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Field School

 

University of Massachusetts Archaeological Field School



Application Deadline: 04/15
Start Date: 06/13/2006
End Date: 07/15/2006

 

University, College, Institution

University of Massachusetts

Location of Field School

Deerfield, MA
USA

    Field School Overview

  • Excavation: Yes
  • Survey: Yes
  • Prehistoric: Yes
  • Time Period(s) Pre-Contact and Contact Period

Project Directors

Elizabeth S. Chilton, Associate Professor of Anthropology, UMass Amherst

Field School Description

The Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts has been the homeland of Native American communities for thousands of years, since well before Euro-American colonization in the 17th century. Archaeologists have identified traces of Native American occupation in the region dating back to at least 12,000 years ago, but much of this pre-Contact history is poorly understood.

The 2006 field school will be located in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The UMass Archaeological Field School will focus on at least one archaeological site in the Deerfield area, in order to learn more about pre- and post-Contact Native American lifeways and history. At present, we plan to survey and excavate portions of two archaeological sites: a 17th century Native fort and a Paleo-Indian site. The five-week field school will include intensive training in New England Native history, archaeological survey techniques, excavation, laboratory methods, artifact analysis, and archaeological interpretation. Students also will learn about the geology of the region, which plays an integral part in archaeological interpretations of the past. The opportunity to participate in our public education program will be a critical component of this field school.

Admission is based on the field school application, a current transcript, and a statement of interest.


Field school web site: www.umass.edu/anthro/
Field School Size: 16-25
Minimum age: 18
Is prior experience required?: No
Recommended experience: Archaeology coursework preferred

Specialized skills you will have the opportunity to learn

Manual Mapping/drawing (plan views, profiles): Yes
Total Station EDM mapping: Yes
Compass mapping survey: Yes
Remote Sensing: Yes
Digital Photography: Yes
Excavation Survey Techniques: Yes
Interpreting stratigraphy: Yes
Soils: Yes
Lab work: Yes
Database: Yes
Artifact analysis: Yes
Lab work on rain days?: Yes

Is travel during free time restricted?: No

Academic, Credit Room and Board, & Tuition

Academic Credit: Yes
Number of Credits: 6
Tuition: Approximately $2000 (check back early in 2006)
Institution offering credit: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Room and Board Information: Students make arrangements for their own housing in the Amherst/Deerfield area. There is plenty of summer sublet housing available. For more info go to: http://janus.oit.umass.edu/~cshrc/housing.html
Room and board cost: variable

Archaeology field school contact

Elizabeth Chilton
Department of Anthropology, 240 Hicks Way, UMass
Amherst, MA 01003
USA
Telephone: 4135452867
Fax: 4135459494
E-mail: echilton@anthro.umass.edu