by Jessica Brody

A member of the museum stopped by to drop off the annual dues and left us with an unexpected gift! She had a couple things her husband was willing to part with: a commemorative ship’s bell and an old spy glass. The ship’s bell is probably a significant addition to the museum collections since it has the name of a ship on it, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off the spy glass. It was so cool! I’d never seen one before and it looked right out of the Mary Poppin’s movie.

I just happened to have one of the kids for the after school program nearby. I showed her the spy glass – she’d never seen one before either. I asked her to guess how old it was. “It doesn’t look so old,” she said. When I told her it was probably about 110 years old she refused to believe me.

We’ve been working hard the last couple weeks under extreme pressure to complete two grant proposals. These had to be completed on top of assembling a new display for Provo, preparing for Children’s Program and Spring 2 Collection events, and hosting 7 cruise ships through the museum.

The grants are very exciting. The first was actually a submission of the second and final round of the British Library’s Endangered Archives Project. This project would allow the museum to hire an archivist to seek out and preserve pre-1900 government records. The possibility of saving these documents is a very exciting prospect and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we are accepted!

The second proposal, submitted today, was a nomination to the American Association of State and Local History’s Leader in History Award for Where is Simon, Sandy? The publication of Simon, Sandy and its proceeds have led to the promotion of Turks and Caicos culture and history to international audiences, the acquisition of donkey-related items, and it provides funding for the Children’s Program. Certainly a project like this is worthy of recognition!

Looking at the spy-glass today reminded me of how rewarding all this work can be, not only did I get to see something new, but I got the opportunity to interpret that history for a Turk’s Islander. The look on her face reminded me why we work so hard on these projects: to interpret and celebrate Turks and Caicos history!

We now offer a behind the scenes guided tour at the museum in Grand Turk. The tour is available through our website on the Cruise Ships Tours page. The tour has been developed for people who want a more detailed and longer experience at the museum. This may be divers who are really interested in seeing collections from shipwrecks around Grand Turk that are not on display. This may also be cruise ship tours who want an experience a little more personal and less crowded.

Yesterday we had our first guests on the tour. Ken and Debby came off the Carnival Liberty.

Jessica took them through the museum and the Molasses Reef Wreck. For the “behind the scenes” portion in the labs, someone was working on the Provo Island Wise exhibit case, so they got a full discussion of how museum exhibits are developed.

They had a great time. In fact Ken said that the tour was the “highlight of their cruise.”

On Tuesday we had a local musician’s jam at the museum. Often during these events visitors will show up and sit in. On this particular night Wally Jarvis, a Renaissance musician from Michigan, came and played a 13th century wooden flute.

The evening was incredible. The Wet Lab and outside areas were full of people. The blend of island music and Medieval flute was particularly captivating. Truly remarkable. One of the best music events we have held at the museum.

We appreciate participation like this. It not only makes the museum a fun place to come to, but it makes our programs fun for us as well.

By Rory McEathron

The archaeological excavation continued today, mindless of the overcast weather–which I thoroughly enjoyed.The whole group worked incredibly hard today, digging 22 new holes (most of which had nothing of substance in them) and covering almost two acres.

Had it been hot and sunny like yesterday, I think that we may have had casualties—I am exhausted anyway. The ground we’re covering is covered with hundreds of thorn-bushes, and I think that seeds could actually be planted in the dirt-filled gouges in my legs and arms.We’re definitely making good progress though.

Debbie and I talked for close to half an hour about Hollywood archaeology today while we were working. Why can’t real archaeology be like we see in Indiana Jones? I mean, he walks onto a site and finds the priceless treasure in his first hole! So far, out of 56 holes, the most interesting thing that we’ve found is … a tiny piece of pottery? I’m really having fun with it; it’s hard work but I’m learning a lot and getting to spend time with people I’d never have a chance to otherwise. Day four tomorrow!

By Rory McEathron

The surveying part of the archaeological project finished today. We covered another 15 holes (many of which we were forced to surface collect) and found a wide range of colorful ceramic fragments and broken bottles. I learned today that it is possible to estimate the age of a bottle by measuring how deep the indentation on the bottom is. Present-day glass bottles usually have flat bottoms, but when bottles were made in the 19^th century they were blown on the end of a rod. The older bottles had very large indentations on the bottom where the rod was placed. We were also greeted today by a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron at one of our holes. These birds, which stand about two feet tall, are basically fearless and do not fly away unless closely approached. After watching the bird for nearly five minutes, it flew into the dense scrub and disappeared. I always find the incredible variety of creatures God has created amazing…I was astounded again today and I hope that I will continue to be! Artifact cleaning tomorrow!

By Rory McEathron

Our archaeological dig led us to 19^th-century remnants of an old building behind Corktree Beach today. The building, which the Museum Director believes was originally known as Corktree Plantation, is today simply a pile of burned and broken rocks—however, the ruins are littered with broken ceramic fragments. Most of the shards are blue and white, while others are various shades of red, green and brown.These fragments, which date from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, are easy to see on the screen. When compared to the dark brown beads and bone fragments that we’ve been finding, these vivid shards seem to jump from the ground. We also began using a laser range finder today. Instead of pacing out every distance, we simply press a button and the exact distance is projected onto the tiny screen.I always find the new technology incredible…how can a tiny device have so much processing power? I guess that’s why I’m not a computer programmer!Day five tomorrow — all the holes should be finished by the end of the day.

Today, we have had a full day of cruise ship visitors, a couple divers, and then at two the six grade classes from Eliza Simmons Primary School came for a field trip. The museum has been full all day. This is at a time when we are down a temporary staff member as Jessica has completed her volunteer work in the archives and has returned to Boston. She had been covering the guided cruise ship tours as well.Lina came in this morning to guide the first tour. The Aliatte came in between classes at the college to give the children’s tour. Aliatte has become of the key staff leaders of the children’s program and though she is now well into her second year of a teaching certificate, she still comes into work at the museum often to assist with both tours and children’s club planning.