Then there was light!

Today we found an oil lamp in Grid 51. My archaeologist friends, Alethia and Dana, want to tell you about it.

Junior Archaeologist Assignment:

Okay friends, archaeologist Dana wants to know what sorts of things make light in your house.  He also wants to know if you have any things that use oil or have wicks in your house.  (HINT: a wick is the white part that sticks out of a candle).

Question of the Day:

Why don't we use oil lamps to heat and light our homes any more?

Post your responses in the comments section. Archaeologist Dana is looking forward to hearing what you have found!

Update

on 2012-06-26 14:33 by Nichole Moos

Annabel!  Dana and Alethia loved your thinking and question. This is not a Roman lamp, but we have found Roman lamps here. I will post a video of them for you tomorrow! Your question regarding how the burned during the day has inspired the archaeologists to do an exeperiment on how they would have burned. They are all VERY excited to perform the experiment next week.  I will be sure to share with you what we find.  Thank you so much for all of your wonderful questions and smart thinking. I am glad I will have you in my class next year:).

Day 1!

Today was my first day digging with the archaeologists here in Ashkelon. I am in GRID 51 for the first few days.  At this dig there are 3 grids (areas where people are digging up different things).  When the original archaeologists decided to excavate (science word for dig up) Ashkelon 20 years ago, they divided the area into 100 squares (grids).  So, I am in the 51st of these squares.  The grid leader is Kate.  Here is a photo of the area I am excavating. This photo was taken from up high so that all the different layers of the site can be seen.  

Junior Archaeologist Assignment:

Can you build/create something at home and then take a picture of it from up high. Does the object you built/created look the same from that angle or different?  Send me your photos and your thoughts about how your object looked different at nmoos@cps.edu, and I will post them on the blog!

Question of the Day:

Look at the photo- what do you think we are excavating? Remember, archaeologists study human life. Put your predictions in the comments section.  I cannot wait to hear what you think!

Update

on 2012-06-19 13:35 by Nichole Moos

Hi  Annabel, Oliver and Miss Kerrie!  

Annabel you are on the right track with what we are excavating.  It is a place where people may have lived. Think about it like a condominium building, like the ones on Lincoln Ave. They think there were shops down on the floor by the street and people lived in little rooms above the shops. Maybe on your next walk in your neighborhood you can look for a building like this.  Nice job seeing all of the little rooms and using that smart brain of yours Annabel! 

Oliver, I talked with archaeologist Paula about the toys. She is going to try and find some of the toys for you, and we will be posting a video about it later this week. Super question!

Miss Kerrie they vary in size depending upon what we are finding in the ground.  The biggest grid we are working on is 45x35 meters.  The smallest grid is 15x10 meters. Grid 51, the grid I am in, is 25x15 meters.The length of time depends on what want to find there. One grid has been being excavated since 1985, another grid has only be worked on for 5 years and will be closing this year.  Thanks for the question!

Update

on 2012-06-20 12:55 by Nichole Moos

Hi Brandon and Ms. Busch- You are right, it is where someone lives! It isn't one house though, it is actually a condo building where lots of people lived.  The building had shops for people to visit on the bottom floors and on the top families lived in little rooms.  We are finding all kinds of things in here.  Today I found the floor to one part of the condo- super cool! Yesterday, someone found an oil lamp. Check out the video of it in yesterday's post and let me know what you think.  Thanks for following me while I am here; I'm excited to see what other questions you have for me. I hope you both are having a great summer!

Greetings from Israel!

I have made it to Ashkelon and am sitting here smiling at Tracy Hoffman's happy face:) We are off to pottery washing- I will be sure to post more later tonight.

Junior Archaeologists Wanted!

The last preschool conference has been had, end of year hugs have been given, off to kindergartengoodbyes have been said, National Board Certification test has teen taken, my bags are packed (almost), and my house is stocked for both husband and dog I guess the only thing left for me to do is hop on a plane to Israel.  Look out Ashkelon here it come!

I am excited to see what sorts of adventures and learning the next 6 weeks of my life bring as I dig and study along side everyone's favorite Hamilton School librarian, Tracy Hoffman. Tracy, along with all of her acheology buds, will be teaching me, so that I can teach you about life in other places during other times.  What a special adventure I am off on, but I need your help deciding what I see, who I talk to, where I explore, and what I should do!

Each day I will post photos, videos, and my field notes (writing about what I am seeing, hearing, and doing) here on this blog. Today's photo is of me (on the far left) with some of my favorite discoverers...my preschool friends! Your job, junior archaeologists, is to look at the photos, watch the videos and read my notes to help me decide what I should do next.  You can answer the questions I ask, ask me questions, and point out things you observing (fancy word for seeing) to me in the comments section.  If you are still learning how to read and type, moms, dads, sisters, brothers can help you!   

So, one of the most exciting parts of this adventure, and in being an archaelogist according to Tracy, is predicting (science word for guessing) what you might find under all that dirt and sand. 

What do you think I will find when I'm in Israel?

Type (or have a parent type) your response in the comments section. Be sure to include your 1st name and where you are from.  Can't wait to hear your predictions!