UWF is hosting three field schools this summer: Terrestrial Archaeology, Maritime Archaeology, and Forensic Anthropology. The terrestrial field school consists of geophysics in Crystal River, Florida and geophysics and excavations on Sapelo Island, Georgia. The maritime archaeology and forensic anthropology field schools are based out of Pensacola. The archaeology field schools are offered for 3-9 credit hours at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The forensic anthropology field school is offered for 1-3 credits hours at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A prerequisite for all the field schools is Principles of Archaeology (ANT 3101) with a grade of ‘C’ or better. A similar course taken at other institutions may meet this requirement. Email the appropriate project director for more information. See below for the maritime field school's and forensic anthropology field school's additional prerequisites.
Terrestrial: June 2 - August 8, 2008; Monday through Friday
Maritime and Combined: May 27 - August 8, 2008; Monday through Friday
Forensic Anthropology: May 12 - May 30; Monday through Friday
Archaeology Field Schools Application Deadline: March 1, 2008
Forensic Anthropology Field School Application Deadline: March 15, 2008
Acceptance Notification: April 1, 2008 (via email)
The 2008 Terrestrial summer field school will begin in Crystal River, Florida and continue on to Sapelo Island, Georgia. We will be investigating a number of sites this summer as part of several research programs. The major goal of these projects is to address changes in the social and environmental landscape. Specifically, we will investigate the localized use of space as well as the more generalized use of the landscape by humans during the pre-contact and historic periods. This work will provide baseline data so that future investigations may evaluate how these political and ecological systems change and covary over time.
This summer's activities include: a geophysical survey and topographic mapping of a Woodland period ceremonial mound center at Crystal River, Florida; archaeological and geophysical survey and excavations at two multi-component sites located on Sapelo Island, Georgia and archaeological survey on the smaller back barrier islands in this area. The targeted areas on Sapelo include survey and test excavations on archaeological deposits beginning in the Late Archaic and continuing through the Contact periods. The second Sapelo Island site, Bourbon Field, contains Late Archaic through historic Guale Indian remains, and historic period Spanish Mission and Gullah/Geechee materials. Students will gain experience in the use of geophysical instruments in archaeology, pedestrian survey, mapping and excavation, and GPS use in archaeology.
The first portion of the field school will be held in Crystal River Florida, located about one hour from Tampa. Once in the field, it will be difficult to return to Pensacola even on the weekends, though not impossible. We will, however, return to Pensacola for a few days prior to leaving for Sapelo. Sapelo Island is a remote island off the Georgia Coast and is only accessible by boat. Contact with the mainland while on Sapelo Island is limited. There are no “real” stores, restaurants, or many of the other amenities provided by modern western civilization. Despite this, or because of this, Sapelo is a unique, vibrant and wonderful place to work.
Note: We will be riding in small boats and walking though thick vegetation. It will be hot and there will be lots of bugs that bite. Sapelo is also full of wildlife that includes alligators and venomous snakes.
Prerequisites: The prerequisite for the terrestrial field school is Principles of Archaeology (ANT 3101) with a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Accommodations: Living arrangements will be the responsibility of students while in Pensacola. In Crystal River, living arrangements will be communal, and provided by the field school. It may be that we will have to camp; however, there will be places to shower, etc. Living accommodations on Sapelo Island will be a communal dormitory provided by the field school and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Food: There will be a charge for food while away at field school (at both Crystal River and Sapelo). This usually runs around $5 per weekday or 25$ per week. Food money for the each segment (Crystal River and Sapelo) will be collected prior to departure so that we can buy provisions for the group. Costs run around $50 for Crystal River and $125 for Sapelo.
Dig Kit: Students will be required to purchase a dig kit (e.g., file, trowel, tapes, etc). We will provide a list of items to purchase. This usually runs around $125.
Transportation: Transportation in Pensacola will be the responsibility of the student. Students will be provided with boat transportation to Sapelo Island. Once on the island, transportation is not available and students will be dependent on UWF faculty and supervisors for transport to field sites and any trips around the island.
