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2010 Archaeological Field School
May 24th – June 4th, 2010

CAR will be hosting an archaeological field school outside of Perryton, Texas from May 24th through June 4th, 2010. Excavations will be conducted at three primary sites: Chill Hill (41RB132), Eastview (41RB153), and Spider Peak. Chill Hill is a large, Late Middle Ceramic period (A.D. 1415 to A.D. 1440) village site. The occupants of this settlement were intensive bison hunters and were heavily involved in trade with the eastern Pueblos of New Mexico. Eastview is a small Middle Ceramic period settlement that was attacked and destroyed about A.D. 1350. Excavations here will concentrate on two of the burned structures present at the site. Spider Peak is a small, defensive settlement of unknown age located atop an isolated mesa. Additional opportunities include artifact processing in our field laboratory and participation in a systematic metal detecting survey. All field and laboratory work will be led by experienced personnel. We will work Monday through Friday from 7:00 am until 3:30 pm. Field school participants will be free on weekends to tour, travel or relax in camp. Select evenings will include lectures and presentations on the archaeology and history of the region. Otherwise, participants will have evenings off to relax and visit.

Excavation techniques will vary from site to site, but will include the investigation of residential structures and associated features (e.g., middens, hearths, roasting pits, and storage facilities), and test excavations.  Participants will be trained in a wide variety of important techniques, including identifying and exposing cultural features, mapping and recording of artifacts, profiles, and features, coring, collecting specialized samples, photography, and water screening.  Laboratory activities will include artifact identification, stabilization, and cleaning, cataloging, record keeping, soil flotation, and the cleaning of metal artifacts using electrolytic baths.

A wooded field school camp will be established in the beautiful Wolf Creek valley and Dempsey Malaney will again serve as camp boss. Participants will also be welcome to camp at the adjacent Lake Fryer County Park. Cooks will be on hand to prepare excellent hot meals for breakfast and dinner. To see a preliminary meal schedule: Click Here. Participants will be on their own for lunch in the field and on the weekend of May 29th and 30th. Ice, electricity (with limited 20 and 30 amp hook-ups), water, restrooms, showers, and other necessities will be available in camp. Facilities for dumping sewer waste are available at the adjacent Lake Fryer County Park.

All participants will be expected to participate in field or laboratory work. Prior archaeological field or lab experience is desirable, but not required. Participants may sign up for one or two week long sessions. The costs are shown below. The total number of field school participants will be limited to 100, so apply early. Three hours of college credit is available through West Texas A&M University. To download a field school application: Click Here.

 

One Week Session

Two Week Sessions

Field School With Meals

$100.00

$150.00

Field School Without Meals

$50.00

$75.00

 

spider_peak
Spider Peak, a small, defensive settlement atop an isolated mesa

 

 

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