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That week in July where every shovel test hit nothing but roots

I spent three days digging test pits near a known burial mound in Ocmulgee and every single one hit a thick tangle of roots. By Friday afternoon I had blisters on both hands and not a single sherd to show for it. Has anyone else had a field season that just refused to cooperate?
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3 Comments
kevin_williams
Roots tell you a lot about what's happening below the surface though. A thick root mat usually means the soil's been disturbed at some point, which could explain the lack of artifacts. Those blisters might sting but the ground was trying to tell you something.
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the_john
the_john1d ago
Read something similar in a gardening sub about roots telling you soil health more than anything.
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keith164
keith1641d ago
Honestly, I used to think root tangles were just bad luck and nothing more. But @the_john and kevin_williams got me thinking, and now I look at a root mat as a clue instead of a curse. It’s weird how a frustrating week can totally change how you read the ground.
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