2011 Courson Archaeological Research Field School

May 23rd to June 10th, 2011

Courson Archaeological Research will be hosting an archaeological field school outside of Perryton, Texas from May 23rd through June 10th, 2010. From May 23rd to June 3rd (Session One) excavations will be conducted at three primary sites: Chill Hill (41RB132), Eastview (41RB153), and Spider Peak (41RB147). 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 Late Archaic period defensive settlement located atop an isolated mesa. Additional opportunities include artifact processing in our field laboratory.  The second field school session will be from June 3rd to June 10th and will consist of a systematic metal detecting survey of historic Indian, buffalo hunter, and military encampments. All field and laboratory work will be led by experienced personnel.

Dark Outline of Pithouse Exposed at Chill Hill	In Situ Decorated Shaman’s Tube at Chill Hill	The Eastview Field School Crew and Instructor Tiffany Osburn

Fieldwork will be conducted at sites in the Canadian River valley. This area contains rolling to rugged terrain offering dramatic vistas. Our field laboratory is contained within a permanent building at the Chill Hill site.  Participants can drive directly to the Chill Hill and Eastview sites. A short, nonstrenuous five minute hike is required to reach the Spider Peak site.  We will work Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Select evenings will include brief lectures and presentations that focus on the archaeology and history of the region. Otherwise, participants will have evenings off to relax and visit.

Field School Student and a Scraper Recovered at Chill Hill	Looking NE from Eastview	Bison Bone, Pottery, and Trash Debris on House Floor at Chill Hill

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.
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 Sessions One, Two or both. The total number of field school participants will be limited to 50, so apply early.

Two Handed Mano Recovered at Chill Hill	Field School Participants Enjoying an Evening Meal	Instructor Joe Rogers at Spider Peak

Our private field camp will be at Campground #3 at Lake Fryer southeast of Perryton, Texas. Participants are welcome to stay in tents or trailers. Water and electricity are available. Modern bath and shower facilities are adjacent to camp. Hot breakfast and supper meals will be served on weekdays at the nearby Lobo Restaurant. Participants are on their own for lunch in the field and on weekends.
Participants have the option to sign-up for college credit through West Texas A&M University.  Contact us for additional information regarding tuition and fees.  Otherwise, the fees for the field school are shown below.

Session One: May 22 to June 3, 2011

Session Two: June 4, 2011 to June 10, 2011

Application Deadline: May 9th, 2011

To fill out a field school application: click here (MS WORD format)

To load PDF copy of the field school application: Click Here.

Fees (Does not include tuition for college credit)

Directors and Instructors

Project PI: Scott D. Brosowske, Ph.D.

Co-Directors: Stacy Brown and James Coverdale

Site PI's: Tod Bevitt, Mark Latham, Tiffany Osburn, Joe Rogers, Art Tawater.

Metal Detecting Survey PI's: Kelley Baker and Richard Mackie

Laboratory Director: Jenni Hatchett

Camp Boss: Dempsey Malaney

For additional information about the 2011 CAR Field School see our announcements at the following websites:

Archaeological Institute of America
http://www.archaeological.org/fieldwork/afob/3743
Shovelbums
http://www.shovelbums.org/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&sobi2Id=482&Itemid=

Bath and Shower House at CAR Field Camp	Decorated Shaman’s Tube at Chill Hill	Field School Students Visiting the Buried City Locality
Burned Wall and Roof Posts Exposed on the Floor of Eastview House	Burned Wall and Roof Posts Exposed on the Floor of Eastview House	Burned Wall and Roof Posts Exposed on the Floor of Eastview House
Evening Guest Lecture at CAR Field Camp	Excavated Pithouse at Chill Hill	Field School Student and a Harahey Knife Recovered at Chill Hill
Early Stages of Excavation at Eastview House	Pottery Sherds from a Excavation Level at Eastview	Field School Student Mapping a Deer Antler at Chill Hill
Field School Student Exposing Decorated Shaman’s Tube at Chill Hill	Field School Students Exposing Ceramic Vessel at Chill Hill	Collecting Macrobotanical Remains at Flotation Stations
Harahey Knife Recovered at Chill Hill	Field School Students Collecting Large Pot Sherd at Chill Hill	Instructor Mark Latham Exposing House Outline at Chill Hill
Firing Pot at Ceramic Demonstration	Field School Student Cooling Off at CAR Field Camp	Bonus Points for Style on the Rope Swing
Exposing Bison Scapula Tool at Chill Hill	Decorated Rim Sherds at Eastview	Looking SE from Spider Peak
Test Excavations at Spider Peak	Looking East from Chill Hill Field Lab	Field School Participants Water Screening at Eastview
Field School Participants Water Screening at Chill Hill

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