Kansas Archeology Training Program Field School 2012
The 2012 KATP field school will be held June 2-17 at the site of Fool Chief’s 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. 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 (KDOT) 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.
Around 1830 the Kansa (also known as the Kanza or Kaw) were leaving their villages in the Manhattan vicinity and moving eastward to be closer to the newly formed agency at Cantonment Leavenworth in northeastern Kansas. American Chief and Hard Chief established villages along Mission Creek south of the Kansas River in western Shawnee County. Fool Chief (Kah-he-ga-wa-ti-an-gh, translated by Kansa historian George Pierson Morehouse as brave and courageous, even to rashness) established his village between the Kansas River and Soldier Creek. Contemporary traders, travelers, and missionaries described Fool Chief’s as the principal Kansa village with 30-50 lodges that sheltered a population of 700-800 people. These villages were among the last that the Kansa occupied in the tribe’s ancestral homeland before they were relocated by the U.S. Government to a reservation near Council Grove.
Fool Chief’s Village was occupied during 1830-1844, a tumultuous period when important cultural and economic changes were disrupting Native American communities. The Kansa had deeply integrated themselves into trade networks, and mass-produced trade items were readily available to them. They continued to practice seasonal hunting and agriculture, living a semi-sedentary way of life. Hunting, however, took on new meaning as the acquisition of hides gave the Kansa access to markets, and competition and warfare periodically raged between the Kansa and the Pawnee and other tribes. White settlers encroached on the already diminished Kansa lands, and the Kansa saw their way of life change dramatically. Researchers actually know surprisingly little about how native peoples acted and reacted to the rapid changes unfolding in their communities and in the world around them. For background information on the Kansa Indians and Fool Chief, visit the Kaw Nation website, these readings (Adams 1904, Anonymous 1881, Chouteau 1880, and Cone 1881) from the Kansas Historical Society archives, and a list of suggested references.
In 1957 then State Archeologist Roscoe Hall Wilmeth recorded the site. The site was known historically and was mapped at this location based on eyewitness accounts and historical data; however, pedestrian surveys in 1957, 1969, and 1974 seeking to document the village location found virtually nothing. Metal detector surveyors intensively collected the site over the years.
In spring 2006 KDOT requested archeological evaluation of 14SH305 because proposed improvements to U.S. Highway 24 threatened 14SH305. The Kansas Historical Society Contract Archeology Program (CAP) conducted a pedestrian survey with some shovel tests, a limited metal detector survey, and a restricted remote sensing. In fall 2006 a road grader was used to strip away portions of the plow zone along the approximate centerlines of the proposed roadways. Archeologists shovel skimmed to investigate possible house and hearth features.
In light of the discoveries, KDOT funded a geophysical survey of the site using magnetic and resistivity devices. Numerous anomalies were found, three of which were recommended for further investigation. In fall 2007 CAP conducted test excavations over the three anomalies, but no features were encountered. Next an area was scraped and systematically monitored by archeologists, volunteers, and metal detectorists. The scraping revealed the presence of five charcoal and artifact concentrations, ranging up to 10 meters (about 30 feet) in diameter. Unfortunately, heavy rodent disturbance made them difficult to interpret.
In June-July 2011 Dr. Margaret C. Wood of Washburn University conducted an archeological field school on the property. Dr. Wood and her students used a total station to pinpoint the location of two features that were uncovered during the 2007 KDOT project, and they excavated one of them. Three postmolds and several burned elements were identified.
The primary objective for the 2012 KATP field school is to recover as much information as possible from the part of 14SH305 that will be impacted by the KDOT project. KSHS Highway Archeologist Tricia Waggoner will serve as principal investigator for the 2012 project. She has identified research questions concerning trade, lodging styles, regional comparisons, and a number of other issues. A sample of the questions that she hopes the project will answer are:
- Other than bison, what animals for fur trade are represented in the faunal remains at the site?
- Are any pre-contact manufacturing styles still being practiced by the Kansa at Fool Chief’s Village, or has all manufacturing been superseded by trade?
- Historical accounts indicate that the Kansa lived in both earth lodge villages and bark lodge villages. What style of lodge was being used at Fool Chief’s Village?
- How does Fool Chief’s Village compare with other known Kansa sites, such as Hard Chief’s Village, Blue Earth Village, the Fanning Site, and the Council Grove villages?
- Is there evidence of horses and dogs at Fool Chief’s Village?
Overall, the results of the investigation will contribute to knowledge of the Fool Chief’s Village site and to better understanding of Kansa adaptations during the Contact period, especially compared to other Contact-period groups in the Great Plains.
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 are included in the registration packet, available in hard copy and also on this web site around March 1. The packet, divided into two parts (you will need both), contains forms for KAA and/or Kansas Historical Foundation membership; registration and scheduling 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 PACKET: Part One Part Two
Registration forms submitted by May 1 qualify for a participation fee of $20 for KAA and Kansas Historical Foundation members and $80 for nonmembers. After May 1, 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. For college credit tuition fee schedule and application, visit the ESU website.
Archeological Fieldwork
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
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.
Archeological Short Subjects
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. Scheduling will not permit this class to be taken in conjunction with the Our Town II class.
Our Town II: Preserving Local Museum and Archives Collections and Historic Buildings
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. Scheduling will not permit this class to be taken in conjunction with the Archeological Short Subjects class.
