Past Field School Sites

Site names and numbers are color coded. Red indicates a prehistoric site. Blue denotes a historic period site. Click here for a Kansas county map showing locations of KATP sites. The same color coding is used on this map. Click on thumbnail of photo for a larger view.

• The June 2-17 excavations at the Thomas Johnson/Henry Williams Farm (14GH102) investigated portions of a subterranean root cellar and a hybrid semi-subterranean dug-out/sod-up building, as well as three other areas. Many domestic artifacts were recovered, including the base of an 1859 Singer sewing machine. Test excavations at the Nicodemus District 1 School House (14GH103) defined the base of a privy.

• The 2007 KATP field school was attended by 131 volunteers from all regions of Kansas. Altogether these volunteers contributed 2,881 hours of labor in the field, artifact processing lab, and classes. Dr. Flordeliz T. Bugarin of Howard University in Washington, D.C. is the principal investigator, and the artifact collection is being studied by Howard University students and other experts in the D.C. area.

• Reported in: Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2007) “KATP Heads for the Promised Land” Kansas Preservation 29(1):11-15; Flordeliz T. Bugarin (2007) “In the Midst of Wildflowers: KATP Searches for the Nicodemus Past” Kansas Preservation 29(4):1, 7-13; Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2007) “Evaluation of the 2007 KATP Field School” KAA Newsletter 19(3):7-11; Mary Conrad (2007) “A Participant’s Review of the 2007 KATP Field School at Nicodemus” KAA Newsletter 19(3):11-13; Mary Al Titus (2007) “One Member’s KATP Nicodemus Experience” KAA Newsletter 19(3):13-15; Marsha K. King (2007) “KATP Field School 2007 Photograph Gallery” KAA Newsletter 19(3):15-18; Brenda Culbertson (2007) “Observations on High Tech Site Recording” KAA Newsletter 19(3):19-20; Chris Garst (2007) “2007 KATP Laboratory” KAA Newsletter 19(3):20; Randy Thies (2007) Kansas Cemeteries and Gravemarkers Class” KAA Newsletter 19(3):21; Tim Weston (2007) “Basic Archeological Excavation Class” KAA Newsletter 19(3):21-23; Mary Conrad (2007) “Associated Programs Enhance the KATP Field School Experience” Kansas Preservation 29(5):19-21; Mary Conrad (2007) “Music to the Ears” Kansas Preservation 29(5):22.

• The June 3-18 excavation at 14MO403 near Council Grove yielded a number of artifacts from the Archaic-age Munkers Creek culture (ca. 5600-4800 years ago) and Hopewellian people of the Early Ceramic period (ca. 2000-1400 years ago). 
  Projectile points, knives, drills, scrapers, waste flakes from stone tool making, and pottery sherds were among the artifacts, which represented the everyday activities that occurred at this place in the past.  No house floors, storage pits, or post molds were uncovered, but several possible hearths of fire-reddened limestone were exposed in one area.

• The 2006 KATP field school was attended by 180 volunteers from all regions of Kansas and from Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Massachusetts. Ninety-six were first-time participants, and 36 were between 10 and 18 years of age, including two groups of Boy Scouts who participated to fulfill a portion of their Archaeology Merit Badge requirements. Altogether these volunteers contributed 7,234 hours of labor in the field, artifact processing lab, and classes.

• Reported in: Jim Dougherty and Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2006) “Rendezvous in Council Grove” Kansas Preservation 28(1):20-23; Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2006) “KATP Field School Trains Amateur Archeologists” Kansas Preservation 28(4):1, 10-16; Christine Garst, Nancy Arendt, Nancy Calhoun, Marilyn and Jerry Finke, Anita Frank, Marion Poe, and Jimmette Rowlinson (2006) “Camaraderie Along with Education: A Report on the Artifact Restoration and Conservation Class” Kansas Preservation 28(4):17-18.

