Pedestrian Survey Day

Friday started off with a clear blue sky and the bright yellow sun climbing into the sky. June is here and it was going to be a hot one. After breakfast in the lodge our perspective groups headed off to either lecture or to the van. The Little Mueller House group would have lecture with Grant before heading out to the Larson site. The Ridgeline crew headed off to the Hayne site. After a quick lecture on some survey techniques the Mueller Crew was off to the Larson site. We all disembarked at the first stop to take in the view and observe the memorial that Mr. Larson left for his wife. It overlooks a beautiful view of the canyon. Second stop was the top site that was in such beautiful condition that room blocks and kivas could be picked out on the landscape with the naked eye. Every step piece of pottery or flake. The heat of the day was starting to kick in and we were thinking of our fellow students at the Hayne site. It was going to be a long, hot day. There was no driving down so we all filled our camelbacks and water bottles to full and stuffed our packs full of food from the cooler as Grant and John carried the cooler down by hand. It was a bit of jaunt down into the canyon but as we looked out it was a wonderful site. Possibly walking in the steps of the ancient Pueblo people down into a place that had never been surveyed before. Passing several different layers of geological deposits along the way, we arrived at the bottom unpacked and rested. We would be doing a pedestrian survey which meant walking though some daunting topography. Having to avoid cacti, shrubbery and the most dangerous of them all, the cholla. Oh, and then there was the possibility of snakes, too. Grant had us make a line and we were to do some transects across the bottom. North to south was the first and on the first transect we rested under some oaks on the mountainside. The day was definitely warming up. Under the oaks we found some bones and John would give us some osteology lessons. With the bones that were found it is totally possible that a young mountain lion and a large beaver fought to the death. Then it was back to the north again with only small finds that were not significant enough, a possible historic dump site and a big pack rat den with another assorted set of bones. Time for lunch and we were all glad for the rest. Red-faced and tired, grabbing sandwiches and snacks we sought refuge in the shade of the trees. The ancient gods blessed us with a slight breeze that cooled the sweat that had drenched our bodies. Grant and John were awesome and hiked up to refill water bottles for those that needed it. After a nice catnap, it was back to work. It was coming close to the end of the day and Grant asked us if we were up to one more transect and of course as the dedicated archaeologists that we are it was a resounding yes. One more chance to find something that would show that this area had been used by the Pueblo people. Then walking to the north, there began shouts of sherd, sherd and flake. Then a beautiful white piece of Burro Canyon chert stuck out of the dirt and there it was, the tip of a projectile point just there like the owner had dropped in hundreds of years ago. We had found something and we started mapping, taking pictures and getting GPS points. Paperwork had to be filled out too. It made our day. Trudging back up the hill back to the van all sweaty and dirty, we all wore a grin knowing we had worked hard and earned it by our finds. Pulling up to Crow Canyon we piled out of the van and thanked Grant and John. We knew that our tired Hayne crew would be back soon too. As we all headed back to our cabins to wash the grim and aches from our bodies, there was Frank the collard lizard to greet us. We were exhausted and sore, but we were back home after a great adventure knowing that archaeology is the best job ever!