Wow Kerr, I just saw that you are, in fact, an archaeologist! What is it like, have you made any amazing discoveries?
I will say its been an on and off affair for me, with distractions along the way through-out the years. Although, even when I was not on an "official" project, Anthropology and Archaeology are those things that are always done, naturally.
A sense of wonder and mystery about the past...as when hiking in the wilderness and there always seems to be a sense that "something" intriguing or mysterious exists
just over the next ridge or hilltop.
It was well known that little ol'me would suddenly vanish when with a group, the others knowing that something of interest caught my attention and I was off to investigate. Many a time others would turn to ask or make a comment to me, to discover I was gone, off on my own adventure in the pursuit of ghosts of the past.
The first professional project I participated with was in the Mojave Desert in an area known as Black Canyon. Our goal was to record as many petroglyphs as possible before they were destroyed, either by vandals or from weathering.
My primary area of interest is in petroglyphs, specifically the Medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle.
As far as any discoveries I can claim as my own...all of the endeavors were a team effort, so any and all discoveries are a shared accomplishment.
During the searching phase of the Black Canyon Project, we were divided up into groups of three.
We then were individually given our own section(s) to search, and I was assigned this one particular section AND as I was searching along a ridgeline, I walked around a large rock that had caught my attention, was astonished to find this...
Wilson G. Turner was the Archaeologist in charge, I was his assistant at the time...he came rushing over when he was told about this particular discovery. The reason being, this is one of the more extensive inscriptions we found in the area.
What we did, was mark the location of any inscriptions found, to come back later and fill out a more detailed description, the location, and photograph each of the discoveries.
The next step was to transfer the images within the photographs. We inked out by hand a drawing of every one of the inscriptions. All relative information was then compiled and published in a report.
Since I was the one who discovered the petroglyphs as seen in the photo above, I was given the responsibility of handling all the details surrounding it. I was given the task of inking out the inscriptions myself, and compiling all related information about it.
There is a funny story attached to that endeavor, which I would be happy to PM to you, if you wish.
Our findings and reports are still avialable through the San Bernardino County Museum :
27(2) 1979. PETROGLYPHS, A FURTHER STUDY, THE 1978 REPORT ON THE BLACK CANYON PROJECT OF THE MOJAVE DESERT, W. G. Turner.
29(1) 1981. PETROGLYPH STUDY EXPANDED: THE 1979 REPORT ON THE BLACK CANYON PROJECT OF THE MOJAVE DESERT, W.G. Turner & B.S. Trupe.
30(4) 1983. PETROGLYPH STUDY DEVELOPING, THE 1980 REPORT ON THE BLACK CANYON PROJECT OF THE MOJAVE DESERT, W.G. Turner & B.S. Trupe.
38(1) 1991. HALLORAN SPRING PETROGLYPHS , W.G. Turner, and THE VAN DYKE PAPERS: HISTORIC ROUTES IN THE MOJAVE DESERT, W.Chambers.
40(2), 1993. TECTONIC SYNTHESIS OF SAN GORGONIO PASS & SAN TIMOTEO BADLANDS, D.M. Morton & J.C. Matti; OPAL CLIFFS SITE G, A PETROGLYPH STUDY, W.G. Turner; ABSTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS, 1993 DESERT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM.
41(1,2), 1994. THE ROCK ART OF BLACK CANYON, W.G. Turner.
Currently, I am researching Medicine Wheel/Sacred Circle inscriptions, trying to trace they're origins and influences on numerous cultures. Hard not to be distracted with other discoveries along the way.
To this day no one knows what the petroglyphs of Black Canyon mean, or who created them. Many of the inscriptions of Black Canyon date back some 12,000 plus years ago. The mystery of Black Canyon is something that never quite leaves anyone that experiences them, but becomes part of them, for the rest of their lives.
To address the what it's like question :
It is like...
Actually traveling back in time. Holding an artifact in my hand that was crafted and used by someone "thousands" of years ago brings up all kinds of thoughts and emotions.
The day I found the large rock, and quietly stood gazing at all the inscriptions, there are no words that can describe the wonder and awe of that moment.