Half a day of survey/mapping work today. We take some more points on the road - near the little shop which has been providing me with my daily nescafe iced coffee shots - to ensure we don't get any errors when we start mapping in the rice fields/moat behind Belinda's site.
As we only have half a day today we're trying to do this as fast as we can, so that we can get all the points we need. All seems to be going well and we record quite a few points, and redo the area which did not record properly on Friday. Before noon we return to Mrs Voi's place and download the data to the computer... ahhhhh.... the same error is recorded and alas all the work has been for nothing again! Sadly Caitlin will need to return on Sunday with Nigel, to find out what the fault is and will have to record all points all over again ;o(
As a side note: we did have some fun the last half hour of mapping, where we tried to map/record/spell out NIGEL on the moat. So hopefully he gets to see that before the data gets wiped!
Everyone returns from their tasks and freshens up at Mrs Voi's home. Simming trunks and sunnies are donned and before we know it we're off in our Songtaos to the river, where we will be boarding our floating raft. It's about a 45mins drive before we arrive at our beautiful departure point.
After purchasing the necessary beverages we board the very spacious raft for a beautfily luncheon. Lunch is cleared, and we're off to drift down the beautiful river, for some drinks, swimming and of course karoake! (see photos to the right)
After a couple of hours of great fun we return to shore, and back in the Songtaos to our hotel. As this is our last day, we decide we need to do something fun. So, Michael, Flash, Nathan, Caitlin, Jen, Angela and Moi decide to take a Songtao to Karat (45mins - 1hr drive) this evening post dinner, and have a few drinks and dance to a local band at Bar Nana. A great time is had by all, and we return to Phimai a little worse for wear... Michael and I will need to get up early, and start the travel back to Bangkok with the other Earthwatchers .. the others however will need to get up early and get to work...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Pointypointy..
More survey work on Friday. This time around defining the moat in a particular area, and extra points to be added on the roads in and out of the village. Today it's Canada Club Jen, Caitlin, Aew, Michael and Moi doing the surveying work.
Today however things don't go as smoothly as they did on Thursday. It takes us quite some time to calibrate the machine and to actually find two initial points to set the machine up from. Everything seems to be up and running around morning tea, and we are finally able to record a number of points up to lunchtime.
Following lunch we move into the rice fields near the road and moat, as to survey/map the area we weren't able to get to on Thursday. We again have quite some trouble getting our set up points right (pointypointy) and struggle through the afternoon. The last hour we frantically try and get all our points recorded, only to return to headquarters to download these and find there is an 'error' in the file; and therefore we will need to reshoot the same area on Saturday morning...arrgghh..
At dinner Nigel informs us that we will only be working half a day on Saturday, as he has organised for us to have lunch on this floating raft/boat followed by a scoot down the river...very exciting.. Following dinner Jen, the bone girl, gives a lecture on the work she does, and how her work really starts when a burial is found (tagging, identification etc etc). She also does quite some work at the 'bone house' (where the remains are housed), where Angela seems to be based most of the time as well. They are involved in the daily cleaning, recording and assessment of the human bone remains.
See below a short video on our surveying work:
Today however things don't go as smoothly as they did on Thursday. It takes us quite some time to calibrate the machine and to actually find two initial points to set the machine up from. Everything seems to be up and running around morning tea, and we are finally able to record a number of points up to lunchtime.
Following lunch we move into the rice fields near the road and moat, as to survey/map the area we weren't able to get to on Thursday. We again have quite some trouble getting our set up points right (pointypointy) and struggle through the afternoon. The last hour we frantically try and get all our points recorded, only to return to headquarters to download these and find there is an 'error' in the file; and therefore we will need to reshoot the same area on Saturday morning...arrgghh..
At dinner Nigel informs us that we will only be working half a day on Saturday, as he has organised for us to have lunch on this floating raft/boat followed by a scoot down the river...very exciting.. Following dinner Jen, the bone girl, gives a lecture on the work she does, and how her work really starts when a burial is found (tagging, identification etc etc). She also does quite some work at the 'bone house' (where the remains are housed), where Angela seems to be based most of the time as well. They are involved in the daily cleaning, recording and assessment of the human bone remains.
See below a short video on our surveying work:
Rice field angel..
