2012 Summer Session
Northern Great Basin Prehistory Project
Archaeology Field School

Course Description

This course focuses on archaeological excavation methods. The initial days are spent in intensive field training with attendant lectures on the archaeology, environment, and ethnography of the Northern Great Basin region. Fieldwork sessions occupy approximately 8 hours each day, with some additional commuting time from the field camp to the excavation site or survey area.

The majority of the archaeology course is devoted to excavating at selected sites. Pedestrian surveys are also conducted to locate and record archaeological sites. Activities include instruction in excavation and survey techniques as well as archaeological record keeping and artifact processing in the field laboratory. Survey methods include development of observation skills, map reading, GPS usage, and note taking. The course generally involves about 20 students and 2 or 3 instructors and meets the rigorous field school standards of the national Register of Professional Archaeologists.

The setting in the Northern Great Basin offers a rich environment for studying late Quaternary climatic and hydrologic changes and the effects of these changes on vegetation cover, geomorphic processes, and soil development. In addition, the region has experienced the effects of volcanic eruptions, faulting, and wind action. The effects of these on the archaeology of the region is a major focus of discussions in the field training of our students.

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Rimrock Draw Rockshelter Field School

8 Credits

Instructor: Dr. Patrick O'Grady

Email: pogrady@uoregon.edu

Syllabus*

Schedule of Activities*

Rimrock Draw Rockshelter is a known stemmed point site near Riley, Oregon. The course will incorporate all phases of archaeological field investigation such as test excavation and elements of data recovery. Mapping with laser transit, site recording with GPS, and subsurface explorations with ground-penetrating radar will also take place. Mike Rondeau, a noted lithic analyst, will conduct a two-day workshop for all students. The field school runs from June 25 to August 3, 2012

Paleoethnobotany Field Class

4 Credits

Instructor: Margaret M. Helzer, Ph.D.

Email: helzerm@lanecc.edu

Advisory Staff: Dr. Patrick O'Grady and Scott Thomas (Burns District BLM)

Syllabus*

This three-week field class is designed to introduce students to methods associated with macrobotanical investigations at archaeological sites. The course provides a rare opportunity to conduct laboratory botanical analysis in a field setting. Students will gain hands-on experience building a modern reference collection as well as collecting, processing, and identifying seeds, charcoal and other plant remains preserved in the site. The field class runs from July 2 to July 20, 2012

Introduction to Lithic Technology

16 Hours

Instructor: Michael F. Rondeau

Syllabus*

This two day workshop is designed to introduce the student to basic concepts of technological lithic analysis and the role of flintknapping by demonstrating a range of flaked stone technologies. This workshop will cover basic flake and flake scar attributes and provide hands-on opportunities to practice identification of these attributes. A review of common flake stone tool types and their diagnostic attributes will also be introduced. This workshop is designed to provide a beginning foundation from which the student can learn about the complexities of the prehistoric flaked stone commonly found in far western North America.

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