• The 2005 KATP field school, June 4-19, concentrated on three sites that make up the Kanorado locality, which represents short-term campsites of nomadic Paleoindian hunters. Large numbers of artifacts were not expected, but still a few specimens were recovered, including hide scrapers, stone flakes, an incised piece of hematite that might be a bead, and fragments of bone from extinct mammoth, camel, and bison. The Kanorado locality is significant because it represents the first recorded in situ Folsom and Clovis-age cultural deposits in the Kansas/Nebraska region. It also may have a pre-Clovis archeological component and, therefore, may shed light on the timing of human entry into the Great Plains. Fifty-four of the 111 volunteers were new to the program. A total of 5,423 person-hours were donated in the field, laboratory, and classes, bringing the KATP’s contribution to the study of Kansas archeology to 144,192 hours over its 30-year history.

• Reported in: Rolfe D. Mandel and Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2005) “Westward Ho to Kanorado!” Kansas Preservation 27(1):1, 13-15; Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2005) “KATP Field School at Kanorado,” Kansas Preservation 27(4):1, 11-16; Mary Conrad (2005) various articles, KAA Newsletter 17(3):12-17; Rolfe D. Mandel and Steve Holen (2005) “Field School at Kanorado Yields Preliminary Interpretations,” Kansas Preservation 27(5):13-15.
  

2004- McPherson County, Schwantes Site (14MP407)

• The 2004 KATP field school, June 5-20, investigated an earthlodge and several areas outside of this and other houses. This McPherson County habitation site, attributed to the Smoky Hill phase of the Central Plains tradition, had several subtle, but visible, mounds. Prior to the field school a geophysical survey was conducted to help identify potential cultural features in the vicinity of the house mounds and artifact scatter. The excavation yielded a large quantity of pottery, including several reconstructible vessel segments, and a varied and sizeable collection of stone tools. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained from charred plant remains (a bean and a corncob) collected from the house floor, resulting in dates of 825 +/- 25 and 780 +/- 60 B.P. A total of 133 volunteers contributed more than 5,800 hours in the field and lab to help make the investigations at 14MP407 a success.
  
• Reported in: Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2004) “Central Kansas, Here We Come!” Kansas Preservation 26(1):1, 11-14; C. Tod Bevitt (2004) “Laying the Groundwork: The Geophysical Survey of 14MP407” Kansas Preservation 26(4):13-15; C. Tod Bevitt (2004) “Housework and Yard Work: The 29th Kansas Archeology Training Program Investigates a Smoky Hill Phase Habitation Site” Kansas Preservation 26(4):16-22; Martin Stein (2004) “Recording Rock Art at the Katzenmeier Site (14EW401)” Kansas Preservation 26(5):17-19; Rose Marie Wallen (2004) “Council Circles Mapped in Central Kansas” Kansas Preservation 26(5):20-22.

2003 - Wabaunsee County, Claussen Site (14WB322)

•   The Kansas Anthropological Association and the Odyssey Archaeological Research Fund at the University of Kansas formed a partnership to carry out the 2003 KATP field school, July 12-20, at the Claussen site (14WB322) in Wabaunsee County.  Two components of the site were investigated, one dating to Late Paleoindian/Early Archaic (8,800 years ago) and the other to the Ceramic period (810 years ago).  Chipped stone, mussel shell, gastropods, vertebrate fauna, and charcoal were recovered from the lower level.  In addition to features of in-place burning and a large faunal assemblage, especially mussel shells, the upper component yielded a modest number of artifacts, including shell-tempered pottery and chipped stone objects.  During the nine-day field school and volunteer weekends into the fall, 115 volunteers contributed 4,116 hours of skilled labor to the project.

•  Reported in: Dick Keck (2003) "New Investigations of Our Earliest Residents" Kansas Preservation 25(1):9-10; Rolfe D. Mandel (2003) "KU-KAA Partnership Studies Ancient Kansans" Kansas Preservation 25(5):7-8; Donna C. Roper (2003) "Claussen Site Study Continues" Kansas Preservation 25(6):17-18; R.D. Mandel, C. Widga, J.L. Hofman, S. Ryan, and K. Bruner (2006) "The Claussen Site (14WB322), in Guidebook of the 18th Biennial Meeting of the American Quaternary Association, edited by Rolfe D. Mandel, pp. 4-2 - 4-8, Kansas Geological Survey, Lawrence.