Tentative Schedule:
June 2nd - June 6th – Pensacola, Florida
June 9th - June 20th – Crystal River, Florida
June 26th - August 1st – Sapelo Island, Georgia
August 4th – August 8th – Pensacola, Florida
For further information about the terrestrial field school, contact Dr. Victor Thompson (850-474-2831, vthompson@uwf.edu) or Norma Harris (850-474-2796, nharris@uwf.edu)
The University of West Florida will be conducting a maritime archaeology field methods course between May 27 and August 8, 2008. Qualified students are invited to participate in underwater archaeological investigations in Pensacola Bay and surrounding waters. This summer’s activities include testing and excavation of a sixteenth-century Spanish shipwreck; remote sensing survey using magnetometer, side-scan sonar, and sub-buttom sonar equipment; site testing and excavation of potential shipwrecks in Pensacola Bay; hull recording and underwater photography of a nineteenth-century sidewheel steamboat in Seminole, Alabama; as well as site assessments and dives on known historic wrecks and maritime sites located in the area. Fieldwork will be supplemented by lectures and discussions on themes ranging from the colonization of northwest Florida to maritime landscapes and economic maritime connections in the Gulf region. When not diving, students will perform topside duties such as dive tending and support, artifact recording, and database entry. Students may also be called on to participate in the conservation and laboratory analysis of recovered material.
Prerequisites: In addition to Principles of Archaeology (ANT 3101) with a grade of 'C' or better, an open-water scuba diving certification from a nationally recognized dive agency (PADI, NAUI, YMCA, etc.) is required for participation in the maritime field school. Students must also provide their own dive gear (tanks excluded). In addition, all students must have CPR/First Aid certifications and complete a snorkel checkout/swim test prior to the beginning of field school on May 27. Additional information about CPR/First Aid certification providers and snorkel checkout/swim test dates will be provided upon notice of acceptance into the field school.
Accommodations: Participants are responsible for their own housing and meals. Arrangements can be made to live in campus housing. Alternatively, the Pensacola area offers many weekly and monthly rentals.
Transportation: Daily transportation to the staging location, the University's Marine Services Center in Pensacola, is the responsibility of the student. Transportation to boat launches and dive sites will be provided by the University whenever possible, but students may occasionally be required to carpool to local dive locations.
Tentative Schedule:
May 27 - May 31 – UWF Scientific Dive Training (mandatory)
June 2 - August 8 – Students will rotate between the various dive sites in and around Pensacola.
For further information about the maritime field school, contact Dr. John Bratten (850-474-2706, jbratten@uwf.edu) or Greg Cook (850-857-6321, gcook1@uwf.edu)
Details for the combined field school have not yet been finalized. If applying for the combined field school, please indicate your preference for the terrestrial or maritime archaeology field schools should logistical problems prevent the combined field school from taking place.
For further information about the terrestrial or maritime portions of the tentative combined field school, contact the appropriate project directors listed above.
UWF's first Forensic Anthropology field school will be held on the UWF Pensacola campus. The major goal of the field school is to train students in standard methods of forensic search, recording, and recovery. Students will spend one week in the classroom learning to distinguish human bone from faunal remains, basic mapping procedures, evidence collection, and other skills which they will apply in the following two weeks to two mock forensic scenes, one involving a surface scatter of remains, and the other a buried body.
Dates: May 12 – May 30, 2008
Application Deadline: March 15, 2008
Application Notification: April 1, 2008 (via email)
Prerequisites: Biological Anthropology (ANT 2511/L) and Principles of Archaeology (ANT 3101) with a grade of “C” or better. Human Osteology (ANT 4466) preferred, but may be waived at the discretion of the instructors.
Credit: The course is offered for variable credit, 1-3 hours.
Accommodations: Living arrangements will be the responsibility of students.
Food: Students will provide their own lunches during the course. Drinking water will be provided on site.
Dig Kit: Students will be required to purchase a dig kit (trowel, brushes, tapes, etc.); we will provide a list of items to purchase. This usually runs around $125.
Transportation: Transportation to and from campus will be the responsibility of the student.
For further information about the forensic anthropology field school, contact Dr. Joanne Curtin (850-474-2795; jcurtin@uwf.edu) or Dr. Kate Spradley (850-857-6207; mspradley@uwf.edu).
