Tales from a Forest Service Archaeologist

Briar · June 30, 2011, 06:33:12 PM

I thought some of you would enjoy seeing photos of the objects I find while working. Feel free to ask questions or comment.

Broken Arrowhead

Broken Metate

General Land Office Marker- 1933

Rock Cairn

Neobaron · June 30, 2011, 06:40:51 PM

Thats a pretty neat revolver there.

Grip looks like rudder though so its probably new-er-ish.

Kilkenne · June 30, 2011, 06:57:27 PM

I had to google to see what a metate was. How do you specifically know that that was a grindstone and not just a broken rock? (Not trollin', actually curious)

windhound · June 30, 2011, 07:58:02 PM

Neat stuff, what does your work involve?
+1 on metate

Gen. Volkov · July 01, 2011, 12:59:30 AM

I like that you put another object in for scale. It's a good habit to have.

Briar · July 01, 2011, 12:03:00 PM

My work involves hiking around mountains in Eastern Nevada looking for anything pre-dating 1950. Normally the funding comes out of fuels projects, meaning that my team is making sure that it is alright to burn, or treat, the area and no significant archaeological damage will occur.

The reason we know it is a metate and not just a broken rock is because of the flatness of one side and the roundness of the other. It's hard to tell from the picture, but there are small percussive marks on the flatter side, indicating its purpose as a metate.

The revolver is newer. It's a 357 Magnum. Probably not more than 15 years. I posted it because it was a pretty cool find, and because it is newer than 1950, I get to keep it :) Last year I found a machete, which I also got to keep.

Kilkenne · July 01, 2011, 12:15:28 PM

I like this stuff. This is a good thread. Briar has a cool job.

And she should post more pictures of stuff she finds wandering about in the mountains.

Do you have to sleep in a tent while you wander about or are these more like day trips where you go home afterward and then back in the morning?

Briar · July 01, 2011, 12:37:03 PM

This last week was in a tent, but most of the time they are day trips and I sleep in a government bunkhouse.

Neobaron · July 01, 2011, 12:44:30 PM

You should have the gun restored, imo.

Ungatt Trunn II · July 01, 2011, 08:25:20 PM

Hey you found my gun!

Briar · September 25, 2011, 01:44:22 PM

Sorry for the sparse posts. This season has been a lot of hiking and not so much finding. Here are some more pics of stuff I've found. Enjoy!

Etendue · September 27, 2011, 09:00:39 AM

These pictures are absolutely brilliant, I can't believe how awesome your job is.

Have you any more anecdotes to share about your job?