Don't forget me Learn Thai guys

2007-07-14T01:59:00.000-07:00

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English How'd u pronounce in Thai?
Hello = Sa-Wad-Dee
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Drunk = Mow

SMU's Archaeology in Taos, New Mexico, USA

2007-07-13T01:13:00.000-07:00

Taos Archaeology,

New Mexico, USA

Taos is small town; it was located in the valley and high evaluation. SO it is so cold [for me] and dry, sometime I feel freeze. This project is the field school of the Southern Methodist University [SMU], Texas. This project is directed by Dr.Eiselt Sunday. Field work is during 1st June - 8th July 2007.

First and Second Week [1st-9th June]
We surveyed for recording rock art or petroglyph in the Rio Grande canyon, Taos. This canyon was fruitful archaeological sites, both prehistoric and historic sites. The technique we used for surveying was a systematic surveyed and sometime we used a random technique for searching a past. Besides founding the rock art sites we also found the lithic scatter site and pottery site; these sites able to call a habitation site.

On the 7th June, we started to work with community by helping people to repair San Francis church by mudding. Mudding is the using mud for repair the wall, stair, and constructions. This activity has done annually. I think this activity make the familiarity between the archaeologists and communities surrounding the church and making the acceptation for archaeologist could work in the community hormonally.

First Weekend [10th June]
I went to the Chimayo. The Chimayo is the Christians church. It is so far from Taos. The architecture is designed in the Pueblo art and Hispanic
art.

Third Week [11th – 15th June]
On the 11th and 13th, we continued to survey in the Rio Grande and recording a lot of rock art. I think this canyon is very important for understanding the subsistence and the trading of human past through time form the prehistory [Archaic period] to historic [Hispanic period].

On the 12th we changed a plan from recording rock art to helping the people for cleaning inside the San Francis church, willingly and funny. This day is the best day because I worked with the most beautiful friend.

On the 14th – 15th, we started to excavation at the Pita’s House. Her house was located in the Plaza area and near the San Fracis churh. So we hope her house would find the important finds and could make us understanding the Taos’s Plaza history and prehistory.

We set up the grid system for making the unit for excavating and start to dig the surface evidences. This is the first time for many guys in the archaeological excavation, but not me. My feeling like I go back to study in the BA again.

Forth Week [18th – 22th June]
We continued to excavation at the Pita’s House site. This week I feel so stronger. My muscles are strong enough for excavation. Thank you for making me stronger. Opp! I forgot something that be important for my life… She is Allison, she is my real buddy. She is so cute and beautiful.
The evidence that we found able to separate 3 periods:
First is the Upper layer [strata], in our unit we found a few of pottery shards in the adobe floor [Adobe made from mud that so dry and hard, this is the basic of the construction of Native American building/house in the Southwest]. These layers could indicate that it is the recent time.
Second is the Middle layer [strata], these layers were under the adobe floors. We found a lot of pottery shards such as polychrome and micaceous. There were a lot of bone fragments. We also found the glass and few obsidian flakes these evidences suggest that it might be in the Hispanic or Historic time.
Third is the Lower layer [strata], these layer we didn’t found a glass. We found a lot of pebble, pottery shard, and animal bone fragment. The whole layers we found a lot of hearth, charcoal and ash, these indicate that it is a habitation floors.

Second Weekend [23th – 24th]
On the 23th, I went to Santa Fe. This town is far form the Taos about 50 miles. I went with Albert, Amber, and Nuch. This is the first time I ate Thai food after I lived in USA, it was so expensive for me. I am not appreciated.

On the 24th, I went to San Juan. This first time I saw the Indian people in the traditional dress. Beautiful!

Fifth Week [25th – 28th]
We continued to dig and dig. I were moved to outside because I finished to excavation inside the house. I use my strong muscles and pickax to dig the hard soil. I were a pickax dancing man.

Third Weekend [29th June – 1st July] – The Best Optional Trip
On the 29th, we went to the Ancient Indian Ruins of Kuau’a, Coronado State Monument. This is the huge habitation site. And I saw the Indian art painting on the ruin walls, in the first time. I am much appreciated. I lived in tent again.

On the 30th, we waked up in the early morning to the Cimayo or Sky City, this city was located on the top of mountain or mesa. It is so hot and I almost make something wrong for taking a photo. In the evening we headed to the Chaco Canyon.

On the 11th, we waked up in the early morning again. I was going to hiking on the mesa. The Chaco Canyon is the beautiful and amazing ancient monuments for me because they were located on the desert and so dry. How the people live? And why did they settle here? In the evening we went back to campus.

Sixth Week [2nd – 8th July]
This is the last week I lived with many best friends.
This week we still excavated and finish it. After excavation we did profiling and fill the soil back in the pits. This is the end of the field and my long journey again.

I love all guys in the field. Thank you for everything. I am glad I have you friends.

My Archaeology

Don't forget me Learn Thai guys

SMU's Archaeology in Taos, New Mexico, USA