Does exploration of ship wrecks count as archaeology, or is that a different field? Who’s responsible for pulling up artifacts from those?

"Yer in luck! Indeed there is an entire subset of archaeology known as maritime or marine archaeology. Think of it as normal archaeology - or the study of human occupation through physical remains - but in relation to the sea, lakes, rivers, an' much more. A maritime archaeologist might find themself workin' on anything from shipwrecks to submerged structures and all sorts of sites in between. They're often called to survey off-shore oil rigs alongside geologists who specialize in marine or petroleum. We would consider this part of CRM, or Cultural Resource Management, which makes up most of archaeology.

"And just like other archaeological pursuits, it is a multidisciplinary field. We work with other specialized folks, whether they're fellow archaeologists or their degrees lie outside the greater anthropology umbrella. Oftentimes our own degrees don't even match what we're up to! I know a guy whose Master's is in human evolution, meanwhile, he's a major player at a historical site. We find n' take whatever we can in terms of work!"

Do you ever travel to other countries to do your archeological research?

"Rarely! When I do I often drop Mattie a visit for academic reasons, and then María as well. Though I say that, she usually prefers to do things on her own, sometimes we get to work together, which is always a treat. I'd have to say my favorite sites have been in Morocco while I work with Asma - gosh, I ain't talked to her much lately. Oh! I've also been invited to the Pedra Furada site in Brazil by Miss Letícia. Some others I've had the honor to work with: Miss Subira and the wealth of sites in Tanzania and Miss Njeri in Kenya. The three of us adore paleoanthropology, though we don't really talk much. I would love to reach out to Tariku to see if there are any opportunities in Ethiopia...but there hasn't been much time."

((I would like to thank @crepegosette for allowing me to namedrop their wonderful Brazil OC, Letícia. All names for Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia were by @peonycats who has some of the most amazing OCs in this fandom. Very wonderful mind! I should have asked before borrowing your names for them and for that I apologize.))

Alfred what got you into archaeology in the first place?

"Alrighty, I know what this looks like, but hear me out!

"I reckon you could say it started with pickin' up rocks and little curiosities when I was smaller - the world is full of fascinating treasures! Mattie always seemed to like 'em if I brought him some, so I just kept doin' it as we grew. And suffice it to say I've always been a dirt kid. I like the outdoors and there's nothing more I love than a little sun on my skin.

"As for archaeology itself...well, I'd have to say it's more of a recent passion. I mean I've been working on and off with NASA for a couple decades at this point, but archaeology as a field really started to take off in the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century. Those over in Europe started off with all those Roman ruins and all the things to be found in Egypt. I can remember readin' material from Dr. Franz Boas and his work in Peru, and others and thinking, 'this is interesting'! I sorta forgot about it for a while and, well, when a young Harrison Ford appeared on the silver screen as Indiana Jones, you could say it rekindled my interest. I even bought several of the comics that were made as expanded universe material after the first movie. It was then that I began a deeper dive into the world of archaeology!"

...

"This is your daily reminder that Indy is a very bad archaeologist. But his outfit really fucks!"

Can you draw Alfred with a bunch of chonky raccoons and oppossums?

((If I did it would have to go on my general Hetalia blog! A very cute idea, though.))

Please tell me all your cats have ridiculous/nerdy names

"Greetings Archaeologang! I've got three very precious artifacts to share. Miss Orangesicle Supreme is Scout; I've had her since 'bout 1900 if you can believe it! Scout's a descendant of Cosey, the winner of the first American cat show in 1895, and one of the first official Maine Coons. She's the most like me...well, except for the part where she likes to bite un-socked toes. Little bit in the middle there is Dixie, my mutt - Lady Madame Fussy-Britches - who I discovered in a storm drain alone while on a jog back in 2008. She's the smallest member of the house, but she's the boss. Smarter than all of Congress, just like Mr. Lincoln said of his own Dixie. And our distinguished gentleman here is Tom! And no, he's not named after the cartoon character, though he does get up to shenanigans. If you'll forgive me...I got Tom as a little Maine Coon tigerlet around the same time that Top Gun came out - 1986 or '87...and I do love the F-14 dearly. So Tom got named for a fighter jet. Oh, also! He has devious little extra toes for pressing more keys on my keyboard."

Oh hell yea, Archeology!

Too bad you picked UT tho… Saw ‘em off! :P

((Hail Bevo, long may he reign! No, seriously though, there are plenty of wonderful schools out there. I've been thinking of A&M or Texas State for grad school, among others that are out of state. It's all about the program, the professors, and how they fit you. You'd never catch me dead at OU though. It's 1:33 PM and OU still sux!))

one of those cats looks like it’s getting breast fed to be honest

((📸🤨 Shane Dawson is that you?))

Ok gamer super important question here. Favorite dinosaur? I like plesiosaurs.

"I'm just a humble archaeologist out here tryin' to educate the people. And these jokers keep asking me about dinosaurs! Scout, Tom, Dixie...can you believe all that? We gotta start teachin' these kids that archaeology is concerned with humans and the marks they've left on the world. Dinosaurs are paleontology! We may be cousins, but we are not the same.

"But, since two of 'em have asked, I shall answer! My favorite dinosaur is Nasutoceratops titusi, a Centrosaurine member of the Ceratopsian clade out of Utah. Think relative of the triceratops, but distantly. Take one look at that beauty and tell me it don't look like a tank! I would ride one. I bet I could."

How long does a dig usually take?

