I really do like blogging. Or, at least, I did at one time.
I have written only a handful of blog posts this calendar year. I do not intend to stop writing altogether, but it seems like circumstances have just kept pushing the blog down on the priority list. I'm sure that some issue will re-light the fire at some point and change my cost-benefit calculation, but for now I'm enjoying getting done what I'm doing without writing about it multiple times per week. So I see no immediate end to the hibernation. But here's some of what I've been up to recently (work first, then play).
I have written only a handful of blog posts this calendar year. I do not intend to stop writing altogether, but it seems like circumstances have just kept pushing the blog down on the priority list. I'm sure that some issue will re-light the fire at some point and change my cost-benefit calculation, but for now I'm enjoying getting done what I'm doing without writing about it multiple times per week. So I see no immediate end to the hibernation. But here's some of what I've been up to recently (work first, then play).
38FA608 Write-Up
I'm working on writing up the first two seasons of excavation work at 38FA608 (the site of the Broad River Archaeological Field School). I know what I'd like to do for the first journal article about the site, but I also need to document the nuts and bolts of the excavations, results, and materials recovered in report form. It makes sense to do that before writing anything more particular, as it will force me to go through everything and fix the problems/errors before they proliferate. My goal is to publish is the field documents and data from the site online so that it is freely accessible.
I'm working on writing up the first two seasons of excavation work at 38FA608 (the site of the Broad River Archaeological Field School). I know what I'd like to do for the first journal article about the site, but I also need to document the nuts and bolts of the excavations, results, and materials recovered in report form. It makes sense to do that before writing anything more particular, as it will force me to go through everything and fix the problems/errors before they proliferate. My goal is to publish is the field documents and data from the site online so that it is freely accessible.
Nipper Creek Collections
In the mid-1980s, SCIAA archaeologists did two seasons of excavation work at the Nipper Creek site (38RD18), another stratified site along the Broad River. The report from the 1985 season is here. Results from the 1986 work were included in a journal paper, but the material from the site remains under-published. I've got the boxes and paperwork in my lab now, and have started the process of going through the materials and notes to create a database and begin working with the collections. The site, interpreted as a location for fall aggregation, will be excellent for comparison to 38FA608.
In the mid-1980s, SCIAA archaeologists did two seasons of excavation work at the Nipper Creek site (38RD18), another stratified site along the Broad River. The report from the 1985 season is here. Results from the 1986 work were included in a journal paper, but the material from the site remains under-published. I've got the boxes and paperwork in my lab now, and have started the process of going through the materials and notes to create a database and begin working with the collections. The site, interpreted as a location for fall aggregation, will be excellent for comparison to 38FA608.
Lithic Tool Curation/Transport Modeling Paper
I did much of the work for a modeling paper on lithic transport patterns last spring. The summer break were a stick in the spokes of that wheel, but I hope to return to the analysis and write-up soon and hopefully get the paper submitted somewhere this fall.
I did much of the work for a modeling paper on lithic transport patterns last spring. The summer break were a stick in the spokes of that wheel, but I hope to return to the analysis and write-up soon and hopefully get the paper submitted somewhere this fall.
"Dirt Dance Floor" Coming to Tapp's
I'll have my second solo art show beginning October 3 at Tapp's Arts Center. Back when I first scheduled the show (over a year ago?) it seemed like I would have plenty of time to get everything done. I spent a large part of my discretionary time/energy over the summer working on new pieces, and I have created many (and I have not yet shared photos of many of them). With only a few weeks to go, however, I'm still not where I want to be and I'm not sure how close I'll be able to get to my vision. I normally work well under pressure. I'll keep you posted. Follow my art account on Instagram for work in progress.
I'll have my second solo art show beginning October 3 at Tapp's Arts Center. Back when I first scheduled the show (over a year ago?) it seemed like I would have plenty of time to get everything done. I spent a large part of my discretionary time/energy over the summer working on new pieces, and I have created many (and I have not yet shared photos of many of them). With only a few weeks to go, however, I'm still not where I want to be and I'm not sure how close I'll be able to get to my vision. I normally work well under pressure. I'll keep you posted. Follow my art account on Instagram for work in progress.
