This is a view of the two excavation areas, separated by the back hoe trench. The upper area was gridded off as a 5m by 5m big block. Vice Chair Cathy McCool and member Joe Beavin are standing in the middle of the upper area. The lower area in the foreground has had the upper 70cms mechanically removed with the back hoe. larger photo

While most people associate professional archaeology with trowels and whisk brooms, there are times when shovels and back hoes are also important tools! The use of the back hoe at the Chandler Site allowed us to determine site stratigraphy in a matter of hours, rather than weeks, and it also allowed us to remove the distrubed overburden (distrubed by numerous collectors pits and backdirt) over the intact Early Archaic and Paleoindian deposits in the lower unit area. Without the back hoe we could never have finished our excavations in the lower area nor had a handle on the stratigraphy. larger photo

What a delicate operator Calame is! larger photo

Removing top 70cm of disturbed soil in the lower unit area. larger photo

You want this stick where? Member Joe Beavin assists Bruce Moses in gridding the site using a Total Data Station. Precise measurements are yet another important tool in determining locations and relationships of cultural materials as they are excavated from a site. larger photo

Following removal of the upper 70cms of partially distrubed midden the units in the lower were gridded in preparation for excavation. larger photo

This current picture shows the back hoe trench that separates the upper and lower areas of the site. The trench allowed us to see the site stratigraphy and plan our excavations accordingly. There were two main excavation areas, separated by a 5m (long) by 1m (wide) by 3m (deep) back hoe trench. In the upper area a 5m by 5m grid was laid out - consisting of units 5 through 29). The upper excavation area was focused on exposing the Late Prehistoric and Archaic components. This area was chosen because it had little disturbance from collecting. The lower area was where a great deal of disturbance from collecting had taken place. It was decided to remove a 3.5m by 3.5m by 70cm deep section. Removing this section created the opportunity to start excavations at the interface between the bottom of the Archaic Midden components and other more discrete Early Archaic and Late Paleoindian deposits below that level. larger photo

This is a view of the lower area just as excavations are starting. The cattle panels were installed as a safety precaution. larger photo

So it begins! David Calame and Clint McKenzie begin unloading the STAA Trailer and setting up shop. larger photo

The Field Office - a series of tables were set up on the north end of the site to process all outgoing and incoming field sacks and unique items recovered during the excavations. Maintaining proper control of cultural materials is vitally important to properly documenting and subesquently writing up the report on a site. larger photo

Field Office This is the office area at the site. It is vitally important that all materials collected are properly logged and controlled. Cathy McCool (foreground) checks level notes and prepares to create a new field sack. larger photo

First - of MANY - late nights at the Chandler Site. David Calame, Documentation Chair, assists in preparation of field sacks and the set-up of the field office. larger photo

Excavation in the upper 5m by 5m area begins! Note the concentration of burned rock. This is the top of the compressed Archaic Midden. The upper 10cm - 15cm contained numerous Late Prehistoric arrow points along with Bison Bone. larger photo

No room at the inn! Despite working cheek to jowl, everyone pitched in and helped to make the cramped quarters pleasant and an enjoyable learning experience for all the participants. larger photo

The place where rabdotus go to die. This is a typical field sack of material recovered in the upper midden area. Flake and snail counts were astronomical in the upper 40cms of the midden deposits. These deposits also included small amounts of bone and mussell shell. larger photo

The slow process of excavating and recording a burned rock midden begins. In this picture, father and son Tom and Davis Wier (left and right foreground) get some excavation tips as Gilbert Sanchez, middle background, continues to excavate. larger photo

Continuing excavations in the upper area. Dan Uranga, foreground, Margaret Greco, trenchside, Cathy McCool, left Foreground, and Vicki Mahaffey, right foreground. larger photo

Davis Weir pauses for a glamor shot before getting back to work. larger photo

Feature Two consisted of the remains of a late prehistoric hearth intruded into the archaic midden. larger photo

All work and no play? Field School particpants take a break from excavating to get a drink and meet their fellow students. From left to right: Dorothy Beard, Rita Mechlar, Bob McCoy, Debbie Calame, and David Calame. larger photo

Screening Party! Once soil has been excavated from its unit is is then placed in a bucket and taken to the screens. The soil is then processed through the screen and any cultural materials removed and bagged. Cultural materials include, flakes, bone, mussel shell, snail shells, stone tools, ground stone, and any other object used by or modified by man. From left to right: Bruce Moses, Chuck Crank, Charlie Calame and Josh Tomka, David Calame, Savanah Calame). larger photo

The calm before the storm! Member Lyle Edwards mentally prepares to screen 4 cubic meters of dirt. larger photo

Its lonely at the top! Susan Beavin works the screen. larger photo

We are starting them young these days! Zach Springer and Savannah Calame are learning proper excavation techniques. larger photo

Captain of the Drill Team, Debbie Calame! larger photo

You, there! Fix that hat! larger photo

Like Father, like son! You just can't take James Moses (son of Bruce Moses) anywhere! James found this complete reworked Pedernales point in the collector's back dirt and brought it to his Father, saying: "Daddy, I got a pointer!". Boy did he! larger photo

