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Assessing Historic and Prehistoric Sites in Stanislaus National Forest

Assessing Historic and Prehistoric Sites in Stanislaus National Forest

In cooperation with the United States Forest Service, GBI has deployed an archaeology crew, consisting of Alex Pugh, Makena Lurie, William Johnson, and Abigail Ha, to support the USFS’s efforts to protect historic and prehistoric sites within the boundaries of Stanislaus National Forest. The crew just started their training on June 1st, and they are already doing an outstanding job conducting condition assessments on the forest. These assessments help to determine potential threat to historic and archaeological resources eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The technicians compare current site conditions with past assessments to document potential fire hazards, missing or new features and artifacts, and disturbances such as cattle presence, fire activity, vandalism and looting, logging, weathering, and erosion.

The crew kindly agreed to answer some of our questions about their experience so far, and also shared some of their creative efforts, field illustrations and even a terrific haiku!

When did you start and what was the experience like onboarding and commencing work on the project?

Alex: The onboarding process in my experience was very rapid, within 9 days from interview to start day, June 3rd, I was mobilized to Stanislaus NF. All of our orientations were on the same day which was a lot of information to remember, and I remember it being very quick. It was nice to get set up quickly and receive quality training from GBI and the FS as new employees, rather than receive it later. It was super cool to receive the certifications and training. I was happy GBI trusted us with an initial investment into our careers.

Willie: The GBI onboarding process for me was a very feasible transition with good communication from my supervisor and HR department. The materials were very clear and my role was well articulated during onboarding. I really appreciated the services and support GBI provides new techs with the uniform stipend and industry discount for field gear.

Makena: Our onboarding was very comprehensive, and gave a lot of first-hand examples that we were able to apply in the field the very next day. They told us what to expect and we applied it hands-on in the field. It was good to get training from a variety of people within their specialties and hearing their career experiences in professional archaeology. It was great to hear how they came to the Forest Service and the pathways they came from. Working in the office was great because we were able to conceptualize where all our data and files go and how they are preserved and/or monitored.

Stanislaus Flora by Makena

How would you describe the relationship between members of the crew? Between the crew and the partner?

Alex: Solid.

Willie: I appreciate how quickly our field crew and project partners grew into a close community. We explore other recreational parts of Stanislaus NF together on our off-days and often make plans together for crew dinners and fun local events on the weekend. I’m grateful to make new friends with similar interests and look forward to building lasting friendships during these summer/autumn months. Making fun inside jokes in the field is one of my favorite parts of the job– it has helped a lot during this heat wave!

Makena: Iconic. We spend a lot of time together both in the field and our provided housing and it has been great to get to know everyone! I think we’ve been able to build a great foundation of trust that we take into the field together. Willie finds all the best places and events around town for us to try together. Alex and I are currently binging Star Wars and have bonded over being professional yappers. I’m looking forward to living and learning with them! 🙂

Anatomy of a Projectile Point by Alex

What have you learned so far from doing this work, and how have you developed personally?

Alex: I like understanding more-in-depth how fire can affect a site. It is a side of archaeology that I haven’t experienced yet. Personally, it has been a pleasantly humbling experience for me coming into this project as a lead and discovering archaeology all over again in a new context.

Willie: The environment we work in is so beautiful and frequently makes me grin a big grin, I love days working in the field nearby water features. This job allows for a lot of career growth which is a great experience to have fresh out of college. Although paperwork is far from my favorite thing, I have gained a lot of skills and knowledge that will remain useful for the rest of my career.

Makena: Prior to this job, I’d only had phase three field excavation experience and I’ve really enjoyed expanding my skill set and learning about a new aspect of archaeological fieldwork. Even in this first month, I already feel that I’ve grown more confident in my understanding of the important work done to preserve and manage these sites. I agree with Willie that this training and experience is an incredible opportunity right out of college that will continue to impact and inform my career in the future.

Any good stories from the field? Interesting encounters? Challenges met? Amusing tales?

One day, after finishing our work in the field early, our crew leader took us on a field trip. We were told that it would be a surprise that was well worth it. Our crew drove and drove for some time, passing many beautiful meadows, vistas, and overlooks. Finally, we arrived at the Bennett Juniper, the oldest and tallest Juniper tree alive today at 4000 years old and 78 feet tall! The entire crew sat on a bench beneath the tree, eating lunch and staring up into the branches. We had a cute photo shoot in front of the tree and got to just relax together after our hard work in the morning. (see photo below)

A Haiku by Willie By Alex Pugh

                              I am a ponder-

                              -osa swaying in the breeze.

                              Can you feel the earth?

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