13/01/10

13/01/10
I think I might have to finally take my Glastonbury band off. One day of excavation and it’s looking rattier than a very dirty rats tail. Actually it’s not so dirty any more, but I scrubbed it so it’s looking very dishevelled. And more than a little threadbare. Sad times.

So today we were all up early, had our wimby porridge (tastes good with banana, something we never tried in Uganda) and coffee and packed the landrover with everything we would need for the site. Only Matt forgot the folder with the previous stuff and the context sheets, so we’re going to have to catch up on some levels tomorrow morning. We got to site and Matt gave Leila some instruction. Bless, she’s never done any practical archaeology before, doesn’t even know what contexts or stratigraphy are, even though she’s done a year of archaeology at Cambridge! Cambridge is rubbish it seems. Then we removed the spoil from last year’s excavations, making a big heap over to the side. I was carrying buckets for a while which were far too heavy for me, so then I managed to get hold of a shovel. It was a very light one so I was surprised at how easily I managed the shovelling. Molas obviously just has uber heavy shovels. Then when that was cleared we planned out another trench, or rather an extension to the first one, which I discovered later had been measured wrong so was actually about 15cms too wide so all our plans were wrong. I think they’re going to continue to be wrong as well. Tut. Sooo, Leila and I were taught how to sieve, and how to tell what was pottery, bone and lithics. Bless. I think (hope) he was only including me so Leila wouldn’t be the only person getting lessons. So Lei and I did that until lunchtime. We each had two people on the sieve and we basically just had to look as well as them to make sure nothing got missed.

We had a break for lunch of chapatti and bananas, they go surprisingly well together. Then Leila, Chris and I were on the excavating team. First Matt taught Leila how to plan (this was actually before lunch but never mind) and I helped with a few pointers and tape holdings once I had sorted out a bag of bone. Then we excavated, carefully, with jembes (hoes). Lol. They had taken the first context off of the extension (T2) so we were going down through context 3. I had a huge rock through most of my half, then we found a hearth. So we carried on taking c03 down, and Matt, under guidance from me (I made him feel guilty because he wasn’t giving the hearths a context number of their own) gave the hearth a context and then quickly planned it before getting me to dig it out. It was actually very interesting and he was glad he gave it its own context in the end. He even took all of the spoil from it for soil samples. Ooh, so then we kinda dug out more of context 3 (the strat really isn’t going to make sense when he has to sort it out, but never mind. Not my job. JJ) and then cleaned it up for him to take pictures and me to plan. I was very proud of myself for remembering how to plan so well, and also for noticing the glaring error that was the wrong size of the trench. Although I have forgotten the conventions for cuts and stuff. I might try and remind myself, or we can just draw arrows and label everything, which will probably help Matt as he has no idea what they are either.

So yeah, that was pretty much it for today. We packed up and decided what would come back with us and what would stay, then we took it all back to the landrover while Matt, Matua and Chris planned a new trench on the other side of the rockshelter. On the way back to Makatano (sp? The name of the place we’re staying) we picked up some more fruit for tomorrow, and also some maize, which is basically like bbqed corn on the cob, only not as soft as sweetcorn, it’s tougher and tastier.

Now we’re back at the hotel. I found yesterday that I have no hot water, and in fact my shower only spurts out the smallest jets of water so that you can’t even have a decent cold shower. Especially not to wash my hair, so I’ve washed as best I can and then when we get power I’m going to borrow Matt’s shower. He’s in the room I was in last time, so if it’s still as good I’ll be having a luscious hot shower later tonight. Although that does mean I’ll have to sleep with damp hair. Ah well, small price to pay. Not sure when dinner will be tonight, but if the power comes on at the same time as yesterday then I’ll be showering later. Tonight I also have to write Norah something saying what I did while at uni. Not that even I can remember, but I’ll have to give it a go. Sooner the better I think, I’m getting quite sleepy. I’m starting to ache a little already, at least, I can feel that I’ve done hard physical work today. And my skin is so dry. I’d forgotten what the dusty sand can do to it. It’s like being back at Buendia in my first year again! Best get on with some work now then...
Yay! As I am about to post this, the power came on! It’s not steady yet though, everything is flickering rather wildly! Yay! Shower time.