Relic Hunters

Many moons ago I spent a few years working as an archaeologist for the York Archaeological Trust. What follows is a tip of the hat to those times and the people that inhabited them.

THE ARC

The Archaeological Resource Craft is a standard 95 ton shuttle that has had its 71 tons of excess space customised as follows:

5.7 additional tons of fuel extending operational duration to 12 weeks.

Provision is made for a 10 ton Dirtmover (or 10 tons of dirt moving machinery).

Provision is made for an Air/Raft - two tons of the air/raft's cargo capacity is given over to aerial archaeology and geophysical survey pods and an on board computer to process the information collected.

10 tons is given over to tool and equipment storage including fuel for hand held excavation machines, the air/raft and dirtmover etc.

12 tons is given over to a field laboratory wherein is located the Finds Department. The departments job is to process, protect and store recovered artifacts. It also has archaeometric capability.

A Model 1 computer is installed. It is used as a database and electronic library and is loaded with pertinent data relative to the objective of the excavation. Data from air/raft surveys and the Finds Department is added on a daily basis.

12 Small Craft staterooms are installed.

4.3 tons is given over to cargo space.

 A typical relic hunting mission requires an excavation leader (usually an academic of rank 5 or 6), a specialist to operate the air/raft (academic rank 3+), at least one specialist for the Finds Department (academic rank 4+) and at least one assistant excavation leader (academic rank 3+). All other places will usually be filled by excavation assistants or "diggers" (academic rank 1 and 2) or sometimes civilian volunteers.

The excavation team is expected to be able to operate the shuttle, the dirtmover and other hand held mechanical excavation devices (yes I'm talking about jack-hammers!) therefore two team members pull double duty (but without extra pay) as shuttle crew when needed.

Tip: Have a look at the exploits of Star Trek the Next Generation's Captain Picard to see how archaeology can lead to adventure.