We have just launched a crowdsourcing effort on RocketHub, which has allowed numerous projects to "launch, fund and fly!" Currently, RocketHub is home of the #SciFund Challenge, but we didn't find out about this project until it was too late. Hopefully, people looking to support science projects will support ours as well.
The first archaeology project to be funded via crowdsourcing was The Meander Project by Colleen Morgan. It successfully reached its goal of $5,000 and more, but was sadly cancelled due to permitting reasons (?) in Turkey. Kudos to Colleen for paving the way, bringing archaeology to the global stage and proving that people around the world care about history and heritage.
The second archaeology project to achieve crowdsourcing funds is The Roman DNA Project by Kristina Kilgrove. They have achieved above and beyond their goal of $6,000 and there is still time left to support them! Thanks to the support of 149 "rocketfuelers" and counting, they are going to do some amazing things with Roman DNA. I supported this program and am looking forward to getting my Roman skull postcards!
Thanks to these previous efforts, and personal tips from various special people, we have launched our own RocketHub, hoping to raise enough rocket fuel to make SVG Digs an astounding success. Being volunteer based, we could certainly use some rocket fuel to get some new tools and supplies, and help offset some of our costs. In return, you will get some great rewards! Go on, be a rocket fueler...
10.20.2011
What is this... SVG Digs?
Archaeological Society of Alberta - Lethbridge Centre
November 1, 2011, 7 pm
Lethbridge Public Library
Lethbridge, Alberta
Chacmool Archaeological Conference
November 11, 2011 (Matrices of Change session starts 8 am)
MacEwan Conference Centre, University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
Or, contact us for other opportunities!
10.16.2011
Let's go on a boat!
This one's for you non-beach-bums out there who would much rather get on a boat and perhaps go fishing! Yes, in St. Vincent, it can be done!
Fishing and Dolphin/Whale Watching
Sea Breeze Nature Tours can provide you with a day of fishing and dolphin watching, with whale watching if you get lucky. Tours begin near Kingstown, and sail up the leeward side of St. Vincent, stopping at the Pirates of the Caribbean film set for lunch, if you wish, in Wallilabou. Contact Hal or Beverly for more details.
Crystal Blue Sportfishing Charters can also take you on a fishing trip, with half-day, 3/4 day and full day options that include drinks. Contact Greg or Lisa for more details.
You could catch one of these: Dolphin (Dorado/Mahi Mahi), Black Fin / Yellow Fin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish, or Barracuda!
(This photo, left, is from Crystal Blue, from the World Wide Fishing Guide. The rest are personal photos.)
Fishing and Dolphin/Whale Watching
Sea Breeze Nature Tours can provide you with a day of fishing and dolphin watching, with whale watching if you get lucky. Tours begin near Kingstown, and sail up the leeward side of St. Vincent, stopping at the Pirates of the Caribbean film set for lunch, if you wish, in Wallilabou. Contact Hal or Beverly for more details.Crystal Blue Sportfishing Charters can also take you on a fishing trip, with half-day, 3/4 day and full day options that include drinks. Contact Greg or Lisa for more details.
You could catch one of these: Dolphin (Dorado/Mahi Mahi), Black Fin / Yellow Fin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish, or Barracuda!(This photo, left, is from Crystal Blue, from the World Wide Fishing Guide. The rest are personal photos.)
9.02.2011
Bring your suit! St. Vincent has more than great archaeology.
When you are planning your trip to St. Vincent, remember to add a few extra days to your visit so you can see some of treasures of this lesser-known Caribbean island.
Hope you like swimming, because we like to bring our suits with us everywhere we go, just in case. Right on the way home from site is Rawacou, a rock-enclosed swimming pool on a black sand beach; waves are often crashing down all around you. Depending on the weather, Rawacou can be a calm wading pool or an awesome wave pool, which means you should go more than once. (Photo by voteulp on Flickr)
Being a Caribbean island, St. Vincent has beaches all over the place. Indian Bay is one of our favourite spots, and is a short drive from our apartments, on the way to town. At one end is a great dinner spot, where you can grab a girly drink (or some rum!) and watch the sun set.
Another top beach destination is Wallilabou, one of the film sets for the Pirates of the Caribbean. Many of the set pieces and props still remain, though it has deteriorated over the years. Great lunch spot; photos and autographs of the film stars and crew are on the walls.
Further north on the island is Owia Salt Pond. I have no words for this place, I find it absolutely breathtaking and feel it is a must-see. For swimmers and hikers, dreamers and shakers. (Photo from Atlas Obscura)
And the best place to bring your swimsuit, if it's accessible (hurricanes and storms have denied us access in the past, due to damages to the walkways), is the Falls of Baleine. It is one of those rare moments in life, where I couldn't stop smiling and had to scream, "This is awesome!" (Photo from SVG Ministry of Tourism & Culture)
Have you sent in your application form yet? What are you waiting for?
