Course Description
This course focuses on archaeological excavation methods. The initial days are spent in intensive field training with attendant lectures on the archaeology, environment, and ethnography of the Northern Great Basin region. Fieldwork sessions occupy approximately 8 hours each day, with some additional commuting time from the field camp to the excavation site or survey area.
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| Cave 3 Excavations at Desert Field Rocksheleters |
The majority of the archaeology course is devoted to excavating at selected sites. Pedestrian surveys are conducted to locate and record archaeological sites. Activities include basic instruction in excavation and survey techniques as well as archaeological record keeping and artifact processing in the field laboratory. Survey methods include development of observation skills, map reading, GPS usage, and note taking. The course generally involves about 20 students and 2 or 3 instructors and meets the rigorous field school standards of the national Register of Professional Archaeologists.
The setting in the Northern Great Basin offers a rich environment for studying late Quaternary climatic and hydrologic changes and the effects of these changes on vegetation cover, geomorphic processes, and soil development. In addition, the region has experienced the effects of volcanic eruptions, faulting, and wind action. The effects of these on the archaeology of the region is a major focus of discussions in the field training of our students.
For further information on the field School, contact: Dr. Patrick O'Grady -
Geoarchaeology Field School
Instructor: Dr. William H. Lyons
Syllabus
Design of the Course: You will learn to interpret the soils that contain archaeological sites. With hands-on experience, students will learn to understand and approach the geological and soil structures, materials and processes that affect, contain and contribute to archaeological deposits. This is field Geoarchaeology.
Introduction to Lithic Technology
16 Hours
Instructor: Michael F. Rondeau
Syllabus
This two day workshop is designed to introduce the student to basic concepts of technological lithic analysis and the role of flintknapping by demonstrating a range of flaked stone technologies. This workshop will cover basic flake and flake scar attributes and provide hands-on opportunities to practice identification of these attributes. A review of common flake stone tool types and their diagnostic attributes will also be introduced. This workshop is designed to provide a beginning foundation from which the student can learn about the complexities of the prehistoric flaked stone commonly found in far western North America.