Archaeologists

* Dig Site Federation
* Asgard 6
* Cassandra 2

* Earth 2
* Earth 3
* More...

*Earth Prime*

## History of Archaeology

In the early 2600s, historians from University Earth began some minor excavations in the ruins of Earth's cities, by the 2630s the first proper dig sites were being established. In New York, the first explorations occurred in 2603 and New York Main was established in 2630. The Earth teams forged the way in establishing how modern archaeology was to be done. When off-world archaeologists came to Earth, the Earth teams taught, advised, and rescued them.

About twenty years before the events of the *Earth Girl* series (c. 2770), new rules were instituted requiring anyone doing a history degree to spend the first year of their degree on Earth, studying pre-history. This rule requiring a compulsory year on Earth's dig sites studying pre-history covers all students, including those wishing to focus on modern history and/or be theoretical historians.

In response to the change, some universities, such as Danae, decided to stop offering a history degree course and instead offer a historical studies course. The historical studies course emphasizes literature and philosophy and does not include pre-history.

University Earth continues to be the leaders in history, but few people outside of Earth would even consider acknowledging that. The social revolution in 2789 has granted Earth professionals, including archaeologists, a better chance of public recognition.

## Overview

In the 28th century, archaeologists are crucial in excavating Earth's cities and finding lost pieces of human knowledge. Archaeologists are proud of their profession and not afraid to take risks.

## Types of Historians

### Practical Archaeologists

Practical archaeologists focus on excavating Earth's cities to glean precious information and artifacts from the past.

### Theoretical Historians

Theoretical historians study history from texts and objects, rather than excavating Earth's ruins.

## Types of Archaeological Teams

### Research Teams

The research teams are professional archaeologists digging up the past at the various dig sites on Earth. They are highly skilled, and can undertake dangerous excavations, such as up skyscrapers. All or most of the universities that do teach pre-history sponsor research teams as well as student teams.

### Hobby Teams

These teams are composed of (primarily) Earth adults who studied history to some degree but did not become professional archaeologists. They work on fringe dig sites and have their separate areas and domes from where the school teams work and stay.

### Student Teams (Universities)

Universities that have history programs run two different types of student teams: pre-history foundation courses and pre-history degree programs. The pre-history foundation courses are required of all students doing a history degree since about 2770.

Student team numbering haven't been mentioned, assuming that their numbers start after the research team numbers. The same teacher appears to always keep the same number, such as Lecturer Playdon's teams are always Asgard 6.

Within a class, the team 1 dig team is usually the best and the role of tag leader for team 1 is called the "key spot," because the rest of the class spends a lot of time sitting and watching that person work, so they form either good or bad work habits from them. Often, the person in that role has a major influence on the rest of the class.

In a foundation year class, the students that are planning on being theoretical historians only do minimal excavation work.

### School Teams

Many Earth schools have history clubs that take trips to fringe dig sites. These school teams give Earth students opportunities for lots of practical excavation experience.

By the time these students attend University, they have years of experience over their off-world counterparts.

## Bounty Payments

Many of the students that come to Earth for their foundation class uses their bounty payments to off-set the cost of their education. The Bounties are paid out for what they find in the stasis boxes that they uncover while excavating the ancient cities of Earth.

After University Earth's historical experts inspect the finds, a bounty payment is determined based on how important the discover is. If it is something that they have multitudes of already, such as Crozier's baseball cap, there wont be a payment made to the team, but if it is a cache of Art or and undiscovered Lab which Asgard 6 found, the payments could be huge.

The bounty payment is shared with the dig site to help pay for the costs of equipment, dorms and other expenses. Otherwise, the payment is shared among the teams that made the discovery.

In the case of History clubs for school children, the bounty payments go to the club treasury to pay for the student trips and equipment.

## General Dig Team Structure

Regardless of what type of team it is, archaeology teams share a basic structure: several dig teams composed of specific roles:

* Team leader
* Tag leader
* Tag support
* Sensors operator
* Heavy lift operator

In a foundation course setting, the lecturer serves as the team leader for all the teams and each dig team has two heavy lift operators. In a pre-history degree course, students begin to train as team leaders, so there are more team leaders. It is not clear if/how the relative ratios of the roles change. This continues in research teams, where there also can be flexibility in roles. For instance, Jerez of Cassandra 2 could be either the team leader for team 2 or a heavy lift operator.

## Technology

### Hover Sleds

Archaeologists use a variety of hover sleds in their work, including basic transport sleds, sensor sleds, heavy lift sleds, and tag support sleds. In special excavations dumper sleds and mobile command sleds are also used.

### Impact Suits

Archaeologists wear impact suits on dig sites to protect them from various hazards. Professional archaeologists generally have their own suits, often painted in different colors so they can be easily recognized.

### Lasers

Archaeologists use lasers to cut through hard material either so it can be moved in pieces or to remove obstacles to access a confined space. Archaeologists seem to have a healthy fear of lasers.

## History Studies

History is divided into two sections: pre-history and (modern) history.

### Pre-History

Pre-history is all of human history up to the opening of the first planets in Alpha Sector to general colonization (c. 2310).

### Modern History

Modern history is all of human history after the opening of the first planets in Alpha Sector to civilian settlement (c. 2310).

Many schools restrict what they teach in history, limiting instructions to just modern history and sometimes to just to the history of their own sector and planet.

## See also

* Category:Archaeology
* Category:Xenoarchaeology
* Dig Sites
* New York, Earth America
* University Earth
* Cassandra 2

## References

### Citations

1. ↑ Edwards, Janet. Earth Girl (Earth Girl series Book 1) (p. 14). Prometheus Books. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Edwards, Janet. Earth Flight (Earth Girl) (p. 95-97). Prometheus Books. Kindle Edition.
3. ↑ Edwards, Janet. Earth Star (Earth Girl series Book 2) (p. 188). Prometheus Books. Kindle Edition.

### Bibliography

* Earth Girl (Earth Girl series Book 1) (2015)
* Earth Star (Earth Girl series Book 2) (2014)
* Earth Flight (Earth Girl) (2015)