I finally understood why they say not to touch anything at a dig site

I was helping with a surface survey near Mesa Verde last spring and almost stepped on a small, perfectly preserved ceramic shard. My boot was literally an inch from it, and I froze, called over the site lead, and we flagged it properly. Has anyone else had a close call like that where you almost messed something up?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora_scott7718h ago

Wait, it crumbled in his hand? That's heartbreaking.

martin.felix13h ago

My uncle found a Civil War button that basically turned to dust when he picked it up... @nancy475 is totally right about that patience thing.

nancy47522h ago

Freeze right where you are and yell for help, don't even bend down. Saw a guy once reach for what he thought was a cool rock and it was actually a bone fragment that crumbled in his hand. Your feet are the safest thing you've got until someone with the right tools comes over. That split-second patience saves history.