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Warning: I almost skipped the field survey for the lab, and a 40 year old trowel changed my mind
Last month I had to pick between two projects for my archaeology term paper: a summer field survey at a site near Tucson or a lab analysis of pottery from a collection in a museum basement. I picked the lab because it was inside and I could sleep in. Then I went on a one day dig near my town with a borrowed trowel and found an 800 year old shell bead in the first hour. I realized I learn ten times more holding dirt than reading notes about it. I switched to the field survey and spent six weeks of 95 degree days mapping 14 test pits and finding 32 flakes. My professor said I would hate it but I still think the trowel beat the microscope. Anyone else here switch from lab to field and regret it later?
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jackson.sarah29d ago
A trowel in dirt teaches you more than any basement ever will.
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