I'm A New Daddy, Archaeologist, Potter, Anti-Bush Artist. Ask Me Anything

[DistressedAmerican]

I have never had an ask me anything thread before. I alway enjoy reading them.

I figured I'd post one since I'm here on break from the heavier threads. I was having a bad day and didn't need anymore news of the evil outside world today.

So, what do you want to know about me, my work, or the cosmos?

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Have you ever been so tired that instead of throwing a pot you

threw the baby? (Hey, life gets weird when they won't let you sleep for days at a time.)

[DistressedAmerican]

2. She is a bit large for the wheel!

I rarely get that confused!

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Hmmm Small wheel. *g*

[DistressedAmerican]

6. No, Big Baby!

Born 9 pounds 11 ounces/ 22 and a half inches!

All natural. My wife is a hero!

Check it out!

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Well, where are the pics? :^)

[DistressedAmerican]

16. Here you go: Recent Easter Shots

Or did you mean my pottery?:hi:

[MissB]

19. OMG.

Absolutely beautiful baby.

Horrible outfit though. Don't hate me for that, please. :*

edited to add: I don't mean to slam the choice of clothing. :) She is just so damned beautiful. That outfit doesn't do her justice. :cry:

[DistressedAmerican]

22. I'll Not Hold Your Bad Taste Against You.

:toast:

[MissB]

23. LOL!

I never dressed my sons as ducks.

Cows, maybe, but no ducks.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Awww :^D

[Fridays Child]

43. Sweetums!!!!!!!!

:hi:

[Auntie Bush]

60. What a beautiful little baby/ducky? How old is she?

[DistressedAmerican]

62. 3 1/2 months. She smiles a lot these days.

I feared the whole being home with her all day during the week. But, for the most part she is a very chill little cutie pie. Sleeps well, eats well. Generally happy. Has her days though.

[chookie]

3. What's your specialty?

Where do you do your field work (archaeology)?

[DistressedAmerican]

5. I am a Mayanist. I Work In The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

At a postclassic site called Mayapan. It was the capital of the Maya lowlands from roughly 1150-1450.

More info here:
http://www.albany.edu/ims/mayapan.html

[Lisa]

17. do you know anyone from the U of Calgary department?

I went to high school (and worked on a colonial-era dig) with a guy who later got his PhD from there. I've also met another U of C alum, Ronald Wright, who did some Mesoamerican research as well.

[DistressedAmerican]

26. I know quite a few folks from U of BC. Less from Calgary.

There was some discussion of my going up there to work with one of the profs sereral years ago but, it never materialized. Forgive me I can't pull up the name from my head.

[Lisa]

33. my HS friend is now a prof at Simon Fraser (another Vancouver university)

http://www.sfu.ca/~rossjami/

[ashmanonar]

54. you ever find african stone heads or weird stuff like that?

:evilgrin:

[DistressedAmerican]

66. Really nothing all that odd or out of place.

I have been known to find large temples in the gnarly jungle growth. That is always fun!

[ashmanonar]

69. if it wasn't, ya know, not what i wanted to do, i'd have been

an archeologist. :D

[Lavender Brown]

7. Do you like Albany?

I'm originally from that area. :hi:

[DistressedAmerican]

10. I grew up in western PA then moved to the midwest.

I am very glad to be back in the northeast. It is really pretty. Can't beat being located in the middle of so many mountians. Fall colors are beautiful.

I also like the size. I am not a big city guy. This is just about right for me.

[Lavender Brown]

24. Yes, the mountains are beautiful

The short trip into Vermont during the fall months is also a plus to living in that area. :)

[saltpoint]

8. Congratulations on all the components in your post --

-- and especially on the new daddy part.

Also I love the anti-Bush artist parts very much.

Now on the new baby: get that child down to Democratic Headquarters immediately to register to vote.

You can get the Pampers on the way home; the Democratic registration comes first.

Hello & congrats again.

[DistressedAmerican]

12. Not yet registered but, wearing anti-bush gear.

I have time to do my brainwashing over the next several yeasr.

[saltpoint]

14. Well, good. Sounds like some excellent parenting going on --

-- at your house.

[DistressedAmerican]

20. Doing My Best. My Parents Are Old School Republicans.

I rebelled. Hope she doesn't swing back!

[saltpoint]

31. If she does bolt back to the GOP, tell her she can't use --

-- the family car when she's 16.

Rules are rules!

[DistressedAmerican]

Written right out of the will.

[saltpoint]

36. -- ! -- Good pre-emptive move. We need all the Democrats --

-- we can get.

I think you must be a great parent and I sure love your job and its location.

More power to you folks and good wishes. Hope to run into you again on DU.