"Passenger" is a PokeStop
My winged bear sculpture has lived at Stormwater Studios since its return from ArtFields. When I went there earlier this week to remove the wings in case we got some strong winds from Hurricane Dorian (we didn't), I discovered that someone had made the bear a PokeStop for Pokemon GO. Because I am always so on top of the trends, I just started playing the game with my family this summer. It has been a great way to get more exercise (I was doing morning running/walking loops of 4-5 miles earlier this summer before I hurt my knee). If you play add me as a friend! My code is 6154 3024 8537.
My winged bear sculpture has lived at Stormwater Studios since its return from ArtFields. When I went there earlier this week to remove the wings in case we got some strong winds from Hurricane Dorian (we didn't), I discovered that someone had made the bear a PokeStop for Pokemon GO. Because I am always so on top of the trends, I just started playing the game with my family this summer. It has been a great way to get more exercise (I was doing morning running/walking loops of 4-5 miles earlier this summer before I hurt my knee). If you play add me as a friend! My code is 6154 3024 8537.
Art at the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner
I'm happy to announce that several pieces of my art will be on display at the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner on October 20. I have not been to it before, but it sounds like a great event that serves a lot of good causes. I'm looking forward to it!
I'm happy to announce that several pieces of my art will be on display at the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner on October 20. I have not been to it before, but it sounds like a great event that serves a lot of good causes. I'm looking forward to it!
My Vacation Drive Home
This summer we spent our family vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is a great place to be when it's 100 degrees in South Carolina. After visiting family in Michigan and Ohio, I drove the van back (alone!) to Columbia and got to take the long way. I stopped at Grave Creek Mound in West Virginia, visited several interesting places near Natural Bridge, Virginia, and photographed many abandoned structures as I drove through North and South Carolina near I-95. I meant to write a "Travel Diaries" post as soon as I got back, but I did art instead. That's the way it goes. I did take some video at Grave Creek, however, and I still hope to post some of my photos and observations from the rest of my trip. And oh -- you can stop searching for the lost city: I found it.
This summer we spent our family vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is a great place to be when it's 100 degrees in South Carolina. After visiting family in Michigan and Ohio, I drove the van back (alone!) to Columbia and got to take the long way. I stopped at Grave Creek Mound in West Virginia, visited several interesting places near Natural Bridge, Virginia, and photographed many abandoned structures as I drove through North and South Carolina near I-95. I meant to write a "Travel Diaries" post as soon as I got back, but I did art instead. That's the way it goes. I did take some video at Grave Creek, however, and I still hope to post some of my photos and observations from the rest of my trip. And oh -- you can stop searching for the lost city: I found it.
SEAC 2019
I guess I have circled back to work. At this year's Southeastern Archaeology Conference (SEAC) in Mississippi, I'll be giving a presentation titled "The Size and Structure of Eastern Paleoindian Social Groupings: What We Do and Do Not Know." Here is the abstract:
Social groupings such as families, foraging groups, and bands comprised the building blocks of the Paleoindian societies of eastern North America. Our inferences about the characteristics of those social groupings are based on a combination of ethnographic, modelling, and archaeological data. This paper will synthesize those data and attempt to summarize what we do and do not know about the size and composition of eastern Paleoindian social groupings and how those groups articulated with one another to form larger societies.
I guess I have circled back to work. At this year's Southeastern Archaeology Conference (SEAC) in Mississippi, I'll be giving a presentation titled "The Size and Structure of Eastern Paleoindian Social Groupings: What We Do and Do Not Know." Here is the abstract:
Social groupings such as families, foraging groups, and bands comprised the building blocks of the Paleoindian societies of eastern North America. Our inferences about the characteristics of those social groupings are based on a combination of ethnographic, modelling, and archaeological data. This paper will synthesize those data and attempt to summarize what we do and do not know about the size and composition of eastern Paleoindian social groupings and how those groups articulated with one another to form larger societies.
And there you go: I have ripped off the band-aid. And now you are up to date.
RSS Feed
