George Bush Homestead Archaeology Project

Today was such pleasant weather for the field, cross your fingers a cool front swoops our way and gives us most 70 degree days! Last week it was hot, hot, hot, and the ~15 of us out at Bush Prairie felt every hour of it. We have accomplished great work thus far! We’ve…

Uncovered the original excavation site and laid out the grid again. We are working in around 15 different squares. Most of them are concentrated around the super cool deposit the field school found last year, something that was also uncovered and is being carefully excavated by one of our volunteers.

We’ve had some groups of visitors come by since last Wednesdays, when our public tours started. (See this post for our tour schedule and details!) There are two model excavation units for those who want to get their hands dirty at the site (especially the kids!) Nathan trained everyone in how to use our Total Station, so now we’re taking points across the excavation and building a map the field school may use for years to come..

Today, Steven Hackenberger from Central Washington University came back out to the homestead to train us in his Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) equipment, from which we have enough preliminary data to start some shovel tests across the field. Those will commence tomorrow. A few more excavation sites have opened up next to a test pit, also started today, that gave us some really, really interesting finds! Pieces of leather, tons of metal, charcoal, some bone, interesting shards of glass.

I know that we can’t wait to see what else we find. Be sure to come out and see for yourself before it’s over!

Just as the heat wave sweeps over the Puget Sound, our field school’s second season is almost ready to begin! This year’s host of burgeoning archaeologists will spend two weeks in the books, learning all they can about the Bush family homestead, archaeology’s fascinating history, and preparing themselves for three weeks in the field. This year we are hoping to discover many more artifacts and spread the word about this family’s unique place in Washington’s history. If you’re interested in knowing more, bring a friend (or many!) and come by one of our free public tours.

The tours this year will be offered August 17th, 18th,  22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, and the 29th from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. A new tour starts every half hour. Please bring your kids, bring your neighbors, bring your History Club, bring everyone and help us recognize this piece of our state’s history.

Directions to the site: The address is 8400 Old Hwy 99 SE, Tumwater, WA. You’ll take the Trosper Rd exit from I-5 South, cross over the highway and turn right on Capitol, which eventually turns into Old Hwy 99. When you get to the Olympia Airport on your right, keep an eye out for an old Pacific Pride gas station on the left side of the road. Turn left right in front of it: there is a driveway that leads down to a gate. You can park along the road. We’ll have a student at the gate from 1:30pm on to guide you up to the site. If you don’t see anyone, we may be on our way up or down; please wait for someone to assist you. The excavation is on private property and we need to respect the owners’ space. Thank you!

For questions or for further information or special requests please contact Lee Lounder (louemi05@gmail.com) or Nathan Jeffryes (njeffr01@seattlecentral.edu).