[DistressedAmerican]

65. Thanks. Like I Said Earlier. I'm Doing Fine. I've never thrown the baby

instead of a pot. She seems healthy and happy. I guess I'm holding my own.

[Jessica]

11. What's her name? If you don't mind ...

Congratulations, btw. :hi:

[DistressedAmerican]

13. Sonia Marley Distressed American

Yes the middle name is a Bob reference. I love everything the guy stood for. Started as a joke and stuck.

[Jessica]

15. It's beautiful ...

And so is she ... your wife must be a trooper. She is big girl!

[DistressedAmerican]

18. More than a trooper! She is my hero!

We did a water birth in a big birthing tub.

If you are ever considering birthing options, it is a great one. Although many hospitals do not offer it. She said the water really eased the pain. She says that she would not have been able to go natural otherwise.

[Jessica]

27. I've heard it's much better for the baby, too ...

Less of a shock, I guess. I'll keep it in mind when I'm ready to take the plunge. :)

[DistressedAmerican]

29. She was very calm when born. Didn't cry for days.

I highly recommend it.

BTW - The water birth part was MY idea. She went with it and was pleased.

[ralps]

25. Have you ever done any hand-built pottery?

Here is one of my hand-built pots


:hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :yourock: :woohoo:

[DistressedAmerican]

28. That is pretty. I do some handbuilding these days.

As I got better on the wheel I got to a point where symetrical was a bit too easy. Make a beautiful vase in the form of a tre trunk with roots as feet. Also made a matching serving dish. Those are my favorites of the hand built stuff.

Check back in a few and I'll get a shot of them posted.

Here is the vase: Can't seem to track the other piece.

[GreenPartyVoter]

30. Did you already see this?

Experts Find 41 Saltworks Used by Mayans
http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20050405/D8997AIG0.html

[DistressedAmerican]

32. I Hadn't. Thanks.

Interesting. I worked for years in Belize. So, I am pretty familiar with the arch down there. But, this is juicy.

[GreenPartyVoter]

37. Salty, too. :^)

[malta blue]

45. I saw it go across the ticker this morning

It seems very interesting. Distressed American and I have done fieldwork together in Belize (ask him who taught him how to dig).

[GreenPartyVoter]

81. *g* Hi, and welcome to DU

[DistressedAmerican]

82. I Admit Your Hand Was Involved. Others Taught Me Quite A Bit.

You did show me how to mix a decent Panty Ripper in my common duty as camp bartender!

[malta blue]

93. And you did a great job!!

[WoodrowFan]

34. an Archaeologist??

that, is, so COOL!!!!! I'm a historian but wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was a kid. Still think it'd be a very neat job!

[DistressedAmerican]

35. It Is Not As Cool As People Think. Lots of Tedium.

I have been attacked by wasps, hornets, killer bees. Bitten repeatedly by tarantulas. There are some serious draw backs at times. But, I'm still doing it. Must still love it.

Here I am on site:

[WoodrowFan]

38. yeah I know but still

going through archives is kinda dull too, but then you find something that wakes you up, a piec eof information, a piece of the puzzle, and it's worth it.


nice pic. what's that series of rings on the lower right??

[DistressedAmerican]

40. There Were Several Stela monuments erected there.

Seems to have had that function. It is a very odd feature. Funny you asked. It has always confused me a bit.Very unusual feature for our area.

[WoodrowFan]

72. Stela?

so they did Summer stock of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in those circle! STELLA!!!

sorry, was being silly. :)


Thanks for sharing the picture, it looks fascinating!

[mopinko]

39. no questions, just

congrats on that baby. i had a 10lb 2oz one, and aside from the last couple of pushes, he was the easiest of the 5.
also, thanks for the link that you gave me. i get visitors from your site regularly.
post more clay! here's one of mine-

[DistressedAmerican]

41. The Link Was My Pleasure.

Glad it is getting you some traffic. Don't have much of my pottery photographed. I'll try to get some shots posted tonight.

Congrats on the baby.. Over 10 lbs. VERY IMPRESSIVE!

[malta blue]

44. Malta Blue checking in

Hi Distressed. I hadn't seen that pic of Mayapan yet. Very nice.

[DistressedAmerican]

48. I love My Site. It was largely unreconstructed until recently.

Now, it is starting to get quite a bit more attention now. It is quite impressive in person.

[mopinko]

70. he's not a baby any more

he's 14. still a chubby cherub of a kid.

[myrna minx]

42. Have you ever studied the Hieroglyphic Stairway?

Was the stairway commissioned by 18 Rabbit? (My Mayan history is foggy.) Congratulations on your beautiful baby!! :toast:

[DistressedAmerican]

46. I Have Been There and Worked With Some Folks That

worked at the site of Copan. It is my favorite Maya site. The sculpture is AWESOME! It blew me away!

