Antigua Field School 2009

Archaeology 506: Advanced Field Methods
Full Course (0-7) (Area III)

Prerequisite  Completion of Archaeology 306 or equivalent

Course Description  Application of modern field/laboratory techniques through the completion of a supervised individual project (to be determined cooperatively by the student and instructors).

Course Dates  May 30 to June 27, 2009 (Days in Antigua)
Actual course continues until final report is submitted two weeks after departure from Antigua.

Instructors:

Location  Antigua, WI

Duration  Four (4) weeks of field/laboratory 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. 

ARKY 506 is a continuation of ARKY 306 in which students are offered training and experience in more advanced aspects of field and laboratory work.  Students are encouraged to design and complete a research project relating to the excavation or interpretation of archaeological sites.  It is expected that students will conduct regular field and laboratory work as well as any research required for their project in order to gain archaeological experience.

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
Project proposal
Annotated bibliography
Fieldbook/forms
Final Project

5%
10%
10%
15%
40%

A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D
F

90-100
85-89
80-84
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
< 50

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.

Project Proposal

The project gives the students experience in planning and implementing an archaeological research project.  The student must select a topic and obtain approval from the instructors in order to proceed.  A proposal must be completed as per the guidelines handout and will require background research to be done in Canada (where there are adequate library resources).  This proposal will adequately prepare the student to conduct their project and demonstrate their preparation to the instructor.  Proposals are due upon arrival in Antigua.

Annotated Bibliography

Through consultation with the instructor students will prepare and annotate a reading list relevant to their chosen topic.  In order that students may take advantage of literature available in Antigua bibliographies are due one week after arrival in Antigua.

Project Report

All students will provide a report of their research project.  The report 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).  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.

Fieldbook/Recording Forms

ince 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 and lab.  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.

Remember that you are going to be conducting research in a foreign country.  Do not assume that everything you need (e.g. equipment, library, etc.) will be provided or available on the island.  Discuss your needs with the instructors before you go if you are planning something that might require any special equipment or extensive library resources.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PREPARED.

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 with the final report.  Should your research be of exceptional quality it may be considered for publication in the planned Bulletin of the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.

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.

Students will be given adequate time off excavations and regular lab work to conduct work for projects as needed at the discretion of the instructors.

Important Dates

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

**Two weeks after the students leave Antigua: final reports 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.