Technology

I love Technology.

As some of you may know I am pursuing a specialty of Archaeology when I head to graduate school. I just received my first letter of acceptance, now I really need to start saving my money. Anyway, The Centre for Metropolitan History and Museum of London Archaeology created a detailed map of London as it was in 1746.

They used John Rocque's map of 1746 London and georeferenced (placing the image in its correct location by determining its features) it. They then overlaid it onto the current map of London on Google.

You can travel London as though you were in 1746 and the best part is that you can see differences of then and now by moving the 'Streetview'. The differences include showing the modern roads. The industrial revolution and the onset of the technological age have rendered London to grow exponentially.

Site I have gained my information from: 

http://usvsth3m.com/post/77080517628/1746-map-of-london-now-available-as-an-incredibly

http://www.locatinglondon.org/index.html

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St. Augustine - Fountain of Youth Part1

No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a visit to the Fountain of Youth. One of the main reasons Ponce de Leon first came to Florida, to search for this legendary spring that has been recounted in many legends for thousands of years. I first visited the site when I was 14, and I drank a cup of the 'miraculous' spring waters.  I no longer look adolescent -Thank the Lord - it is safe to say that the mythical Fountain of Youth is still undiscovered.

Anyways, the site is where the Spanish first landed in Florida, and where they came in contact with the Timucuan tribe. The site has been subject to archaeological excavations, these excavations found positive evidence that the park is the location of the 1565 Spanish settlement -St. Augustine. The Europeans came to find the fabled Fountain of Youth, and they never left. 

Peacocks roam free in these lands.

A look into the past

The excavations artifacts

Inside that little cup was a parchment written in Old Spanish. This is a photograph of said parchment. It says: "Sepase por esto que yo, Alonzo Soriano, vecino y residente del Brillar subscribo y certifico que estuve presente al principio de la fundacion, la cual es la religion, y es con la salida y la puesta del Sol. Por orden de la Real Corona de Aragon hizo su descripcion al Manantial el cual es bueno y dulce al gusto. Era en el ano 1513"

The 'miraculous' spring- it was salty. The the employee said something about sulfur. I am not too sure anymore. I wrote it down but cannot find that paper. 

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Updates

So as I have said we had an archaeology conference for 2 days which was fascinating.

July 4th came around and most of us thought we weren't going to be doing anything but since we have been such loyal patrons to a local pub they decided to throw us an American barbeque. They absolutely outdid themselves. The food was wonderful and I didn't find myself missing the U.S.

The pub (Marcie's) as viewed from the St. John's priory. Across the River Boyne.

Today we got to entertain the CTY from John Hopkins U. They decided to try their hand at archaeology but they were in the cuttings where there is not too much damage to be done (ie no burials or mortar.)

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Great Craic!

           The title of this post means ‘Great Fun’. It is already week 3 and I find myself using Irish terminology and using some similar pronunciation. The accent although is easy enough to seemingly pick up because I never realized how similar it is to some of the pronunciation of certain words in Bahamian English. In Irish Gaelic the ‘h’ does not exist so many words that have the ‘th’ sound; those ‘h’s are not pronounced. Instead of ‘three’ ‘tree’ is said. So I am slowly reverting from my American English to my original Bahamian English.

           Many of my roommates and I have been going to the pubs a bit and we have introduced beer pong to some of the locals. Which many have heard of in passing but never played it, they found it enjoyable. The one thing I love about pubs and bars here is that the idea is to not get drunk but to socialize. Many locals leave for the pubs around 8 and leave at midnight, now we have begun to follow that pattern.

          Since we don’t have cars here we have been walking and utilizing the bus system on weekend trips.   I have found since we walk everywhere and are doing manual labour at the site we are gaining muscle and losing fat. I have not lost weight per se but I have gained a lot of muscle which I am happier about. I am very happy that I decided to spend my summer excavating because I have found what I want to do for the rest of my life. We are not allowed to disclose our exact findings on social media but I can say we have found some amazing and shocking things. I am sure I have said this before but it is amazing how I am helping to bring history out from below the ground. That I have a hand in the past, present and future; the past because I am taking out of the ground and the future because future generations will know about these findings and understand the history of humanity and their ancestors.

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Filming

So we are going to be on the History Channel. Yes we are getting filmed this week on a episode on burials. You might be able to see me in the background somewhere, 15 minutes of film anyone? About to jump start my film career. WHAT!!!!

But I won't be in the foreground, this one girl found an infant burial right when the film crew was around so now she gets to be filmed.

You might see me walking around in the background somewhere, walking to and from my cutting to the office/tool shed/canteen

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Ireland

So guys I have been counting down the days not only until my last final but when I get to board my plane to Ireland.

I cannot wait. Words cannot describe my excitement.I have always wanted to go to Europe and since I have traveled and lived in many countries on this side of the hemisphere. It is about time I cross the pond.

I have so many plans on what I am going to do while over there. 

• Travel on weekends
• Meet new people
• Take lots of pictures
• Start a travel blog/vlog (might as well since I travel a bit)
• As well as pass my Study Abroad program

So I will be participating in an Archaeological dig. We are going to be excavating a Friary from 13th c as well as the cemetery from around that time period.

Cool thing I learned! At the local castle is where they filmed a scene in Braveheart!

On the weekends I hope I can make it to

• Travel a little around Ireland
• Go to England
• Visit Wales and Scotland and find the towns that have my family name.
• Get to France!

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