Another day, another couple sites.

We found two sites today, which led to an 11-hour workday. Neither of the sites was exciting in the least. Both are the typical East Texas “sandy mantle” lithic scatter, where a few pieces of debitage are recovered from deep sandy soils. The majority of the flakes are usually petrified wood of various colors and quality, with a few quartzite and chert flakes thrown in. Nothing diagnostic, no concentrations vertically or horizontally, just random flakes strewn within a meter of sand.
The sites were not unexpected. Using topographic maps, geology and soil references, previously recorded site information, and personal experience, we had identified three areas as having the highest probability for cultural deposits. And in fact, two of these areas had sites.
In a nutshell, these sites are located on the edge of uplands, or side slope benches (flat landforms), near where gravels might outcrop. They’re overlooking a reliable drainage for a water source.
I’ll go into more detail at another time, since this is a short answer to a question I get asked a lot, “How do you know where to dig?” But I’m physically and mentally exhausted after the long day and looking forward to tucking into some Isaac Asimov short stories and an early bedtime.

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