My days as an Archaeologist/Historian

Wow! When I look back at all the wonderful things we did this summer in Dig This! 08, I see how much fun we had while digging at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. We found so many things, from ceramics, to a ring, to even pieces of a shoe, but what we found didn’t really matter, the only thing that mattered, was the experience that we all shared, and the knowledge that we gained. I really enjoyed visiting the accused witch’s home. I learned how to start an archaeological dig, and how to level. This skill will be very useful in the future, if I ever start to dig again, or if I become an archaeologist.

This summer, I also learned how to lead and work a group, more successfully. When we debated, I got the opportunity to lead the group. I got new leadership skills from this experience, one skill was listening. I learned to listen to other people’s ideas, before I decide which is wrong and which is right. When we reenacted that Bacon’s Rebellion Trial, and I got to act out the role of the governor, I got the skill of making decisions for a group (even though my decision didn’t make a difference in history), I also started to learn about point of view that way.

When we visited Harvard Yard, we got to examine artifacts that they found there. A skill I learned, was dating artifacts. I learned how to date bottles from the shape and size, I learned how to date pipe stems from their width and length. At the Rebecca Nurse Homestead we learned how to date artifacts, by the material the artifact was made out of, and the depth the artifact was found at.

Three new ideas that came across my mind during this course were: 1) Race is not biology 2) Americans want to own land, Native Americans want to live on the land 3) Archaeological findings are evidence of history. The idea of race not being part of biology came to my mind when we visited the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. The race exhibit was spectacular, and interesting. I had been told this before, but it really clicked when they showed how no one characteristic belongs to a single race, if their a characteristic that everyone in one race has, some people in other races, have it as well. I realized one of the main differences between Caucasian Americans and native Americans when we watched the movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, when the natives were pushed out of their land. I came across the idea of archaeology being the evidence of history, when digging at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. When we found an artifact, it could conclude something like the people during the early 1900s ate peanuts, I know that is most likely a fact because I found a peanut in the 1900s level, if I were the first person to find proof that people of the 1900s ate peanuts (which I am not), I would be changing history by having evidence of a theory.

In the end, I realize that I am taking so much from this course, I learned new skills, I came up with new ideas, and I even got to do some archaeology! I learned that history isn’t just the past, history helps nations learn from mistakes, and history is alive today, people are still making history. I also have learned that My new friends will go back to California, Hong Kong, Canada, China, Florida or any of the other amazing places they came from, and remember this summer, just as I will. Phillips Academy Summer Session isn’t just “nerd camp” its a whole new experience with a beautiful campus, great teachers and diversity amongst the students. Oh, and I just realized that my title is incorrect, I will ALWAYS be a archaeologist and historian. Just because Phillips Academy Summer Session is over, doesn’t I can’t still start an archaeological site in my backyard, or I can’t study history. So, I honestly can say that I am looking forward to my future days as an archaeologist/historian!

One of our many group talks!

 

 

A typical lunch, we talk about our lives back home, and about the day's activities

 

 

Group work is great! I like working with my peers, because I get to see their point of view!

 

 

 

 

All of us at the dig!!!