Thursday is a tough day. Now that the celebrations are over, today is tightly packed with work that needs to be done around site. All Eartwatch volunteers are allocated tasks for the day, and we all get busy.
Today I'm out surveying all day with Wilbert, Aew and Caitlin. We've got got quite an area to survey, with the main objective of today to survey/map a very large rice field (and moats) around the village of Ban Non Wat, and extend to the back of Belinda's trench.
This means we we will need quite a bit of water today, sturdy walking shoes and a great imagination to be able to summon up images of pretend shade in our minds! It is unbelievably hot and sticky.. By lunchtime we're all drenched in sweat and definitely up for some cool water, lunch and a rest in the shade.
Following lunch we return to the rice fields and continue what we set out to do. We set up the machine in the middle of the rice field, and Wilbert and I take the 'stick' this afternoon and walk out and back whilst the positions are locked in on the machine. Judging by the amount of sweat we're producing, I'm sure we've created a well nurtured/watered rice field in our wake and that I'll finally be able to fit into those new shorts tomorrow.
Finally the end of the working day, and we return to headquarters to upload all the points we've taken into the computer and have a look at the area we've mapped. We joke around that the area we've mapped will now forever be know as 'rice field angel', as you'll see from the photos of the map on the right that we seem to have created the shape of a snow angel. Wilbert and I are very proud.
Others today have tagged, rebagged and catalogued jewellery at headquarters, as well as washed and dried pottery pieces. The buffalo hoof prints at Grodon's site are being plastered (not working so well today), a furness is being dug out at Nathan's trench, and further exploratory work at Belinda's site.
More great food this evening and a lecture. Following the lecture we gather for drinks as this is Wilbert's last evening with us. He will surely be missed by all, a terrific guy. He was so thoughtful today, having printed out copies of photos he'd taken during the governor's visit (group photos etc) and went around the village handing these out to the individuals (local villagers) in the photos; which they appreciated immensely.
Tonight Jen arrives back from Canada. Jen is part of Nigel's team as well, and this is her 3rd season with this project. She went to attend a wedding in Canada for 2 weeks, and is now back on site. I think we've gained one more social animal ;o)
Today I'm out surveying all day with Wilbert, Aew and Caitlin. We've got got quite an area to survey, with the main objective of today to survey/map a very large rice field (and moats) around the village of Ban Non Wat, and extend to the back of Belinda's trench.
This means we we will need quite a bit of water today, sturdy walking shoes and a great imagination to be able to summon up images of pretend shade in our minds! It is unbelievably hot and sticky.. By lunchtime we're all drenched in sweat and definitely up for some cool water, lunch and a rest in the shade.
Following lunch we return to the rice fields and continue what we set out to do. We set up the machine in the middle of the rice field, and Wilbert and I take the 'stick' this afternoon and walk out and back whilst the positions are locked in on the machine. Judging by the amount of sweat we're producing, I'm sure we've created a well nurtured/watered rice field in our wake and that I'll finally be able to fit into those new shorts tomorrow.
Finally the end of the working day, and we return to headquarters to upload all the points we've taken into the computer and have a look at the area we've mapped. We joke around that the area we've mapped will now forever be know as 'rice field angel', as you'll see from the photos of the map on the right that we seem to have created the shape of a snow angel. Wilbert and I are very proud.
Others today have tagged, rebagged and catalogued jewellery at headquarters, as well as washed and dried pottery pieces. The buffalo hoof prints at Grodon's site are being plastered (not working so well today), a furness is being dug out at Nathan's trench, and further exploratory work at Belinda's site.
More great food this evening and a lecture. Following the lecture we gather for drinks as this is Wilbert's last evening with us. He will surely be missed by all, a terrific guy. He was so thoughtful today, having printed out copies of photos he'd taken during the governor's visit (group photos etc) and went around the village handing these out to the individuals (local villagers) in the photos; which they appreciated immensely.
Tonight Jen arrives back from Canada. Jen is part of Nigel's team as well, and this is her 3rd season with this project. She went to attend a wedding in Canada for 2 weeks, and is now back on site. I think we've gained one more social animal ;o)
Friday, February 11, 2011
He's here...
