Hi Everyone. Just an update on what is happening this fall/winter with SCRAP.

Tawny and I are busy trying to pull together an article about our pXRF granite sourcing this season, as well as initial descriptions of the possible granite extraction sites located during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. We are hoping to submit this to Latin American Antiquity. We’ll keep you posted!

Next week I am heading to Athabasca University (the main campus in Athabasca, Alberta) to learn how to use our new 3D scanner and printer. I’ll be scanning (with the help of our wonderful library-IT staff) some of the artifacts I exported this season. (Watch for upcoming blog post and photos.) These scans will form part of what will be the Athabasca University Virtual Archaeology Lab — a teaching, research, and outreach tool — that we hope to have up and running some time in 2016-2017.

In November, I am heading to Hamilton, Ontario, along with an Athabasca University undergraduate student (profile to be posted ASAP under “Project Members” tab), to conduct X-Ray Fluorescence analysis on the obsidian we collected this season. This will be done in conjunction with colleagues at the Max Lab at McMaster University (http://maxlab.mcmaster.ca/). This will allow us to source the materials and begin discussing Alabama’s role in Late Classic period trade routes. This will be part of the undergraduate student’s independent research study. (Watch for blog post and photos.)

Additionally, we will be conducting petrographic analysis on our ceramic source test briquettes and surface collection sherds, to begin discussing sourcing of clay and temper materials in the Alabama area. This will be done in conjunction with colleagues at HD Analytical Solutions (http://www.hdanalyticalsolutions.com/) in London, Ontario and at the University of Calgary.

Finally, very soon, we will be pulling together our final report for the 2015 season, as well as our proposal for the 2016 season. Next summer we are hoping to conduct 2 months of excavations at housemounds in the Alabama settlement zone.

More soon!

Meaghan

Various trade routes that were in operation in the Classic Maya World (https://mrgrayhistory.wikispaces.com/UNIT+8+-+EARLY+AMERICAS)