archaeology lab
The field work may be over, but some of the most interesting aspects of this project are just beginning! The archaeology field school is part of a 3rd year course in Anthropology ‘Field Methods in Archaeology‘ that teaches students how to conduct research from the field through to the lab, and on to a final report. Each of the 16 students in the course choose a topic they will work on for the semester. During the first class, students were presented with 19 different topics and ended up choosing a very interesting selection of study areas. These include:
Different gardening practices, analysis of faunal remains (shell and fish bone), wood charcoal analysis, raw material sourcing, study of the haangi stones, technological analysis of stone artefacts, taphonomic analysis of the archaeological record, analysis of spatial distribution of artefacts and features, the history of the occupation of Great Mercury Island/Ahuahu, a study of the previous archaeological research conducted on the island, and the geology and geomorphology of the island.
On Friday we began organizing the lab. Over the next few weeks students will wash, sort and begin analysis of archaeological materials collected during the field school.
We will keep you posted with our progress as we begin to piece together the prehistoric occupation of Ahuahu.
– Rebecca