PSA: Trying to date a single pottery shard from a mixed layer in a dig near Tucson took my team a full month longer than we planned.

We thought it was from the 1200s based on the site, but after cross-referencing temper materials and firing techniques with three other regional collections, we realized it was actually a much later trade item from the 1600s that had worked its way down.

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethg531mo ago

Oh man, that is the WORST. The amount of work for one tiny piece is crazy. It's so easy to get thrown off by trade items moving around. Makes you respect the process, but also want to scream a little.

gray5571mo ago

Reminds me of trying to assemble flat-pack furniture.

gavine413d ago

Honestly, what's the most frustrating step for you in that whole process?