Antigua Field School 2009

Archaeology 306: Introduction to Field Methods
Full Course (0-7) (Area III)

Prerequiste  No previous archaeology experience, but consent of the department is required.  (Advanced students are referred to ARKY 506).

Course Description  Practical application of modern field techniques in archaeology, including survey, excavation, recording and analysis of sites, artifacts and related materials.

Course Dates  May 30 to June 27, 2009 (Days in Antigua). Travel date TBA contingent upon availability of flights and accommodations. Actual course continues until final unit summary is submitted two weeks after departure from Antigua.

Location  Antigua, WI

Duration  Four (4) weeks of field work in Antigua and two (2) weeks to work on research projects after the return home; the course thus runs a total of six (6) weeks.  Non-Calgary students are not expected to attend any sessions at the University of Calgary, but their final projects must be received by the Department of Archaeology on or before the due date.  Pre-session readings will be assigned for students to complete before arrival in Antigua.  Reading packages will be made available on the University of Calgary campus, or mailed to out-of-town students.

ARKY 306 is designed to introduce students to basic methods of archaeological field and laboratory techniques.  The course consists of lectures (both in a classroom and field settings), excavations at one or more archaeological sites and the processing and preliminary analysis of the excavated material from these sites.

The main topics covered during the course are surveying and mapping, excavation procedures, record keeping (including photography), processing and preliminary analysis of material culture.  In addition to basic archaeological methods students will have an opportunity to learn specific techniques associated with human osteology and the analysis of lithic, ceramic, faunal and shell artifacts. 

Field work will be conducted at one or more archaeological sites in order to introduce students to different types of archaeological research carried out in Antigua.

Course Components and Grading Scheme

Quiz
A short multiple choice quiz on the pre-session readings will be held during the first week in Antigua.  This quiz will take place when convenient and is designed to encourage students to complete the assigned readings.

Midterm
The midterm will consist of both a written component (multiple choice and short answer type questions) and a practical component in which students will apply the skills they have learned (eg. basic artifact identification).

Fieldbook/Recording Forms
Since archaeological investigation is a destructive process, comprehensive recording of all activity conducted in essential.  Students will maintain field books to document their archaeological investigations (eg. mapping, provenience, and identifications, lab processing).  This book is handed in part way through the course and checked by the instructors; at the completion of the course. Each field book is handed in with the students’ final project and remains the property of the Field School.  Each student will maintain their own workbook for their own notes.  Guidelines for proper field book formatting will be handed out and discussed in Antigua.

Field and Laboratory Performance
Students will be assessed with respect to their performance in the field, lab and throughout their time in Antigua.  Emphasis is placed on their competence at various stages of the excavation and their final project but also includes their attitude towards learning and working in a field environment.  The latter is an important part of archaeological fieldwork, particularly when working and living with a crew in a communal situation, and includes such things as punctuality, general attitude, and an ability to work well with others.

Final Unit Summary
Each student will complete a summary of a unit excavated during the summer.  This summary will pull together results of the excavation, field observations and lab analysis.  Its intention is to allow students to place their work within the perspective of the larger project.  The summary will be written in a report-style format.  Background information on the island, culture, time period etc. must be included and resources are available in most university libraries.  Included in this summary is an in-depth analysis of some aspect(s) of the excavation, data analysis and interpretation of the site. 

Specific guidelines and formats will be given out in Antigua. The summary will be due 2 weeks after the students return to Canada (SEE SPECIFICS BELOW).

The summaries will be handed into the Department of Archaeology (University of Calgary) no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, July 10, 2009.  Late papers will not be accepted without legitimate official documentation (eg. medical).  No extensions will be granted for personal travel plans or other non-medical reasons. Off campus students are advised to send their papers by a method (eg. courier) that can be tracked for their own protection.  Note: it is the student's responsibility to ensure that their report is posted with plenty of time to reach the Department of Archaeology.  Final papers submitted by email will not be accepted.

You are joining an “in-progress” long-term research project.  All data, artifacts and results of research are the property of the Antigua Field School and must be handed over to the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.  This information may be used by the instructors or other researchers.  You cannot use or publish any data without permission.  Your field
notes must be handed in before you leave Antigua. 

Required Texts
Archaeology Basic Field Methods, R. Michael Stewart, 2002, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Booklet of readings for ARKY 306/506, Antigua Field School. 
Available at the Student Union Copy Centre, MacEwan Hall.  Readings packages will be mailed to off campus students who will reimburse the instructor in Antigua.

Program
Day 1  Arrival in Antigua, students are met at the airport and transported back to accommodations.  A small meal will be served and accommodations assigned.  A short orientation lecture (house rules etc…) will be given.

Day 2  Late breakfast then off to Halfmoon Beach.  Remainder of the day is free time for relaxing and getting settled.

(The first few days in Antigua will be shorter to help students become settled in Antigua)

Day 3  Go to St John’s.  Visit Museum of Antigua and Barbuda – introduction to staff, display and research areas in morning.  Afterwards students have time for banking and some shopping.  A guided tour of Nelson's Dockyard Historic Site will take place in the afternoon.

Day 4  Introduction to the course and its components.  Morning session will introduce students to the material culture commonly encountered in the excavations, basic mapping and survey.  Afternoon hike and tour of Shirley Heights. 

Day 5  Morning session begins with quiz.  Lectures then continue from the previous day including the topics of excavation and cataloguing procedures.  Visit to Dow's Interpretative Centre and lecture in the afternoon.

Day 6  Begin regular schedule of fieldwork.

From here to the end, excavation will take place every day into the final week with lectures in the field or in evening as needed to cover all relevant material.  Laboratory work such as processing artifacts and analysis will take place as needed and with increasing frequency towards the final week.

Important Dates

**End of first week in Antigua: Readings Quiz **

**One day of third Week in Antigua:  MIDTERM in morning before fieldwork**

**Two weeks after the students leave Antigua: Final Unit Summaries are due**

Field Trips:  Approximately eight (8) fieldtrips to various historic, prehistoric and environmental sites are planned for portions of occasional weekdays and weekends (usually part days).  Others will be conducted as opportunities arise.

PLEASE note that the daily schedule will be adhered to as much as possible, but due to the spontaneous nature of weather interruptions and opportunities for touring or guest lectures, some flexibility must be inherent.