fandomhigh | Introduction to Archaeology, Period 5

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archaeology

Introduction to Archaeology, Period 5

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!

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

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.

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~~."

"The library was cool, well sort of. I didn't see much of it because I spent a lot of time debating with the library lady about government brainwashing and military evily stuff. It was cool, but I didn't get a lot of researching done."

Daniel hid a smile. "Uh, was the library lady called Janet by any chance? Petite, ~~very cute~~ redhead ~~with a killer smile~~?"

"Yes!" Blair bounced happily. "Do you know Janet? She's like, way cool man, even if she doesn't believe that the military sucks and the government is brainwashing people or that the moon landing was faked. Don't worry, she said I can research and come back and talk to her again."

"Yes, I do know Janet. Very well in fact," Daniel coughed discretely. "I'm not sure what you mean about the government brainwashing people. Or about the faked moon landing though."

"Oh you know, about how the 'man' is decieving the people and...and" Blair sneezed loudly. "Wait? Do you believe in the same stuff as Janet?"

Daniel tilted his head slightly. "We share some beliefs, but on others we're quite different," he said.

Blair leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think the government is controlling people through processed foods?"

Daniel raised his eyebrows. "Uh, no, I don't think that," he said quietly.

"Hmmm." Blair thought for a second. "Subliminal messages through the tv? Government coverup of alien life? Monkeys that know things?"

~~"What do you mean? The government's certainly not covering up alien life. No. Not at all. Ummm..."~~

Daniel smiled. "I think those theories are a little far fetched. I'm sure monkeys do know things. Plenty of things in fact. We'll be studying primates in a couple of weeks, so you'll be able to judge then."

He does his best to ignore the part about alien life.

[[ooc: Now with the correct login!]]

Blair nodded seriously about the monkeys and smiled. "That's what Janet said too, about my ideas being a little out there. I'm beginning to think that the folks on the commune weren't exactly holding normal views, you know what I mean?"

"People on communes tend not to hold normal views," Daniel replied, equally as seriously.

"Like, man, that could totally be why they're living there!" Blair whispered.

"That's highly likely," Daniel whispered back.

"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.

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."

"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?"

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."

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."

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Introduction to Archaeology, Period 5

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