[myrna minx]

75. I have never visited the site, but I think that

the sculpture is breath taking. I would love to visit some day.

[DistressedAmerican]

78. The thing with a visit is that you see the real scale.

I had studied the site and culture for years (especially the artwork) and when I visited, most of the sculpture I was well acquainted with was HUGE compared to the image I had in my head. It is also great as am assemblage. Had to grasp from maps and photos.

Have you seen other sites?

[malta blue]

49. At Copan in Honduras?

18 Rabbit would be the one, if I am not mistaken. My knowledge of Maya archaeology is not as good as Distressed, but I can hold my own most of the time.

[DistressedAmerican]

52. Yep, Honduras. In the mountains.

you are right about 18 Rabbit. Although his Maya name has been translated. It is Waxaaklajuun Ub'aah K'awil.

Neat guy. Made a bunch of great monuments. He was eventually captured in a military action and beheaded. IThe defeat set the city way back for a while.

[myrna minx]

76. Hi malta blue.

Welcome to DU. :hi: Yes, I was referring to 18 Rabbit of Copan. I found him to be quite an interesting character. Didn't he change the rules of the ball games? If I remember correctly, prior to his reign, the "best" players were sacrificed, but he in turn kept the best players alive and sacrificed the "worst" players. Again, my Mayan history memory is buried under years of stratigraphy. ;-)

[DistressedAmerican]

77. The Ballgame Is Still A Bit Unclear.

I have not heard about him changing the rules. We frankly do not know what the rules were. There is a lot or art associated with the ballgame that depicts decapitation, the ball and human head are frequently linked in the art and mythology. I wouldn't hazard a guess which side was sacrificed is any at all. It is possible that the decapitations are of captives dressed as players. rather than the players themselves.

Just my two cents.

Yeah, Hi Malta Blue!:toast:

[CrownPrinceBandar]

47. Another DU archaeologist checking in.......................

Glad to see you've been doing some good work. I have always been fascinated with the Meso-American stuff, the Maya and the Aztec, in particular. However, my undergrad was almost totally focused on Old World material, so here in the states, my only vocation is the CRM biz.

I've been digging STP's and test units for almost 15 years now, paving the way for highways, pipelines and housing developments. One upside is that I have gotten to know the archeology of my home state very well.

Congrats on the new daddyship!

[DistressedAmerican]

50. Good to hear from you.

Old World IS COOL. I work on the surface of the sun. It is miserable working conditions where I am. There are times I wish I was working somewhere else.

STP's (shovel test pits for those non-archaeologists) are thge most miserable type of work. They pay the bills though and like you said. Good local experience.

I'm doing some brutal survey action myself, finishing up my dissertation.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

53. My Old World experience was the best..................

I had the unique opportunity to dig at Boxgrove in West Sussex, UK. A couple of seasons after I left, they turned up osseous remains of the oldest hominid on record in the UK. The last I checked, the experts were putting the time period contemporary to Homo heidelbergensis which I believe dates back to 500,000 B.P. It still blows my mind thinking about it.

I have had some good experiences doing CRM as well. I have excavated an Adena burial mound, a multi-component site (Early Woodland to Fort Ancient) on Blennerhassett Is. in the Ohio river and most recently, a Monongahela village site with multiple house structures and pit burials. So I guess I can't complain.

[malta blue]

56. Worked in Israel for one summer

Here's a picture of our awesome find during the summer of 1990 at Ashkelon in Israel. Glad to have visited the region before the the recent problems.

[DistressedAmerican]

59. MOOOOO! I believe that qualifies as a graven image!

Go Pagans! Animists rock!:yourock:

[malta blue]

61. Pre-dates Moses too (if you can really date him)

Canaanite Bronze age. Found it buried under the Philistine ramparts. Interestingly enough, the rampart was probably built over the Canaanite shrine where it originally had been placed.

[DistressedAmerican]

63. Philistines Huh? Rumor is those guys could use an ass kicking!

Jawbone of an ass anyone?

[malta blue]

64. Actually pig knuckles

tons and tons of pig knuckles. so much for kosher

[DistressedAmerican]

67. You Really Can't Whoop Ass With Pig Knuckles!

[malta blue]

68. probably not, but they sure tasted good

Definitive butchering on site.

[DistressedAmerican]

58. That is a sweet find! Sad You Weren't there.

I think I prefewr civilization to Paleo work. Flake scatters just aren't that exciting to me.