Today, Wednesday, an early start in matching t-shirts.. The governor is expected today and as we get to the site everything is in full swing. All the locals (incl the ones normally working on site) are wearing the matching t-shirts and are running around getting everything ready. Set ups are being completed, food is being cooked and everyone is beaming. The governor is expected at 11am and the team helps straighten out our headquarters as this is also where the governor will be having lunch.
We head out with Caitlin for a short stint at surveying before returning to help with the set up, take photos and generally stand in the way. As expected the governor arrives an hour late, but brings along his whole entourage. He visits the learning centre and seems to be genuinely interested in the project and the area's history. He settles in for lunch and around 2pm leaves the area. Below you'll see a short video of his arrival and to the right some photos as well.
We get an early mark today and Nigel organises for a songtao to takes us into town so that we can visit the open air museum of a previous excavation site, followed by a museum visit and finally the Angkor temple in town. Photos can all be found on the right hand side.
In the eve we have a group dinner where Nigel tells us the governor's visit went really well, and he is very keen to ensure that the the learning centre/museum which will be built on site actually happens, and of course he had a thing or two to say about what the actual size etc should be ;o)
A couple of drinks and an early night in tonight, as everyone's quite exhausted ...
We head out with Caitlin for a short stint at surveying before returning to help with the set up, take photos and generally stand in the way. As expected the governor arrives an hour late, but brings along his whole entourage. He visits the learning centre and seems to be genuinely interested in the project and the area's history. He settles in for lunch and around 2pm leaves the area. Below you'll see a short video of his arrival and to the right some photos as well.
We get an early mark today and Nigel organises for a songtao to takes us into town so that we can visit the open air museum of a previous excavation site, followed by a museum visit and finally the Angkor temple in town. Photos can all be found on the right hand side.
In the eve we have a group dinner where Nigel tells us the governor's visit went really well, and he is very keen to ensure that the the learning centre/museum which will be built on site actually happens, and of course he had a thing or two to say about what the actual size etc should be ;o)
A couple of drinks and an early night in tonight, as everyone's quite exhausted ...
Topography..
Tuesday I start my new task of the week and it's to help survey/map the area around Ban Non Wat. We can then establish a topographic map, which can be overlayed with an existing map of the area. This can then also be used to potentially identify future sites for excavations.
Today, Aew and myself are working with Caitlin to fo some of the mapping. This involves the setting up of the machine at a certain point and then using a reflector stick (I'm sure it's not the right naming convention for it) at a certain point, and have the machine read the data off of it and so on and so forth. Not a great explanation, but one you need to live with. It is a hot day out on the rice fields where most of these points need to be taken, so I finally get to work on my tan and I'm delighted we get to play with Walkie Talkies!
Tonight another beautiful dinner, followed by drinks at the pool with the team as we get ready to farewell Cristina and Tip. Cristina is off to two more excavation sites in the south of Thailand. This is also the eve that Maz (Marion) and Sulia join us. M and S were also part of the Nigel's excavation team in Laos and are here for a few days to look at the Ban Non Wat site. Maz is into conservation and works at the museum in Laos and Sulia a budding archaeologist. We heard so much about them from the others in the team, and are very happy to have them here for a few days. They are certainly a fun addition!
Today, Aew and myself are working with Caitlin to fo some of the mapping. This involves the setting up of the machine at a certain point and then using a reflector stick (I'm sure it's not the right naming convention for it) at a certain point, and have the machine read the data off of it and so on and so forth. Not a great explanation, but one you need to live with. It is a hot day out on the rice fields where most of these points need to be taken, so I finally get to work on my tan and I'm delighted we get to play with Walkie Talkies!
Tonight another beautiful dinner, followed by drinks at the pool with the team as we get ready to farewell Cristina and Tip. Cristina is off to two more excavation sites in the south of Thailand. This is also the eve that Maz (Marion) and Sulia join us. M and S were also part of the Nigel's excavation team in Laos and are here for a few days to look at the Ban Non Wat site. Maz is into conservation and works at the museum in Laos and Sulia a budding archaeologist. We heard so much about them from the others in the team, and are very happy to have them here for a few days. They are certainly a fun addition!
Fun tour...
