The summer 2006 research adventures of Professor Rogers, Nik Batruch, and Kyle Stone

We have several engaging projects this summer. Most of our efforts will be focused on trying to understand the Site of Eight Mounds in the fingerlakes national forest. Nik will continue to work on his device that automatically triggers the magnetometer control unit based on the rotation of the cart's wheel. Kyle will work on understanding our newly acquired ground-penetrating radar unit. We are also helping out with the location of the Weaver family burial plots north of Watkins Glen, NY. Hartgen Archaeological Associates, Inc. have also hired us in their National Park Service grant to located the French & Indian War / Revolutionary War era Fort Hardy in Schuylerville, NY.

------------------------ Week-01 -------------------------------
23-May-06: We didn't take photos on this day
23-May-06: Training for Nik and Kyle.
24-May-06: We purchased a golf bag cart to make our own GPR cart.
25-May-06: Nik works on the fiber optic system for the non-magnetic cart and Kyle builds the GPR cart.
26-May-06: Magnetometer surveys at the Weaver Family Cemetery Site
------------------------ Week-02 -------------------------------
29-May-06: We didn't take photos on this day
30-May-06: Nik works on his magnetometer trigger and Kyle tackles the GPS
31-May-06: While waiting for parts & equipment Nik cleans up the lab and Kyle figures out the GPS unit
01-Jun-06: Our magnetic survey of the Center for Natural Sciences Alternative Landscape Project was rained out
02-Jun-06: We did a site visit to the Fort Hardy Park Site in Schuylerville, NY to plan our upcoming research
------------------------ Week-03 -------------------------------
05-Jun-06: Nik works on his triggering mechanism, while Kyle processes magnetic data. Rhea arrives
06-Jun-06: The first test of the triggering mechanism
07-Jun-06: We didn't take photos on this day
08-Jun-06: Nik and Bodhi test the response time of the magnetometer, while Kyle organizes the lab
09-Jun-06: We took a half day due to the long day last Friday and Bodhi used the time to organize the lab even more
------------------------ Week-04 -------------------------------
12-Jun-06: We had a brainstorming session on how to tackle the zipper effect. Kyle and Nik get to work on building the perfect survey
13-Jun-06: Nik and Kyle continue working on the perfect survey, while Bodhi unpacks our new GPR
14-Jun-06: Kyle and Bodhi learn how to use the radar, while Nik tests out his slow pull motor
15-Jun-06: Nik and Kyle keep working on the zipper-effect test track, while Bodhi works on the new classroom
16-Jun-06: We didn't take photos on this day
------------------------ Week-05 -------------------------------
19-Jun-06: We didn't take photos on this day
20-Jun-06: We didn't take photos on this day
21-Jun-06: Kyle and Nik do the first test run of the track, while Bodhi and Rhea identify the data collection equipment to buy for PH101 and PH102
22-Jun-06: Kyle and Nik gather data using the slow motor, while Bodhi deals with the new classroom and plans for next week's fieldtrip
23-Jun-06: Kyle and Nik gather data using the slow motor, while Bodhi deals with the new classroom
------------------------ Week-06 -------------------------------
26-Jun-06: Kyle, Nik, and Bodhi head to Ft. Hardy Park in Schuylerville, NY to search for Ft. Hardy
27-Jun-06: Our first data arrives and the equipment is working great
28-Jun-06: The rain holds off in Schuylerville even though the northeast is under water
29-Jun-06: The Hudson river rises and threatens to put the site under water, but the skies stay clear for us
30-Jun-06: One last bit of surveying before heading home for a long, Forth of July weekend
------------------------ Week-07 -------------------------------
01-Jul-06: Nik left these pictures on his camera when he gave them to Bodhi to download Ft. Hardy pictures (he'll learn)
03/04-Jul-06: 4-day weekend to celebrate the 4th of July.
05-Jul-06: Kyle turned a 4-day weekend into a 5-day (he owes Bodhi a day), while Nik gathers more slow motor data
06-Jul-06: K
07-Jul-06: K
------------------------ Week-08 -------------------------------
10-Jul-06: Nik and Kyle work on the new track, while Bodhi gives guidance and works on the new physics lab.
11-Jul-06: Kyle and Nik test out the new (partially built) track.
12-Jul-06: Nik tests out the new motor and drums, while Kyle examines GPR settings to better understand the instrument.
13-Jul-06: Kyle plays in a golf tournament, Nik gathers more magnetic data using the new motor, and Bodhi and Rhea finalize purchasing for the new room.
14-Jul-06: Rhea joined Kyle, Nik, and Bodhi for field work at the Burnt Hill Mounds complex and the Weaver Cemetery site.
------------------------ Week-09 -------------------------------
17-Jul-06: Despite record high temperatures predicted Kyle, Nik, and Bodhi do a bit of brush-hogging at the Burnt Hill Mounds complex.
18-Jul-06: The Weather Channel was prediciting serious thunderstorms and hail so we called it a rain day; it never rained.
19-Jul-06: Our first day of gbrs surveying at the Burnt Hill Mound complex
20-Jul-06: Our second and final day at the Burnt Hill Mound complex for this summer
21-Jul-06: We visited the SUNY @ Brockport archaeological fieldschool who are working near the mound site
------------------------ Week-10 (Last official work week) -------------------------------


Pages written by Michael Rogers and updated on 21-Jul-2006 at the Ithaca College Physics Department in Ithaca, NY.