Field Schools in Anthropology

This course initiates a yearly hands-on experiential field school that examines and replicates primarily indigenous housing and subsistence practices from the Prairie edge of the Great Plains from the pre-historic through the early-immigrant pioneer periods.

This is an excellent opportunity for Anthropology majors with cultural and archaeological interests.

Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Environmental Studies, Great Plains Studies, and Teacher College students will also find this course useful.

We will utilize the University of Nebraska Natural Study Area at Reller Prairie located approximately 20 miles south of Lincoln in southern Lancaster County

http://snr.unl.edu/aboutus/where/fieldsites/rellerprairie.asp

The 2012 class will clear the first house site, gather materials, and begin construction of a bent sapling frame structure. Students will also participate in food gathering and processing, tool making, and animal hide work by researching and gathering materials from the local landscape.

Housing and subsistence practices will be augmented by student observations of the local environment, daily journaling, and an integrated final essay. A required reading list is being developed for this course.

We will meet daily outdoors at the Reller site for work and research. A UNL van will be available for transporting students to and from city campus daily.

Dr. Awakuni-Swetland plans to camp on the site for the three week class. Enrolled students wishing to camp on site are welcome.

I.       28 May - 15 June ~ High Plains and Sand Hills Archaeology (L. Wandsnider and M. Douglass, instructors)

This first portion of the field school will focus on archaeology in dynamic contexts. We will practice discovery and field documentation techniques integrated within a geoarchaeological framework. Operating out of the Hudson-Meng Museum and Research Center facility on the Oglala National Grassland, near Crawford (NE), we will be living in a tent camp with kitchen facility, water, electricity, and showers for the duration; students will need to supply sleeping bag and pay for board.

II. 18 - 22 June ~ POW  Camp Archaoelogy (P. Bleed and D. Scott, instructors)

This phase of the field school will focus on a World War II POW camp in Nebraska. During the Second World War, thousands of Axis prisoners of war were held in the United States. The archaeology of internment, especially dating to the 20th century, is a rapidly growing sub-field of archaeology. Students will learn about metal detector survey, test excavations, and mapping. Students will be living out of a tent camp and will have to pay for food.

III. 25 June - 6 July ~ Pecos Pueblo Historic Archaeology

 The Pecos National Historical Park investigations will take place in the "trade fair" area next to the famous prehistoric and historic Pecos pueblo. Students will participate in metal detecting and other geophysical investigations of the area thought to be the location of camps for Plains groups who traded with the Pecos inhabitants. The area is also believed to be the camping area for Coronado's visit and attack on the pueblo in 1541. Spanish and American visitors and traders continued to use the area until the 1860s as the Santa Fe Trail passes very close to the Pueblo. Students will learn how to locate, identify, and record artifacts in a non-collection strategy approach to archaeology. They will also assist in laying out geophysical grids, and assist in collecting data using ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity, and magnetometers. All travel and lodging expenses will be defrayed for this portion of the field school.

Tuition and Fees (undergraduate 8 week session, 6 credits)

Transportation and Supply Fee

TOTAL

$1,249.00

$ 275.00

$1,524.00

Complete these forms and submit to:

Department of Anthropology

810 Oldfather

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE  68588-0368

Application Form  

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