Monday morning we gather early and leave the hotel at 8.30am in a minivan for some sightseeing. Gordon comes along to day to supervise us (Jack, John, Charles, Innes, Denyse, Michael, Faycal). We first drive out to see the stone quarry (about an hour and a half ride), where most of the sandstone was cut and collected from for the build of the temples of the khmer empire. It is right off of a highway and it's incredible to still be able to see the cuts in the stone. Great views and a group photo opportunity..click click
We then drive to a beautiful bush sanctuary which houses great rock paintings. We hike through the bushland, view the rock paintings and other interesting pieces throughout. We all have a little fright when we discover an actual stillborn foetus which is kept in a jar on an offering table (it is indeed real). The table is filled with little child gifts and the like as an offering.
Third and fourth stops are at some beautiful temples from the khmer empire, as well as a sandstone reclining buddha. We take many photos along the way, some of which you can admire in the right hand column.
Following our fourth site visit we start driving back to the hotel, with some foodstops and the like in between. At the hotel people who've had enough have a chance to leave the vehicle, with the rest going on to the last stop; which is a silk factory not to far out of town.
We have another yummy dinner in the evening and are off the bed as we're exhausted and need to get ready for a hard day's work on site, and continue to prepare for the governor's visit on Wednesday.
We then drive to a beautiful bush sanctuary which houses great rock paintings. We hike through the bushland, view the rock paintings and other interesting pieces throughout. We all have a little fright when we discover an actual stillborn foetus which is kept in a jar on an offering table (it is indeed real). The table is filled with little child gifts and the like as an offering.
Third and fourth stops are at some beautiful temples from the khmer empire, as well as a sandstone reclining buddha. We take many photos along the way, some of which you can admire in the right hand column.
Following our fourth site visit we start driving back to the hotel, with some foodstops and the like in between. At the hotel people who've had enough have a chance to leave the vehicle, with the rest going on to the last stop; which is a silk factory not to far out of town.
We have another yummy dinner in the evening and are off the bed as we're exhausted and need to get ready for a hard day's work on site, and continue to prepare for the governor's visit on Wednesday.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Bone excavation and hoofs
On Sunday I return to Belinda's trench for one last day of digging. Today we remove the bone we found on Saturday and start cleaning the rest of the trench. We also have one final attempt at digging at the western end of the site. This is where two burials were found last year, so we want to see if anything else can still be found.
An hour in we discover another feature filled with shreds of pottery. This is most likely one of the featurs which are normally found around burials. We dig for the entire day and don't find anythhing else.
Over at Gordon's site where my colleague Michael, and Denyse have been digging there is an incredible find today. A whole floor of buffalo hoof prints is found as well as buffalo bone; all suppoeting the theory of them being domesticated animals.
We return to the hotel, and tonight we get to fend for ourselves for dinner; which is great. A small group of us, with some of the researchers, decide to go into town tonight and have some dinner from the stalls at the night markets. Yummy pad thai and seafood skewers follow. We drop by the supermarket to pick up some drinks, and head back to the hotel to have some late night drinks to cap off a great week. Tomorrow we have e day off and we've organised a tour of the region. We will be visiting a stone quarry, where standstone was cut and transported for use at the Angkor temples here in Thailand and Cambodia. We will then see some rock paintings, khmer temples and as a last stop a silk factory. All within a 2hr drive from here. Should be great fun...
An hour in we discover another feature filled with shreds of pottery. This is most likely one of the featurs which are normally found around burials. We dig for the entire day and don't find anythhing else.
Over at Gordon's site where my colleague Michael, and Denyse have been digging there is an incredible find today. A whole floor of buffalo hoof prints is found as well as buffalo bone; all suppoeting the theory of them being domesticated animals.
We return to the hotel, and tonight we get to fend for ourselves for dinner; which is great. A small group of us, with some of the researchers, decide to go into town tonight and have some dinner from the stalls at the night markets. Yummy pad thai and seafood skewers follow. We drop by the supermarket to pick up some drinks, and head back to the hotel to have some late night drinks to cap off a great week. Tomorrow we have e day off and we've organised a tour of the region. We will be visiting a stone quarry, where standstone was cut and transported for use at the Angkor temples here in Thailand and Cambodia. We will then see some rock paintings, khmer temples and as a last stop a silk factory. All within a 2hr drive from here. Should be great fun...
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