The Last Road Trip

I'm sitting next to Fanya's gate at ABQ "Sunport" waiting for our flights to come in, and I can't help but be surprised at the MANY things that have happened in the last 3 weeks. Has it really been 3 weeks? It seems much shorter. All of us are a little in shock, I know, that it's already the end of June.

There have been many lessons learned, even not about archaeology, from this field school. I feel like I definitely fit in within the archaeological world, and for this world to be rewarding, I need to take more personal time to delve into subjects I find interesting in the field. For example, the readings that we had for this field school were informative, but not very long; and I find myself hungry for more information either about the sites, projectile points (which I'll start reading about this weekend), and the prehistory within the Good Ol' USA.

Also, you'd be surprised how close prehistory is (15,000-10,000 YBP) while just striding around the landscape here. We found out yesterday that the ground had only risen a foot in the last 10,000 years. So ridiculously recent. Walking around the top of the Horace Mesa, eyes down, you easily come across points that were made thousands of years ago. At this point I definitely feel a connection with the people who once lived here, although the world they lived in was much different than the New Mexico we see today.

All in all, I'm glad to be going home, but I will never forget the bonds that I made with the people here. I hope that as I move through my last year at Cal, and into the archaeological world, I stay in close contact with my new friends, and that we all endeavor to use the knowledge we gain to our best advantage.

I promise, now that I'll have nothing else to do, to finish the last few posts of this blog. I need to cover: our camping trip at Mule Creek (3 days), Thursday the 10th, Friday the 11th, Weekend in ABQ (visited old town), camping trip at Redondo campground near Valles Caldera (3 days), Thursday the 17th at Deann's Site (Folsom), and Yesterday, packing and Final at Steve's. It's a lot but I WILL get through it :) My journal is in my luggage or I'd do it now...

I'll end with an altogether heartwarming and hilarious email from Steve that he sent this morning as a goodbye to everyone, just an hour or so before I got him to sign my textbook. Just to give you a taste of how awesome a professor he is.

Subject: Goodbye geoarchaeologists

From: M. Steven SHACKLEY

Date: Jun 19, 2010 5:26 am

Message:

I hope you've all learned many concepts of geology and archaeology that you never expected to encounter. As you go through your academic life, you'll generate some stories of your own. Perhaps the best experience to take away from the Stone Tools in the SW class is that in archaeology we must work together, even when it's hot, dry and unconfortable and your bunk mate is driving you nuts. If you go into academia, this is crucial. With great intelligence comes complexity, and sometimes this complexity generates consternation. If archaeology is it for you, cooperation is the necessary element.

After that, have a good time. Remember, Doc Haury said that archaeology is the most fun you can have with your pants on! Reminds me of the story of a collegue that thought he had a snake in his tent and came jumping out of his tent with one leg in his pants - well you had to be there.

I'll be on and off campus during the next academic year. From now on you're never a stranger.

Sweetwater Steve