Kansas Archeology Training Program Field School 2012
The 2012 KATP field school will be held June 2-17 at the site of Fool Chief village (14SH305) on the north side of Topeka in Shawnee County. The site is a historically documented Kansa Indian habitation that has been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. For brief background information on the Kansa Indians and Fool Chief, visit the Kaw Nation website.
A road project, being designed to address safety concerns at the intersection of US Highway 24 and Menoken Road, will have a negative impact on the site. The Kansas Historical Society, under contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation and under the direction of the Federal Highway Administration, will carry out a data recovery program to mitigate adverse effects to the site. The Kansas Anthropological Association will partner with the KSHS in this effort on the June 2-17 portion of the fieldwork.
The Kansas Historical Society complex at 6425 SW 6th Avenue in west Topeka will serve as the project headquarters. The artifact processing lab, classes, and most evening programs will be at this facility.
Details will be included in the registration packet, which will be available in hard copy and also on this web site around March 1. The packet will contain forms for KAA and/or Kansas Historical Foundation membership; registration, scheduling, and medical information forms; options for lodging, camping, and food; a map of pertinent project locations; a list of recommended equipment; instructions for enrollment in formal classes; details about the KAA certification program; and a schedule of accompanying activities.
Registration forms submitted by May 7 qualify for a participation fee of $20 for KAA and Kansas Historical Foundation members and $80 for nonmembers. After May 7, the participation fee increases to $30 for members and $90 for nonmembers.
Although field and laboratory activities continue without stopping for the 16-day period, volunteers may participate for a single day or the entire time. Participants must be at least 10 years of age, and those younger than 14 must plan to work with a parent or other sponsoring adult at all times. A legally responsible adult must accompany participants between 14 and 18 years of age.
The KSHS and KAA do not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation of their programs; please make prior arrangements to accommodate individuals with disabilities or special needs with the KSHS Public Archeologist at 785-272-8681, ext. 266.
This field school is financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, a division of the United States Department of the Interior, and administered by the Kansas Historical Society. The contents and opinions, however, do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the United States Department of the Interior or the Kansas Historical Society.
This program receives Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U. S. Department of the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, P.O. 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127.
Classes
The following classes are optional, and, unless taken for college credit, there is no additional charge for enrollment. These classes may be taken for college credit through Emporia State University, for KAA certification credit, or simply for the information.
Archeological Fieldwork
ESU Designation: AN540A
Instructor: Kansas Historical Society Archeological Staff
Description: In this field/laboratory course students receive on-the-job training by direct participation in site survey/excavation and artifact processing. Instruction will be given concerning the survey techniques, excavation methods (including use of hand tools, removal and preservation of archeological materials, and record keeping), and laboratory procedures. A total of 40 hours of work is necessary to complete the course; up to 20 of these hours can be spent in the field laboratory. To allow for possible rain days, students would be wise to start work on the first day of the project and continue until they have completed 40 hours.
Basic Archeological Excavation
ESU Designation: AN540B
Dates: June 4-8, 1:00-5:00 PM
Instructor: Tim Weston, SHPO Archeologist, Kansas Historical Society
Description: This class uses lectures and fieldwork to focus on the techniques, principles, and theories of archeological site excavation, record keeping, and materials preservation. Students will be taught proper techniques for preparing and conducting an archeological excavation. Instruction will be given on the identification and interpretation of artifacts, structural remains, and environmental data. This class fulfills one requirement of the Basic Archeological Crew Member certification category.
Archeological Short Subjects
ESU Designation: AN540C
Dates: June 11-15, 8:00 AM-noon
Instructors: Brendon Asher, Graduate Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas;Chris Prouty and Ron Seeger, Exhibits Department, Kansas Historical Society; Tim Weston, SHPO Archeologist, Kansas Historical Society; Rolfe Mandel, Odyssey Geoarchaeology Research Program, University of Kansas
Description: Five instructors will teach four short topics that are often requested. Lithic identification, small exhibit preparation, topographic map interpretation and site form completion, and soil description (one classroom session and one field session). Enrollees must attend all five sessions. This class can be used as an elective for various categories of the KAA Certification Program, but scheduling will not permit it to be taken in conjunction with the Our Town II class.
Our Town II: Preserving Local Museum and Archives Collections and Historic Buildings
ESU Designation: Our Town II
Dates: June 13-14, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Instructors: Kansas Historical Society staff
Description: Back by popular demand, this 2-day, 16-hour workshop is targeted to historical society and museum stewards but will prove useful to anyone interested in historic preservation. The workshop is divided into three seminars. Historic Buildings: State Historic Preservation Office staff will explain basic preservation techniques for historic museum buildings, whether on original location or relocated into a park setting, with information on listing these properties in the state and National Register of Historic Places and available financial incentives, such as rehabilitation tax credits and grants. Museum Artifacts: Kansas Museum of History staff will provide basic information regarding long-term care and preservation of museum collections. Archives: Archives staff will provide an overview of best practices for the preservation of documents, maps, and photographs. The emerging issue of digital preservation will be included in the discussion. This class could count as elective in a number of categories of the KAA Certification Program, but scheduling will not permit it to be taken in conjunction with the Archeological Short Subjects class.