The settlement work I am doing is very interesting (although it has alomst killed me more times than I can tell you. Thank God for my local workmen).

BTW - I am also Upstate NY. Albany.

[malta blue]

51. CRM is the way to go if you want cash though

I've done my share of CRM work, even thought about staring my own biz. I am in upstate NY, and its very cutthroat among the CRM firms here. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find employment with one firm if you have ever worked for another (just in case you are a spy). Undergrad work focused on Andean cultures, did some grad work on Maya, but hopefully will return to the Domincan Republic to work Spanish colonial.

Having a baby can slow you down as far as fieldwork (single mom talking).

[CrownPrinceBandar]

55. Upstate NY?................

Ya never know, we may have worked for the same companies! I have found CRM in this neck of the woods to be a very small world.

[malta blue]

57. could be....

Had to leave the CRM behind due to having a baby. It's hard to care for a toddler and go away on week long trips to go dig up a town green in Vermont.

[salminen]

71. Which weighs more?

The Sears Tower, or the Great Pyramid?

[H2O Man]

73. amateur arch here.

Member of NYSAA for decades. Do you know anyone from SUCO-Oneonta? A few of them used to go to the general area you are working at. I'm not sure if they still do. I am in closer contact with Hartwick.

I'm happy for you with the baby! Nothing is more important, or more fun. Keep up the great work!

[Ediacara]

74. Archaeologist, eh?

How in the world do you guys make your quarry walls perfectly vertical. Myself and other paleontologists are convinced that you all must take a semester abroad at the Hogwarts School of Archaeology.

[MissMillie]

79. Inquiring minds want to know

boxers for briefs?

[DistressedAmerican]

80. The Combo. Boxer Briefs. Brief Cotton Material. Long Like A Boxer.

Comfy, absorbent (sweat people!), and they do not crawl up the backside.

[malta blue]

84. TMI Distressed...

Okay Okay Distressed

[DistressedAmerican]

86. I Said Anything!

Do you want me to lie? Be disgraced before all of these people? No Way!

I AM A MAN OF HONOR (DAMMIT!).

[malta blue]

87. never disgrace yourself

I didn't realize your honor depended on boxers or briefs. :)

[DistressedAmerican]

89. My Honor Depends On My Willingness To Truthfully Answer Questions Posed.

O8) Look At Me! I'm Flying!!!

[SoCalDem]

83. Ever find anything that looks like these?? (They are from Panama)

We used to have a stone bird whistle too but it was lost in many moves we made.. These came from the jungle in the Darien' ..found in about 1960..(My father used to hunt boar with his guides, and they were always finding stuff)
They are very large piccies, so you'll need to click:)


?click ?click ?click

[DistressedAmerican]

85. Not really. They look A Bit Like Some Stuff From South America

the second and third Are very unfamiliar. Can't tell you much. really outside of my area or specialization.

Just a word on antiquities. When private collectors have them, they loose scientific value. Their precise context is lost to us. Associated artifacts and their relationship are lost. Worse yet, the artifacts can be lost or damaged themselves. Please be careful with these. Consider a museum donation.

Not trying to scold you in anyway. Family items from decades back were removed before many countries had established anti-looting and other antiquities laws. In fact, many poeple actually saved pieces that many have been destroyed in other ways. It was basically considered fine at the time. I don't want to imply that I judge you in anyway for having them.

Just that looting and sale of artifacts is very destructive to collectively owned cultural resources. It is rampant in many parts of the world.

A great deal is benign on the part of the collector. But, most folks do not realize the nature of the contextual associations that need to be understood about an artifact in order to understand its significance archaeologically. General info for the masses since it came up.

[SoCalDem]

88. Yep.. I know that.. Hey I was a KID

:P

We have always had them in a safe place but never knew much about them.. Just that they found them in the jungle..

I have never taken them anywhere to have them authenticated..With my luck, I would take them somewhere and be told they are fakes:)

Around here they are just Mom's ugly clay things:)

[DistressedAmerican]

90. The Second One May Qualify By Some Tastes. But...

Who can argue with the Dog pot? It is well executed. The style and lines are crisp. He's a cute little guy.

My advice (now scolding:evilgrin:) Give MOM a break. Her clay things are freaking cool and don't you forget it.

At the very least they were loved by someone that made them...

I know you do to!:bounce:

On Edit: There is a possibility that the second may have been a ceramic drum? Is it open on both ends? If so, A skin could have been streched over it? Dunno?:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

91. It is completely hollow..

The pointy end is a bit broken (it's always been that way since he found it)..

Havent a clue what they might have been for, but it's been very crudely fired:)

[DistressedAmerican]

92. Hmmmmmmmmm?

:shrug: