Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Digging Through the Past

Got an email regarding the "Big Dig" in Seattle Milepost31 and a opportunity to hear about archeology on the project. Might be fun if your in Seattle next week.

A bit ago I had some back and forth with an historic preservation person that commented on archeology. The initial couple of comments were a bit of an over statement, but any digging projects in historic locations typically should have an archeology assessment done. I recently had a project where I suspected that there might be First Nations materials. A report had already been completed and hence much less concerns about encountering project stopping materials. Turns out there were sites nearby which I later observed, but not at the site I was investigating.

Historic preservation includes more than just pre European/American settlement. I would assume a dig through the Seattle waterfront might encounter some interesting stuff over a wide historic period. And really the Anthropocene is another geologic epoch full of interesting stuff. If you dug up a new or rare fossil you might want to treat it with care so as not to loose or lessen its value. The same holds true with the younger stuff.

Via the WDOT "Big Dig" project on the Seattle waterfront:

The Washington State Department of Transportation hosts a monthly speaker series at Milepost 31 in Pioneer Square to give visitors more insight into the massive SR 99 Tunnel Project. 

Milepost 31 Speaker Series – Digging Through the Past

Join us in February for a talk about archaeology, a brief history of the viaduct replacement work site in SODO and Pioneer Square, and the role of archaeologists during construction. This is a chance to see some recovered historical items that provide a view into the area’s past.

6 to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 7

Milepost 31
211 First Ave. S., Seattle

Admission is free.

After the talk, be sure to leave enough time to explore the rest of the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square. Milepost 31 is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and stays open until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays.   Free parking is available for First Thursday art walk patrons in Pioneer Square. Please visit www.FirstThursdaySeattle.com for more information about participating garages.

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