{"id":923,"date":"2015-06-09T15:37:32","date_gmt":"2015-06-09T22:37:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/interactive.archaeology.org\/johnsonsisland\/?p=923"},"modified":"2015-06-09T15:37:32","modified_gmt":"2015-06-09T22:37:32","slug":"fs-ing-artifacts-at-johnsons-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interactive.archaeology.org\/johnsonsisland\/2015\/06\/fs-ing-artifacts-at-johnsons-island\/","title":{"rendered":"FS-ing Artifacts at Johnson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Island"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"N218E134<\/a>

N218E134 (excavation unit)<\/p><\/div>\n

As we excavate, part of our job is to screen buckets of soil for artifacts. Normally, the artifacts we find are set off to the side in trays to be counted and bagged at the end of the day. However, if something is unique or especially nice, it is FS\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d. FS stands for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Field Specimen\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, and every time we find an item that we are able to FS it goes through a bit of a process before making it onto our FS Board.<\/p>\n

\"Artifact<\/a>

Artifact in screen<\/p><\/div>\n

After being uncovered and identified during the initial screening, the artifact goes to be washed (if it can be). We use a wet toothbrush to scrub all of the dirt off and reveal any sort of special markings, etchings, etc.<\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/a>

Washing artifact with water<\/p><\/div>\n

Once the washing is completed, the artifact needs to be catalogued and photographed. At this point, it gains the official FS number that will be used for future identification and its entry into the Field Specimen Record for Johnson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Island. We then of write down the artifact and all vital information about it in our Field Specimen form before making a hand drawing for our records. The artifact is then ready to be photographed situated next to a metric ruler for scale.<\/p>\n\n\t\t