Summer Archaeological Field School

Lower Pecos Canyonlands

June 7^th – July 8^th, 2010

Join Dr. Steve Black, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University-San Marcos, for five weeks of hands-on training in archaeological field methods in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of southwest Texas, a remote area with an unparalleled 13,000-year record of hunter-gatherer life found in rock shelters with extraordinary organic preservation and vivid rock art, as well as in an intriguing and little-known array of upland settlement features. Field school activities will include field research and training, lab work, lectures, discussion, experimentation, site tours, and canyonland exploration. Also, visiting scholars will offer specialized training sessions.

Students will learn:

Site survey and recording in the canyons and adjacent uplands
Excavation methods including grid and alternative recovery systems, note-taking, and drawing
Feature documentation using conventional and digital techniques
Mapping using total stations, GPS, and compass and pace
Research design and methodology
Experimental approaches
Laboratory processing of artifacts, samples, and digital data

This undergraduate archaeological field school is offered through the Department of Extension Studies at Texas State University.

Course credit:

ANTH 4630, 6 credit hours undergraduate

Accommodations: Students will stay at the SHUMLA campus/field camp overlooking the Pecos River. Food, lodging, and transportation provided.

Conditions: Most days in June will be hot and dry, with lower humidity and less rain than San Marcos. Most field days will be spent within a short walk from the field camp. Survey days, site tours, and canyonland exploration will involve hikes through steep, rugged terrain. We will take appropriate precautions including proper sun protection, hydration, hiking attire, pacing, and taking advantage of the early morning hours.

Costs:

Tuition: $1,092

Application Fee: $25

Program Expenses: $1,133

Total $2,250

Application and Enrollment: Enrollment limited to 15 students. See Extension Studies web page to apply.

Additional Information: sblack@txstate.edu, 512-245-7862, & www.txstate.edu/anthropology/

Background: www.texasbeyondhistory.net/pecos/