2012 Application Form
Hope you like swimming, because we like to bring our suits with us everywhere we go, just in case. Right on the way home from site is Rawacou, a rock-enclosed swimming pool on a black sand beach; waves are often crashing down all around you. Depending on the weather, Rawacou can be a calm wading pool or an awesome wave pool, which means you should go more than once. (Photo by voteulp on Flickr)
Being a Caribbean island, St. Vincent has beaches all over the place. Indian Bay is one of our favourite spots, and is a short drive from our apartments, on the way to town. At one end is a great dinner spot, where you can grab a girly drink (or some rum!) and watch the sun set.
Another top beach destination is Wallilabou, one of the film sets for the Pirates of the Caribbean. Many of the set pieces and props still remain, though it has deteriorated over the years. Great lunch spot; photos and autographs of the film stars and crew are on the walls.
Further north on the island is Owia Salt Pond. I have no words for this place, I find it absolutely breathtaking and feel it is a must-see. For swimmers and hikers, dreamers and shakers. (Photo from Atlas Obscura)
And the best place to bring your swimsuit, if it's accessible (hurricanes and storms have denied us access in the past, due to damages to the walkways), is the Falls of Baleine. It is one of those rare moments in life, where I couldn't stop smiling and had to scream, "This is awesome!" (Photo from SVG Ministry of Tourism & Culture)
Have you sent in your application form yet? What are you waiting for?
2012 Application Form
7.27.2011
This is what dreams are made of
Coming to join us in St. Vincent? Relax, stay a while. There's much more to see and do than our fabulous excavation.
While the island of St. Vincent has its local beauty (stay tuned), the Grenadines are what people dream the Caribbean to be about - clear waters, pristine white sand, catamarans, yachts, lobster, champagne, golf, snorkelling, diving, ... and the list goes on. Your options are endless. AND, the good news is, you don't have to break the bank to experience it.
Yannis Sail and Fantasea Tours are affordable ways to see the Grenadines, snorkel with the turtles and swim in warm Caribbean waters. Fantasea Tours leaves directly from St. Vincent, cruising past Bequia and Canouan and lunching in Mayreau, while Yannis Sail will require a short flight from St. Vincent to Union Island, though this latter option also includes breakfast and lunch. Both options are highly recommended... and both are simple day trips!
If you have a few days on your hands, spend some time on the island of Bequia... and if you are looking for a little privacy and luxury, head to the island of Mustique, where rock stars and movie stars have holiday homes.
Whatever you fancy, you will love what SVG has to offer. Come, visit, stay a while!
See my Flickr for more photos!
Whatever you fancy, you will love what SVG has to offer. Come, visit, stay a while!
See my Flickr for more photos!
7.11.2011
What will volunteer archaeology do for you?
Journey360 recently blogged about voluntourism, how it "offers tourists a way to give back to the destinations that help to transform them." This is directly applicable to the SVG Public Archaeology Program. Not only will participating in svgdigs give you a great tan (complete with tan lines!) and an amazing experience (many digs have changed people's lives), you will be contributing to a re-write of Vincentian heritage. By helping excavate prehistoric remains, you are confirming that their descendants are not only those from abandoned slave ships. You will teach Vincentian youth that their ancient forefathers were intelligent craftsmen and foragers, with the ablity to create beautiful pots and manufacture stone tools of the highest quality. Imagine what that does for national pride.
Added bonus: you will help raise awareness for archaeology, which is an unestablished discipline in St. Vincent. There are no archaeologists in St. Vincent, just a handful of keen archaeology enthusiasts (who should be commended for their efforts)...
What will this do for you? An amazing experience will always change your life, but when that experience is combined with giving, and contributing to a developing nation, it will help feed your soul. Sounds cheesy, but it will help returning to your desk job that much better. Or maybe you'll trade that desk in for a trowel?!
What will this do for you? An amazing experience will always change your life, but when that experience is combined with giving, and contributing to a developing nation, it will help feed your soul. Sounds cheesy, but it will help returning to your desk job that much better. Or maybe you'll trade that desk in for a trowel?!
7.09.2011
Help spread the word!
It goes without saying that a dig in the Caribbean should be on everyone's bucket list. It will be one of the greatest experiences of your life! How could it be better? Bring your friends. Print out this poster below and hand it out to them. It'll be one big summer excavation party... in the middle of winter!
6.27.2011
Pay by PayPal!
Still humming and hawing about joining the SVG Public Archaeology Program? What are you waiting for? We have even made it easier for you to pay for your trip! You can now use PayPal, which allows use of your debit and credit cards. Download the application form, email it in and pay for your deposit below. All that's left is to dream of how great it will be. See you there!
2012 Application Form
2012 Application Form
5.08.2011
2012 season approved!
Welcome to the new site for the SVG Public Archaeology Program. Big thanks to the svgdigs team, all of our volunteers, Mrs. Kathy Martin and the SVG National Trust, and Dr. Rudy Matthias and his team at the IADC for a successful 2011 season. Our proposal to the IADC has been approved, so the 2012 season is a go! If you'd like to join us, please download an application form and we'll get the process rolling. Maybe you'll find one of these!
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