University of Utah

Location of Field School

Utah

 

Field School Overview

• Excavation: Yes
• Survey: Yes
• Prehistoric: Yes
• Time Period(s) Fremont
• Remote: Yes
• Long hike to site: Yes
• RPA Certified?: Yes
  

  Project Directors

  Dr. Duncan Metcalfe, Utah Musen of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, University of Utah
  

  Field School Description

  The University of Utah's 2006 summer program in archaeological field techniques will be held at Range Creek Canyon in east central Utah. Jointly sponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Utah Museum of Natural History, this course offers students the opportunity to learn modern archaeological field and lab techniques in an ongoing field research program. Under the direction of Dr. Duncan Metcalfe, participants will receive training in a variety of field techniques including survey, mapping, soil identification, and aspects of paleo-ecological research. No previous experience is necessary, but some exposure to basic archaeological and anthropological concepts is recommended.
  Admission to the field school is limited to 12 students. Admission is by application only. Priority for admission will be given to current University of Utah students and those pursuing a professional career in archaeology or a related discipline. Students will earn 8 semester credits upon successful completion of the field school (Anthr. 5712).
  Participants must provide their own health insurance, a small tool kit, basic personal camping equipment, and transportation to the University of Utah.
  See website for additional information.
  
  
  
  Field school web site: http://www.anthro.utah.edu/fieldschool/fieldschool.html
  Field School Size: 1-15
  Minimum age: 18
  Is prior experience required?: No
  

  Specialized skills you will have the opportunity to learn

  Manual Mapping/drawing (plan views, profiles): Yes
  Total Station EDM mapping: Yes
  Manual Transit: Yes
  Compass mapping survey: Yes
  GIS: Yes
  Traditional Photography: Yes
  Excavation Survey Techniques: Yes
  Interpreting stratigraphy: Yes
  Soils: Yes
  Lab work: Yes
  Database: Yes
  Artifact analysis: Yes
  Flora identification: Yes
  

  Academic, Credit Room and Board, & Tuition

  Academic Credit: Yes
  Number of Credits: 8.0 credits
  tuition http: www.acs.utah.edu/tuition/ia-tuit.htm
  Institution offering credit: University of Utah
  Room and Board Information: Expect comfortable but relatively primitive living conditions. We will be camping at the Wilcox ranch, which was a working ranch until a few years ago. Students are expected to provide their own camping equipment (personal tents, sleeping bags and pads, etc.). Meals during the ten-day work sessions will be prepared by a professional cook. Water, toilets, and archaeological field equipment (aside from the personal tool kit) will be provided by the field program. All students will be expected to assist in the daily camp chores required to keep a field camp running smoothly. Additionally, one day of each field session will be devoted to maintaining the ranch, and will include such activities as landscape upkeep, cutting firewood, painting, mowing, etc. It is a small price to pay for having access to the main ranch house for cooking facilities, the bunkhouse and a log cabin for research facilities. Students will also assist with cooking on a one-day rotational basis.
  The ranch is in an extremely isolated part of Utah. Access is by a dugway (a dirt road cut into the side of a canyon wall by a bulldozer) that crosses an 8,700 foot pass. When wet, the dugway is all but impassable. In good weather, it takes about 2 hours to travel from the ranch to the nearest major town, Price. For safety reasons, students are discouraged from bringing personal vehicles to the field. Cellular phones do not work in the canyon, although a satellite phone is available for emergencies.
  
  The course will consist of four 10-day field sessions separated by 4-day breaks. One or two vehicles will return to Salt Lake City at the beginning of each break and students have the option of staying in camp or going to Salt Lake City. Students choosing to remain in camp will be responsible for their own food and general camp management during the breaks. On the Saturday afternoon in the middle of each field session, students will have the opportunity of going into the town of Price to wash clothes and purchase personal items.
  
  The weather tends to be unpredictable and can change dramatically without notice. In general, expect hot days and warm nights, and dry weather punctuated by afternoon thunderstorms. This field season is sufficiently late that insects should not be a major problem, but students should be alert for rattlesnakes and black bears. The major problems are likely to be injuries due to falling, sunburn, dehydration and sore muscles. Bear in mind that this is a field school working out of a field camp: storms can blow down tents, flood sites, and trench roads; vehicles break down and get stuck; medical facilities are quite some distance away. Much of the success or failure of the field season will be a function of everyone cheerfully pitching in to overcome the adversities that are guaranteed to arise.
  
  Room and board cost: See website for special fee-amount not currently available
  Additional readings http: www.anthro.utah.edu/fieldschool/reading.html
  
  

  Archaeology field school contact

  Shannon Arnold
  270 South 1400 East Stewart Building Room 117
  Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
  United States
  Telephone: 801-585-6444
  Fax: 801-581-6252
  E-mail: shannon_arnold@hotmail.com
  

  Summary

  Non-university students must register as non matriculated in order to register