Busy, busy

Slate and antler tools in progress

Technically, its Friday evening, but it has real mid-week kind of feeling around here.  Its been a hectic week so far and I have a full weekend of work and volunteer obligations lined up, so it really doesn't feel like its time for a break.  I've been working away on a set of Palaeoeskimo and Maritime Archaic reproductions for a university teaching collection for the past couple of weeks, although I had to shuffle that work around a bit for a quick order of five drums to be used as props for filming taking place in Iqaluit within the next couple of weeks.

This is a reference artifact that I used
for the Dorset Palaeoeskimo ground
slate lance reproductions.  It was found
 eroding out of a beach a few years back,
by a member of the public.  I saw it when
 is was sent to the Provincial Archaeology
 Office for identification and cataloguing.

On Wednesday night, Lori and I popped out to see a talk on the underwater archaeology conducted by Parks Canada over the past 49 years that was sponsored by the newly formed Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador (SPSNL).  I was very impressed by how professional and well organized the SPSNL has become within their first year of existence.  The day after his talk, the underwater archaeologist from Parks led an instructor training program for SPSNL members.  If you have any interest in diving or the maritime history of this province, I wholeheartedly encourage you to get in touch with the folks at SPSNL and become a member.  They are very conscientious about diving and helping record wrecks without leaving any impact on the archaeological resources.  They are positioned to make a very significant contribution to the preservation and promotion of underwater heritage in this Province over the coming years.  They got me excited about a side of archaeology that I know very little about.  Lori and I have our membership forms on the kitchen table ready to send off.

A reproduction of a ground slate lance, typical of the Middle Dorset Palaeoeskimo culture, here in Newfoundland.

In an attempt to save time on
the drums,  I made one
cylinder of laminated wood,
which I have since cut into five individual hoops.

This morning I was back at The Rooms, working on ground stone ulus and men's knives with a class of grade six students.  This afternoon, I was in the shed and office to work on my own ground stone reproductions, continue on the drums, and prepare for a second planning meeting for our burgeoning Newfoundland and Labrador Archaeological Society tomorrow afternoon.  I need to get the drums finished this weekend and shipped by Monday at the latest, and then hopefully I can return to the Palaeoeskimo and Maritime Archaic reproductions more-or-less full time (along with editing one last paper).

Photo Credits: Tim Rast