Fort
Lewis College will again offer its six-week training course in field
archaeology during the summer of 2010, under the direction of Mona
Charles. Field work will be conducted at the Old Fort Lewis Campus
near Durango, Colorado and at a prehistoric site along the Florida
River, both in La Plata County. Intensive instruction in archaeological
inventory, compass and tape mapping, Total Station mapping, remote
sensing (electrical resistance and magnetometer), GPS and GIS, and
limited excavations will be the focus of this six week field school.
The field school is a required class in the Fort Lewis Anthropology
Department's Cultural Resource Management
certificate.
The Old
Fort Lewis Campus began as a frontier military fort that operated from 1880-1891.
In 1891 it was decommissioned and the land was transferred to the
Office of Indian Education for use as an Indian Boarding. The Indian
Boarding School operated from 1891-1910. Recently, with a grant from
the Colorado Historic Fund, Fort Lewis College Archaeological Field
School began a cultural resource inventory of the area immediately
surrounding and including the Old Fort Lewis Campus. To read more
about the results of this cultural resource inventory follow the
link: Report_final.pdf
The inventory to date has resulted in
recording 35 archaeological sites. Most of the sites are historic
and related to the military period; however, as we expand the survey
beyond the limits of the immediate campus, we are encountering
prehistoric sites. Five prehistoric sites were recorded during the
2008 field school. During the 2009 field school, we also recorded
several culturally modified trees.
Plans for the 2010 field school include the
following: continue with the archaeological survey at the Old Fort
Lewis; conduct remote
sensing at some of the sites that may have buried foundations or
buried features other than foundations; find and document a number
of scarred ponderosa trees (culturally modified) across the
reservation; complete intensive mapping
of several historic sites; and place test units in at least one
prehistoric site. The field school has been invited to help with
archaeological recording and mapping of a large prehistoric site on
property owned by the Durango Nature Studies, a not-for-profit
organization dedicated to "nature science and environmental
education in the Four Corners."
GIS data courtesy of Bill Ball and James
Gustine
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the rich prehistoric and historic heritage of Southwest Colorado while gaining knowledge and skills in field archaeology. A
field trip is planned to visit archaeological ruins and rock art
across the Four Corners and along the San Juan River in Southeast
Utah.
Depending on individual levels of experience and needs for field training,
students may enroll in either ANTH-259 or ANTH-403. (See further course
descriptions below.)
Dates:
May 17-June
29, 2010
Costs:
Resident tuition ($131/CrHr): $917.00 (for 7
credits after the resident (COF) stipend
Non-resident tuition ($642/CrHr): $4494.00
(for 7 credit hours)
Note:
In addition there is a $186.20 (total) student fee and tuition charge assessed.
This student fee is 1/2 that of the regular student fees due to the
field school being off-campus.
J
Note: In addition, there is a $100.00 course fee for supplies and activities.
The Training
The 2010 field school will focus on techniques of
archaeological survey, site documentation, field analysis of
artifacts, remote sensing, and excavation.
Participants will receive training in traditional and non-traditional aspects
of archaeological field methods and techniques. Included
will be:
Electrical Resistance training at the Old Fort Lewis
Total Station mapping
During
laboratory sessions in the classroom and at the site, students will
learn artifact preparation, field classification, computer coding
techniques (MS Access) and initial field analysis and interpretation.
Survey laboratory work will include UTM coordinate designations, recording
environmental variables, and standard site survey documentation. In laboratory sessions, students will learn how to classify
the different artifact types. Theoretical and methodological components
of the training will emphasize environmental (ecological) archaeology
and geoarchaeology. Further, students will be trained in interpreting
the results of archaeological fieldwork to lay audiences.
Enrollment
Information
ANTH-259:
Field Training in Archaeology (7 credit hours)
ANTH-403: Advanced
Archaeological Field Techniques (7 credit hours)
-
Designed for students who have taken ANTH-259,
or who have had prior experience in archaeology. Advanced survey and excavation techniques are undertaken,
along with practical instruction in field supervision, research
design implementation, and reporting functions. The upper division
credits may transfer as graduate credits at the
discretion of the student's home institution. This course if an
optional requirement for the Cultural Resource Management
Certificate.
Apply Online
Apply for
Scholarship Online
Reworked
projectile point Military Uniform Button
45-70 Government Rifle Cartridge
Historic Barracks at
the Old Fort Lewis site. The fort was decommissioned in 1891. The
buildings were converted to an Indian boarding school that operated
from 1891 - 1911.
Please Note:
Enrollment
in the field school is limited. Students are selected on the basis
of the application enclosed and other information they may be asked
to supply on request. Please return applications as soon as possible,
but by April 1. Students will be notified of acceptance in
April.
For further
information write or call:
Mona Charles
Department of Anthropology
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO 81301
(970)247-7295 (Office)
(970) 382-6952 (FAX)
CHARLES_M@fortlewis.edu