"Excellent question dude! However, the answer is real variable. I've witnessed sites cleared in as little as an hour, meanwhile, some are kept open for a few months - an entire season, really. An' then there are some sites that have been continuously excavated for decades like Pompeii.

"We sometimes like to promote 'the longer a site was occupied, the longer it takes to study'. It could depend on how many questions we got, the size of the site, the number of archaeologists on the project, the amount of funding the project gets, and a whole other list of troubles. A site might be excavated, closed up, an' then reopened years later, too. The answer? Basically, as long as it takes."

Ayyyy. Youre back!

What is your opinion on bog bodies, they haven't fossilized per see but they have been preserved by essentially pickling

"Fuck yeah, bog bodies! We call that a win for peat bogs. Keep those things around, y'all! They're magnificent. There ain't many here in North America on account of our general life zone distribution, but there are at least two examples from Florida. I ain't ever worked with bog bodies personally, though.

"For those of y'all not in the know, a bog body is, well, a cadaver that's been naturally mummified in a peat bog. Often they're in excellent condition, aka, soft tissues like hair n' internal organs are still intact. The mummification process happens due to the extremely wet environment. Good preservation tends to like extremes. I admit I don't know the process entirely, but peat bogs have a low pH. Another contributing factor is the very low oxygen in the environment of the bottom of the bog. This extremely wet and low-oxygen environment works wonders to preserve organic tissues!"

when does digging up a body go from grave robbing to science? cause I wanna dig something up know for science but im not sure if I can yet at least in span of time .

"I'm gonna have to stop ya right there dude. First off, if y'think you've found human remains, contact a local authority such as your police department. If it ends up bein' something of archaeological importance, an archaeologist or forensic anthropologist may be called in later. If you think you've found a cultural artifact and you're curious, I'd suggest leavin' it where ya found it, but taking a picture if yer so inclined. You could try n' ask a local museum or university about it. I've seen some with websites that have links to identifying finds or contact info for an expert.

"But to answer your question...well, it's somethin' we still debate in archaeology today! I've heard some make the joke that it becomes archaeology 'once no one cares about the remains anymore,' but that ain't necessarily true. It ain't about time, it's about permission. Grave robbers often just dig stuff up for money or for collecting. Us archaeologists gotta be professional about it - though plenty ain't - and we need to be conscious of permitting and allowance. Consent is king, kiddo!

"I speak mostly fer American archaeology, but here you gotta go through the State Historic Preservation Officer for a permit for any type of site. I'll use Texas as an example, but the Antiquities Code of the state of Texas requires a project to have a permit - and any other permissions necessary - before the archaeologist can even set foot on the land. The SHPO can reject a permit, too. Then it's a whole process of accreditation with other professionals, and then you can bring on student or volunteer workers. And these staff have to come on after signing contracts. Archaeology is waaaaaay more paperwork than it seems!"

((Alfred has forgotten to mention Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) as well. A THPO is necessary if the find is potentially indigenous in origin. If you really want to try your hand at digging, that's perfectly fine! Try your backyard (with permission) first. You can look up or ask us how us dirt surgeons set up units and try to take a methodical approach to survey and excavation. But permission, I would say, is the biggest takeaway here.))

What's your favourite part of archaeology? Have you ever dug anything related to your life?

"Sue me, but all of it! Okay- jokes aside, I fuckin' love the feeling of discovery. It's the fact that we can learn so much about the past by retracin' the steps of not just former generations but also those of fellow archaeologists. Progress for the sake of knowledge, knowledge in making progress. I can look at the records of a fellow archaeologist and make new connections or someone down the line might achieve the same with my work. Ya might re-excavate a site dug 30 years prior and glean somethin' entirely novel because of fresh eyes and new technology.

"And not really! What we refer to as historical archaeology here in the US of A ain't really my forte. I lived a lot of it and still am, after all. I tend to focus on what most archaeologists call prehistoric archaeology. You can find me out searching for evidence of cultures like the Clovis and Folsom Paleo-Indians. Evidence of ancient human migration here to North and South America. You can't just swim across the Pacific, y'know? However, I did once volunteer at Historic Jamestowne for a tiny bit. I was curious, okay? I can't well remember Jamestown. Lots of fucking brick out there in my home state!"

"The hellsite got archaeologist-phobic, so guess what guys? We're starting anew! It's Archaeology F. Jones, back for more. Let's hope we get to stay around this time. I'm requesting all reinforcements and all asks. Fire at your discretion."

(I apologize to all who followed the original and sent in asks that went unanswered. It's unlikely I'll get them back, but I hope to stick around a little longer. Ask away!)

"Alrighty guys, we're trying this again! Seems like the hellsite is actin' all archaeology phobic.

"This blog is a place to ask me, Alfred F. Jones, about archaeology and its related subjects and issues. The purpose of this blog is fun and education. So please know that there is no such thing as a stupid question because if there was, I'd be in so much hot water it ain't even funny. All I ask is that y'all try n' stay on topic, though a-course there's nothing wrong with a silly ask every now and again. Everyone needs some levity!"

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You're also free to ask me - the "editor" - questions as well! As stated above, this blog is for fun and educative purposes. See some silly art and learn a thing or two about a field full of mystery!

This post will also serve as a tag guide when posts start to roll in.

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tag guide

from the editor's desk | mun responses!

alfred's field notes | personal questions for alfred

got a bone to pick | general archaeology questions & issues

from biosphere to lithosphere | taphonomy; how things go from life to death! also preservation.