Main street, breakfast

10 August 2010. Zhada, Tibet

We are authorized to continue our fieldwork. A slow morning with partly cloudy skies awaits us.

More excavation today; gotta get those 11 jaws outta there!
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A bump on the road

9 August 2010. Zhada, Tibet

 

We spent the whole day yesterday excavating ZD1001, the highly productive bonebed discovered by Juan Liu. In a day's work, we had uncovered 11 jaws of bovids and a mustelid. Among other elements were limb bones and axial elements of horses, rhinos, and more bovids.

 

Of course, among the most important finds are the small mammals; besides the two types of lagomorphs (rabbits and pikas), there were also squirrel teeth and post-cranial elements. Isolated teeth of these small mammals pop up everywhere as we carefully sort through the surface sediment with dental picks. We also collected bags of matrix to screen-wash for any missed microfossils.

 

Today, we are spending at least the morning (and potentially the entire day) dealing with the local police. We decided to check in at the police station last night after work, but the police shut down our operation by giving the reason that we are missing a piece of paperwork. More hurdles to jump, but hopefully things will work out.

 

It is overcast in Zhada today, with temperatures in the 60's degrees F. It has not rained so far today. There was a brief power outage this morning, but power is back on now.

 

[posted from Zhada's Internet Cafe]

Snapshot of Zhadan life

8 August 2010. Zhada, Tibet

Life happens a little slower in the desolate town of Zhada.

Cars waiting at the town's only gas station are outnumbered by pigs, chickens, and geese.

The town sits quietly above the Sutlej River, watching every cloud that passes by, many of which bring rain and snow even on a cozy August day.

The excitement and stress of our fieldwork are greeted by a more peaceful way of living in this tiny town.

A toast to the badlands!
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