Allen Vegotsky wrote:

> Will students actually be handling trash or garbage?
> What precautions are planned to prevent students from
> contact with contagious microbes (For example, tissues
> from someone with an infectious disease.)

The students sorted through trash that they and their
teachers brought from their own homes (de-identified and
redistrbuted) specifically for the project. Students wore
disposable gloves and smocks. Lots of precautions were
taken.

See:
http://www.pastfoundation.org/2006Garbology/PhotosOct25.htm

> Is there a plan for supervision by professional
> archaeologists?

The project was designed by Dr. William Rathje, who
unfortunately could not participate at the late minute. The
hands-on work and much of the classroom material is
presented by Dr. Sheli Smith, operations driector of the
PAST Foundation and an original Garbage Project alum.

http://www.pastfoundation.org/2006Garbology/ProgramFaculty.htm

> Is there a plan for treatment of unexpected findings
> such as drugs, personal correspondence, valuables?

Yes, there were contingencies for dealing with those. There
were no drugs found, apart from an over-the-counter pill
bottle (ibuprofen or similar). Personal correspondence and
other material with identifiers was immediately set aside,
weighed separately from the other material in that bag, and
shredded. No valuables were found, although there were a
couple of small electric appliances (e.g., hot plate)
discarded for no clear reason.

> This is not to throw cold water on what may
> be a very valuable project, but it would be
> nice to know a little more about the plan.

Additional material will be uploaded as it goes -- this is
an ongoing project over the next few weeks. The
garbage-sorting effort was only an introduction for the
students; the whole theme of waste and recycling is being
threaded through those students' classes this quarter.

Andy Hall