Greetings again readers!

Much has taken place since last we’ve visited our swamp wanderers.  Monday was the first day the students were able to see the vastness of the swamp.  We awoke earlier, and after coffee and breakfast, made our way through the great gates of the Dismal Swamp.  Forest quickly enveloped our passage, and wildlife surrounded us.  A great Heron spotted our caravan and decided to help lead us towards our destination, flying just in front of us until it saw we knew the way.

After a bit of driving, we stopped and put on our waders and bug repellant products.  We then looked at the forested path in front of us, and made our way into the heart of the Great Dismal Swamp. 

The first two days involved equipment runs, making the trek slower than it will be in the future.  The new students felt exhilarated, for their swamp adventure was finally beginning.  Several spills (most of which end up a bit muddy) and a few water stops later, we found ourselves on our dig site.  The students were given a brief tour of the area and lunch was enjoyed.

On the first day, Dr. Greene, Mr. Lynch (our geophysical archaeologist) and myself made our way to the North Plateau, where we cleared an area for the GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar).  The GPR was completed the next day and moved to the Crest.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sayers and Cyndi (the other TA) began introducing the students to the joys of excavation.  I was able to help a group string up a 1 x 1m excavation unit and aid them in the learning process.

These beginning units are already proving to be interesting, as features are beginning to be apparent.

Unfortunately, I have come down with a debilitating cough, which has made my field time shorter than normal.  I have acquired the needed medication and am taking the needed rest to ensure that next week’s swamp adventures do not occur without me.

So there we have it swamp readers!  Swamp week one complete!  Next week, join Dr. Greene and myself as we make our way to the North Plateau. 

Well, we are not camping this year.  Instead we find ourselves in a very nice house with plenty of space.  The past few days have been spent packing up all of our gear from the lab and then traveling to our living quarters where we have been unpacking.  We started a tradition last year, which was followed this year, so I suppose now is a tradition. The first night we ordered a bunch of pizza.  I do believe most of the students were overjoyed with this decision as the pizza seemed to be eaten quite quickly.

After pizza was had, it was discovered that we were without a coffee pot.  Well, this just would not do.  Dr. Sayers and myself traveled to locate a store that would carry said coffee pot and coffee.  We found our items at a local grocery store, where we also decided to pick up some food for the next day.  Upon entering the grocery store, we noticed a coffee shop to our right.  This seemed to be the appropriate beginning to such a task that was before us.  Freshly caffeinated and two shopping carts later, we were on our way back to the house.  

We were having a refrigerator and washer/dryer delivered to the house the next day, so in the mean time we brought out our large cooler and filled it with ice, so that we could enjoy cold soda and have cold milk/soy milk for the next morning's cereal.  Some may remember this cooler from the 2009 field school where we camped.  It is a large fishing cooler, but has a distinct feature, the handle was almost completely removed by ravenous squirrels determined to gain access to our cooled goods.  Unfortunately for them, the cooler was too thick to get through, and thus out food was safe for our own consumption. 

After the next day's cereal and precious coffee, more errands were needed to be undertaken.  First and foremost was getting the hot water up and running.  The home owner came and showed us what to do and stayed a bit to chat.  As he was visiting, the fridge and washer/dryer arrived and were installed.  After such in-house excitement, it was time to fill the new refrigerator; a contingent of students lead by a TA went to acquire these goods.

Dr. Sayers and myself ventured out to find some of the more practical needs of the house, such as cooking wares, cleaning supplies and the like.  Several hours and more shopping carts later, we are all back home unloading.  Veggie burgers and pita bread was being made during the great unpack and a semblance of order seemed to have begun within the kitchen.

As time passed, hunger began to grow among the students.  Dr. Sayers and myself answered this call with the preparation of dinner.  We made spaghetti with garlic bread and baked asparagus, most of which seemed to have been devoured.

Thus the 6 weeks of communal living has begun.  The first day within the swamp is right around the corner and the excitement grows stronger by the day.  Join us next time to hear about the great equipment trek and the first reactions of a new bunch of students to the Great Dismal Swamp.

Friends and interested folk, welcome to my Swamp log!

This is the first entry of what I hope to be a regularly updated log.

We just wrapped up day two of the 2011 field school.  This is the third year of the field school, being hosted by American University and my third year in attendance.  I return, for the second time, as a teaching assistant, and an active researcher.  The past two days were spend in the lab, introducing the students to the project background, the history revolving around the Dismal Swamp and a workshop in artifact recognition, both those materials commonly found within and outside of the swamp.

After bagels and a great deal of coffee, all of the needed materials have been collected and await the coming journey.  The next step will be to pack and converge at our place of lodging for the remainder of the field session.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look and the first of many swamp logs!  Tune in next time to find out if we made it to the swamp with all screens in tact.

-Jordan