Introduction to Archaeology, Period 5

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel's looking very happy today. You'll soon learn why and then wish you didn't

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Introduction to Archaeology. I'm Dr. Jackson, and whilst I taught specific eras of archaeology last semester, this will be my first class that's going to be looking at archaeology as a whole.

Today I just want to get to know a bit about you. We're a small class, unless you can persuade others to add it, so that shouldn't take long. Then I want to toss around the idea of archaeology, and also to know if you've got any specific periods or places you think you might like to study, because that part of the syllabus isn't completely finalized yet.

I'm also looking for a TA, so if you're interested, talk to me after class.

Oh. And one last thing. Archaeology is A-R-C-H-A-E-O-L-O-G-Y. It's a common mistake, but as you're studying it, knowing how to spell it is good and much less embarrassing when you hand things in.

Who's first?"




[[Your final grade will be reflecting participation. Obviously if RL happens, then that's not your fault and a simple X was here and did Y will do. But I won't take that every lesson. Of course, you don't need to actually write the essays that he sets, but something would be nice.

I'm in GMT (mostly), so might not be around to discuss things with in class, but you can always talk with each other. I'll respond when I can. Monday's class will close just before I post Wednesday's class, and Wednesday's class will close around midday (GMT) on Saturday.

Any problems? Talk to me IC or OOC. Both Daniel and I are very harmless - honestly!

Comments

Introduce yourself

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"I recognize Blair from anthropology yesterday..."

Re: Introduce yourself

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Hi, man." Blair grinned and bounced. "Just in case I need to introduce myself again...I'm Blair Sandburg, freshman"

Re: Introduce yourself

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I'm Molly Hayes and I'm also a freshman."

Re: Introduce yourself

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair leaned over. "Hey, have we met? I've met so many people that my hand is getting chapped from shaking." He grinned. "How're you liking school so far?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly grinned at Blair. "No, we haven't met yet. I've only met one other freshman, that I know of, so far and she is my roommate. I was beginning to wonder if there were any others." She grinned again. "This place is great," she said with quiet enthusiasm. "Did you know that they have a real superhero teaching here?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel smiled at her. "It's nice to meet you, Molly," he said. "What attracted you to the study of archaeology?"

Re: Introduce yourself

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Pippi comes rushing in with a *woosh* of air. "Am I late? Did I miss the Thing-Finding class?" She looks around the room. "Hi Molly! Hi Blair! It is just the tree of us!"

Re: Introduce yourself

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly waved hi back. "So far, but there might be more."

Re: Introduce yourself

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

"Hi Pippi! Isn't it great?" Blair bounced happily

Re: Introduce yourself

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"That would be great, but I'm happy to see you guys in what I anticipate will be my favorite class!" She taks a seat near them.

Re: Introduce yourself

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel blinks at the youthful exuberance. "No, you're not late. Welcome. And it's just the three of you, yes."

The idea of archaeology

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

"What do you see it as? And what would you like to study in this class?"

Re: The idea of archaeology

[lovechildblair.livejournal.com]

Blair bounced and yanked out his notebook. "I've never really gotten into it as much as cultural anthropology but I'd really like to learn more. And I think it's like studying cultures but instead of watching people you look at things. I'd really like to study...well...everything? My particular interest is tribes that have guardians with heightened senses. If we can find proof for that...it would be awesome!"

"Oh, I looked up the greek last night, so Archaeology comes from the greek for ancient and speech, I think. I did get it off the computer instead of the library because I didn't have a card until today so it might be wrong but I hope it's not because that would be sort of embarassing." Blair blushed slightly and sat back down quickly.

Re: The idea of archaeology

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel nodded, smiling at the reference to the Greek. "That's correct, Blair," he said. "And I'm glad you have a library card. One thing you can't fault this institution for is it's library and a particular library assistant."

Re: The idea of archaeology

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Um, I agree with what Blair said. About it being a way to learn about old dead people by studying their stuff.

"As for what I'd like to study..." Molly paused. "Well, I hadn't really thought about it a whole lot. I just thought it sounded interesting and I'm taking History and Paleontology and Archaeology seemed to fit right between the two. Sort of. In a way. Maybe?" She grinned with a shrug. "Uhhh, but I always liked all of the Egyptian stuff with the pyramids and the mummies. They were cool." She looked at Dr. Jackson hopefully.

Re: The idea of archaeology

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel grinned. "I can safely say that Egyptians will be on the syllabus, considering that it's my specialty," he said. "It's a fascinating history."

Re: The idea of archaeology

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

"I'm always enjoyed finding things. Thing-finding was my favorite game always. The best part of finding things is to find something that nobody's seen before, or that hasn't been seen in a long time; and then you get to share it with people. It always seemed like a game to me, lots of things did back then. But then I went to a museum and I saw that there was so much more to it. ... I guess I want to learn about... Everything there is to learn about. And the best way to learn about something is to get into it. I mean, you can tell me what the capital of Portugal is, or I can read it in a book... But I'd really just rather go there. You know?"

Re: The idea of archaeology

[strongestgirl.livejournal.com]

Continuing that thought, Pippi can be quite verbose.

Pippi bites her lip as she often does when she's thinking.

"It's like my Papa's Grandpa, he had many wonderful adventures and was in a great many battles on the sea and in places all over the world. And when Papa was a little boy, his Grandpa would tell him of his adventures and he would roll up his sleeves," she sticks her arms out, "...and show Papa his wounds. And Great-Great-Grandpa Efram had been there, and Papa could see his scars, and he knew that it was true. Now when I was very little, Papa would tell me the stories about his Grandpa. But his Grandpa wasn't around any more. And my Papa hadn't been there, and he didn't have the scars. But! He had Grandpa's sword, and his flintlocks, his hat, and most importantly, his ship's log. And maybe Papa hadn't been there, but the weapons and the hat had, and Great-Great-Grandpa Efram had written it down in the log himself." She finally stops to take a breath.

"Papa is a very good story teller, and there were lots of stories about friends and family he would tell me. But there was alway something more to Great-Great-Grandfather Efram's stories, because I got to wear his hat when Papa would read to me out of the log... If we lost those things, we would have to go looking for them. Because they are important..."

"I think Archaeology is like that."

Re: The idea of archaeology

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel listened intently. "Learning everything would take you a lifetime, I'm afraid," he says. "But I hope I'll be able to provide a satisfactory introduction for you."

After class

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Daniel is coloring in highlighting the class schedule.

OOC

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

Just in case :)

Re: OOC

[janet_fraiser]

It's amazing how much I love your icon. Really. I wonder why that is?

Re: OOC

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

You know, I actually have no idea... ;)

Re: OOC

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Oh. And one last thing. Archaeology is A-R-C-H-A-E-O-L-O-G-Y. It's a common mistake,

*is amused at Danny insisting on the Brit spelling, considering this mun worked for two years on an anthropology journal where she had to standardize all instances to the American version (even though, yeah, she uses the "ae" herself)*

Re: OOC

[the-ascended.livejournal.com]

:P

*is a Brit herself and whilst she may swap her ss for zs, it took her that bloody long to learn that spelling, she's damn well going to use it*

*g*