was a simple theory illustrated by a complex flow chart of sorts. We just did a 15 minute exercise and tried to take this stratified cross-section of a site and make it into a Harris Matrix. After 14 minutes worth of boxes and lines and crossouts, the professor finally showed us what it was supposed to look like versus what we actually came up with. Once we got it though it’s actually kinda cool, because you can show if something is superimposed, directly related or not. I wonder if I can use that to plot out my life after graduation…

You know back in the day when you were in grade school and the teacher made all those announcements about something called a ‘field trip’ and handed you a bunch of color coded forms to take to your parents and then a week later you forgot all about it until you went somewhere amazing like the zoo or an ice cream factory? Oh how time goes by.

Last week, for our first “field trip” I meandered through the storage facilities for the Levantine Archaeology Lab and was told to write all my observations in my Lab Journal. These storage facilities are in the basement of the History Building and were cramped and dark and musty. It was soooo incredibly…humbling. I was looking at things that had been an integral part of someone’s life 8000 years ago, and then when I saw the storage areas from the graves and skeletal remains it drove the point home even more. How do you put that into a journal?

Today we did another “field trip” which involved mapping a site. After drawing a grid and finding true north and plotting our first data point, we were given the other five points we were required to plot and how to go about measuring the distance by a process known as “pacing.” This means that we learned to make one stride equal to one meter and thus found our pace. So, in teams of 4-5, armed with our grids, compass, and legs, we went about plotting the defined area. Wow. First there was the whole “I got 35m-I got 40m-I got 27m-Quick someone take the average!” problem. Then, becoming so engrossed in mapping the required points, we forgot to map other things like side walks and trees and had to start over. There was also the problem of pacing and talking at the same time and then realizing neither of you were keeping track and had to start over. Of course if you actually remembered to plot things as they came up, you forgot to pace entirely and, yes, had to start over. My map has all the data points, the correct distance between them, and even some sidewalks and such, but the scale is waaaay off. I foresee retracing this weekend. I wonder if Indiana Jones started off this way.

I finished/survived winter finals at 10:31 am PST on Friday Which means this Easter Sunday is especially glorious as to I don’t have school tomorrow!!! Anyway, this weekend was a good catch-up weekend as far as cleaning and sleeping went, and this upcoming week looks to be a great one, too. Right now, I am chillaxin’ on my couch, but am about ready to leave for a family event for the evening. Here’s wishing you all a very joyous and happy Easter!

So, I am sitting here in my class, HISC 131, or, in English, “History of Science: Technology and Science in the Courtroom.” It’s funny how the last lecture is entitled “What Have We Learned?” My answer? Not a *bad word* thing. I almost want to ask for a refund. This class had no structure, the readings weren’t linked to the lecture or topic of the day, and the “discussion questions” were thought of on the spot in class. The last five weeks especially have been painful because there wasn’t enough material to make a whole course. Luckily my two other professors were amazing and had the organization and materials needed for a college course, and had detailed course structure, something I thrive on. Ah well, next week is finals, and then the quarter is officially over, and I have a week of freedom. Tonight and tomorrow, among other things , my roomies and I are going to decorate for our St. Patrick’s Day party, so that should be fun. I also think I want to take the little hellian to mom’s house so he doesn’t destroy anything or terrorize the guests. One of the other thoughts I’ve been kicking around is if I want to fence next week during the evenings, trivial as it seems. “Procrastination from studying finals” or “Excellent stress relief during finals”? That is the question…