Here is a picture of our team lined up for a photo on my last night. Pictured from back row, left, are: Courtney (cook), Stan (pilot), Stephan (German archaeology student), Bill Hedman (expedition leader), Darrel (geologist), Gerad (archaeology student), Ian (archaeology instructor), me, (front row from left) Craig McCaa (BLM office of public affairs), Ines (German archaeology student), Dr. Jeff Rasic (head of excavation) and Jess (archaeology student). Unfortunately Steve - our camp manager and main go-to guy - was out fishing during the photo.
I can't believe it but this is my last night in camp. The expedition has gone so quickly! I'll fly in the helicopter tomorrow morning from our camp by the Kivalina River out to the Red Dog Mine, and then from there in a Cessna airplane to Kotzebue. I'll spend a few days in Kotzebue getting cleaned up and doing an interview on Kotzebue radio before flying home to Denver to my wife and baby. I'm excited to get home to them but also sad to leave my team here at the dig. I'm looking forward to creating a great archaeology project for my students next year!
We have been so blessed with the weather for the last week. It's been incredibly sunny and warm. You wouldn't guess we are more than 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Today I worked at the excavation in light pants and a T-shirt. I didn't even wear my rubber Xtra Tuff boots which I wore every other day. I didn't find much in the digging today, but Ines from Germany found another beautiful biface tool and so did Stephan. It was so nice to lay on the tundra during our tea break and discuss these fascinating finds. I hope the team uncovers many more artifacts for the researchers to ponder after I'm gone.
Archaeology is really great - we had an incredible adventure here. We saw wild Alaskan animals like Grizzly Bears, Musk Ox and Caribou, and we ate fresh fish caught right in the stream. I had the great opportunity to work with this incredible group of researchers, each of whom I've been impressed with and gotten to know personally. Having the chance to pull ancient artifacts out of the ground after thousands of years was truly remarkable. To think you are the first person to touch something after a Paleo-Indian tool maker touched it more than 10,000 years ago - it's almost like time travel! We are reaching across eons to get to know ancient hunters. I will strongly encourage my students to explore archaeology so they too can experience this excitement.
Because it was my last day with the expedition today, Craig McCaa of the Bureau of Land Management filmed an interview. He asked me some questions about the experience which may run on the BLM website. The excavation will continue for another five days after my departure.