Wednesday, May 12, 2004

How most archaeology is done Archaeology survey taking place now

The archaeology survey started on Monday, May 10 and this will be ongoing for the next month or so. As a part of the survey, cards were sent to property owners to inform them of the process, for example: if crops are planted the archaeologist will walk between the rows. According to Chris Hansen and Schwartz, at this point no one has called concerning the survey. They were the two who's phone numbers were listed to call with concerns.

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is in the hands of the Pollution Control Agency. “It sounds positive,” Schwartz told the commission.


The bulk of archaeology done in the U.S. is CRM -- CUltural Resource Management. Also known as 'contract archaeology' it is often done by private for-profit firms. Much of this work is mandated by federal, state, and local regulations that govern land use practices. Archaeological remains are often considered as part of the natural resources of an area and thus must be accounted for in large construction projects. Hence, as part of environmental mitigation, construction outfits usually hire an archaeological firm to do a survey (basically, walking around the affected area looking for archaeological junk) before construction begins, determining the significance of any remains found, and then possibly removing them ('salvage archaeology').

Extensive information on some ways in which archaeological remains are protected can be foud at the National Park Service. A quick search of "CRM" and "archaeology" on the Web will also pick up a lot of info.

And a handy CRM example: Treasures unearthered from downtown Jacksonville

Roadwork in historic downtown Jacksonville has uncovered the mining boomtown's long-buried public drinking well.

Earlier this year, the $3.5 million effort to rebuild a one-mile section of highway running through the town came to a temporary halt when the remains of Oregon's oldest Chinatown were discovered.

Then, work stopped for several days while archaeologists shifted through the rubble, looking for historically important artifacts.


And another one: New Sunbury development could start within month

Work on an upscale development in Sunbury is expected to begin within the next few weeks, its builder said. Bob Vandegejuchte said infrastructure construction for the The Village at Sunbury, a 77-home development on approximately 30 acres, will begin in the next 30 days. That work will encompass roads, sewer, electricity and cable. "It will be the latter part of June for actual home construction," he said.

. . .

Vandegejuchte said an old cemetery near the project will be preserved as much as possible. He said the last burial there occurred in 1919.

"We are going to celebrate it, rather than hide it," he said. "One of our walking trails will go to it."


Library of Alexandria discovered

Archaeologists have found what they believe to be the site of the Library of Alexandria, often described as the world's first major seat of learning.

A Polish-Egyptian team has excavated parts of the Bruchion region of the Mediterranean city and discovered what look like lecture halls or auditoria.

Two thousand years ago, the library housed works by the greatest thinkers and writers of the ancient world.

Works by Plato and Socrates and many others were later destroyed in a fire.


This is probably the same thing as posted earlier, but with a slightly different angle.