Typological Case of materials recovered from the Chandler Site. Across the top row are a variety of Late Prehistoric arrow points, including Scallorn, Edwards, Cuney, and Perdiz. The second row consists of Transitional Archaic dart points such as Ensor, Ensor-like, and Fairland. Also in this same row are a reworked Cornertang Knife, a beveled knife, and an archaic drill. The third row consists of Late Archaic dart points such as Frio and Marcos. The lower left corner exhibits Middle Archaic fomrs such as Pedernales and Bulverde. Also shown in this image is a single sherd of Leon Plain ceramic that was recovered in the upper 5cms of the upper units. (shown in the bag with a UI - unique item - identificaiton tag.) The lower row, middle, shows a variety of the Late Paleoindian lanceolate form recovered and includes Scotsbluff, Angostura, Golondrina, and St. Mary's Hall types. larger photo

This image shows the other half of the typological collections recovered from the Chandler Site. The upper row shows a variety of Early Archais stemmed projectiles, including Martindale, Travis, and Nolan points. Immediately below these projectiles are two Early Triangulars and a unifacial Clear Fork tool. The lower row is a continuation of the Late Paleoindian materials and includes possible First View and Plainview types as well as Golondrina, Barber and Wilson points. The materials in the upper right are examples of mussell shell, Bison Teeth and deer bone and also include representative lithic materials recovered from the site including Edwards chert biface fragments, possible heat treated chert biface fragments, chalcedont, and a lump of clear quartz crystal - most likely from the Llano Uplift area. larger photo

Part of the survey materials from the site. Pedernales knife/projectile from East Midden area. larger photo

Bifurcated arrowpoints - Chandler Site 41BX708 untyped as yet. larger photo

Gouge exhibiting very agressive use damage larger photo

Three Paleoindian projectiles, L to R: Firstview/Plainview; Golonndrina; Golondrina Points recovered in Units 1 & 2 in mixed con  with Archaic materials. (ANYONE OUT THERE FEEL FREE TO REVISE TYPOLOGY) larger photo

Golondrina point side A larger photo

Golondrina point side B - exhibiting fire popping and a wicked impact fracture which took off most of the right lateral edge. larger photo

Possible Firstview base side A larger photo

Possible Firstview base side B larger photo

In this image, Chair, Clint McKenzie, and Vice Chair, Cathy McCool, put the completed Field Sacks in numerical order at the lab prior to their washing and sorting. Excavations are important but the lab work is the next important step. larger photo

Curt Harrell setting up a camera. It's difficult to get sharp photos, but with the right rig, some great results come out of it. We photograph items in place to add to the documentation. larger photo

Setting up the photography rig. larger photo

CO PI's, Bruce Moses and Clint McKenzie, along with member Joe Beavin, continue to bring down the untis in the lower excavation area. Note that all of the large rocks are being left in place as they excavate around them. By leaving the rocks in place an excavator can soon determine if they have a random assortment of rocks or part of a man made feature such as hearth or storage pit. Only once the rocks have been documented and mapped are they removed. If a feature is discovered it is thoroughly documented by drawings and photography and all artifacts associated with feature carefully collected and observed. larger photo

As excavations in the lower area commenced a number of Early Archaic features were exposed. In this image, the excavation area has been cleaned and dressed in preparation for photography and a north arrow and scale are being placed on the floor of the unit. larger photo

View down the back hoe trench showing excavation platform. larger photo

Steps were cut into the 5m trench to afford access to the lower unit. larger photo

Getting lower and lower in the lower units - yes, that is a 10' ladder! larger photo

This is the pits! CO Principal Investigator Bruce Moses and FS particpant Joe Beavin, working in the lower area by cutting in from the trench face. Bruce and Joe are standing on a platform built into the trench to provide an area to work from (the trench is still a meter deeper below their feet!) larger photo

CO Principal Investigator, Clint McKenzie, orienting FS particpants. (Left to right, Charlie Calame, Susan Beavin, Rita Mechlar, Savanah Calame, Debbie Calame, Cathy McCool, and Chuck Crank). larger photo

"Look! Doctor Tomka is working!" Dr. Steve Tomka, Director of the UTSA Center for Archaeological Research lends a much needed helping hand in the lower area. larger photo

View of Feature 8. larger photo

This collection of stacked rocks indcluded charcoal, bone, and lithics. It is more than likely the remeains of an Early Archaic hearth, or fire pit. larger photo

Bruce Moses points out a St. Mary's Hall point found in association with Feature 7. larger photo

Image of Feature 7, a Late Paleoindian hearth. The long St.Mary's Hall point was found by Bruce Moses in con  with firepit like feature containing large amounts of bone, charcoal, debitage, ochres, and stone tools. larger photo

Once level 19 was reached in the lower area the flake counts dropped significantly and it was decided to remove the gravel deposits by shovel rather than with a trowel. We are now approxiamtely 2m below the surface. Left to right: David Calame, Clint McKenzie larger photo

Photo facing south through the lower unit to the trench wall. Notice the changes in soil color and composition in the trench wall. The upper meter consists of burned rock and ashy soils. At a meter, the soils fade to a lighter color and have less burned rock. larger photo

Photo of the lower units at level 19 finish (1.9m below the surface). The large stones proturding from the righthand wall are part of Feature 7. larger photo

Close up view of rodent disturbance in profile of trench wall. An additional distrubance, most likely from tree root decay is visible in the lower right. larger photo

Captain Morgan Rum Commercial? Men, take no prisoners! Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead! Dig you scruvy dogs, dig! larger photo

An Early Archaic deflated hearth with associated Martindale and Early Triangular points as well as large amounts of bison and deer bone, charcoal and ochre. larger photo

Bioturbation larger photo

Worn out cowboy! larger photo

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