What to Expect on your Dig?

As I sit in my bed with a heating pad on my back because of all the soil and screen testing I did today, I think to myself, "what have I gotten myself into!"

Today was my first day on the job in New Smyrna Beach and I had the pleasure to work with Bruce Piatek, the Executive Director of the Florida Agricultural Museum.

My day started and ended with a screen, tarp, and trowel in hand. I don't think my arms have ever been this sore in my life, and I actually worked out yesterday so that didn't really help.

We didn't find much items of significance, however in a church parking lot I found a prehistoric chard which was dated by a historian that was assisting us for the day. Tomorrow we will be doing several pole tests in the same area.

So what exactly were we doing out there? The city is putting in a new drainage system in the neighborhood, so when this happens, archaeologists have to test the land to make sure they won't be destroying anything of importance.

The resident historian accompanying us for the day was interested in finding some old roads that had once navigated throughout the neighborhood, however we won't know anything until the road that is running through this area is removed and renovated.

I'll keep you updated on my findings. To answer my own question "what to expect on your first dig", well to be truthful, very sore arms and legs, hunger pangs, and a really good night of sleep after you pass out from being exhausted.