The Dig Begins, by Mac

Last Tuesday, 7th and 8th graders took to the hills in search of signs of early hominid life. First, they canvassed the field in order to decide on the best excavation site. They used sharp eyes to spot unusual stones or other objects, and chose four dig sites with the highest density of unusual objects.



Then, with the help of Donna and her math students, each class gridded out a 2 meter by 2 meter square. The site was oriented North/South/East/West, with the help of a compass. The large square was then divided into four smaller quadrants.



Each class was divided into four teams, and each team was assigned a quadrant. Before excavation could begin, all artifacts from the surface of the site were mapped, numbered, and bagged. Excavation is being carried out in 20 cm. layers. Soil is being sifted to catch small objects that might otherwise be lost. All artifacts found are mapped, numbered, and bagged for further observation.