2002 -Sheridan County, Albert Bell Site (14SD305) & Cottonwood Ranch (14SD327)

• The KATP field school returned to the South Solomon River valley in northwestern Kansas to two sites partially excavated in 1990. At the Cottonwood Ranch a crew searched for the remains of a turn-of-the-century icehouse and found a trash dump that contained an array of Pratt family artifacts. At the Albert Bell Site another crew investigated an Upper Republican earthlodge "yard " and midden, occupied for a short time more than 500 years ago. A total of 138 volunteers donated 5,472 hours to fieldwork, laboratory, and classes.

• Reported in: Mary Conrad (2002) "2002 KATP Returns to Albert Bell Site and Cottonwood Ranch," and "Many Activities Accompany Field School," Kansas Preservation 24(4):1-7; Anita Frank (2002), "Help for Museums with Small Budgets," Kansas Preservation 24(4):6; Donna Roper (2002), "Research Answers Lingering Questions about Prehistoric Sheridan County Farmstead," Kansas Preservation 24(5):11-13; Jade Hisey (2002) "A Mysterious Sheep at Cottonwood Ranch," Kansas Preservation 24(5):14; Marsha K. King (2002) "In Search of the Pratt's Icehouse," Kansas Preservation 25(1):1, 3-6.

  2001 - Atchison and Doniphan Counties

• Participants recorded 70 new sites and tested 6 previously recorded sites, covering much of the Deer and Independence creek valleys. The sites dated from the Archaic to Historic period but predominantly represented the Village Gardener period (A.D. 1000-1500). Lab workers used rain days to their advantage by processing specimens brought in from the field and also previously collected artifacts from 14RC9, 14RC8, and 14WH316. The 154 volunteers donated 5,418 hours to the project.
  

• Reported in: Mary Conrad (2001) "Kudos to All!," "New Meaning for a 'River Walk,'" and "A Community's Commitment and Involvement," Kansas Preservation 23(4):1-6; Jim D. Feagins (2001), "KATP Viewed from the Air," and "A Perspective from Across the 'Big Muddy," Kansas Preservation 23(4):4, 9-12; Dick Keck (2001) "Bottles in a Barn," Kansas Preservation 23(4):7-8; Brad Logan and William E. Banks (2001) "Archeological Testing at 14AT438," Kansas Preservation 23(5):11-12.

2000 - Ellsworth County, Fort Ellsworth (14EW26)

• KAA volunteers returned to the site of the 1996 KATP field school to excavate two more dugouts and a related depression. The 185 volunteers donated 5,500 hours to the project.

• Reported in: Robert J. Ziegler (2000) "Ellsworth Through a New Bride's Eyes," Kansas Preservation 22(1):1-2; Mary Conrad (2000) "Archeology Increases Knowledge of Fort Ellsworth " and "Educational Opportunities for Students and the Community," Kansas Preservation 22(4): 1-3; and Wendy Waller Zeller (2000) "A View from the Lab: An Intern's Experience at Ft. Ellsworth," Kansas Preservation 22(5): 4-5.

1999 - Chase County, Workshop - Hallman Site (14HP524) & Crandall Site (14RC420)

• Workshop consisted of classes and laboratory processing of artifacts from the Hallman site (14HP524), excavated in 1988, and the Crandall site (14RC420), excavated in 1983. Seventy-one KAA members volunteered 1,444 hours to the project.

• Reported in: Mary Conrad (1999) "KATP Concentrates on Collections and Classes" Kansas Preservation 21(4):8-11, 15; and Bruce Jones and Steve Miller (1999) "The View from the NPS," Kansas Preservation 21(4):8.

1998 - Meade County, 14MD306

• Investigations were conducted at this Middle Ceramic period (ca. A.D. 1000 - 1500) Wilmore complex habitation site by 121 KAA members who volunteered 3,581 hours to the project.

• Reported in: Mary Conrad (1998) "Fowler Welcomes KATP," Kansas Preservation 29(4):1-3, 14-15; C. Tod Bevitt (1999) "An Archeologist's Notebook: The Wilmore Complex of the Middle Ceramic Period on the Southern High Plains of South-Central and Southwest Kansas," Kansas Preservation 21(1):5-7, 12; C. Tod Bevitt (1999) "Life on the High Plains Border: Archeological Investigation of Three Late Prehistoric Habitation Sites in Southwest Kansas," The Kansas Anthropologist 20:1-106 and (1999) Life on the High Plains Border: Archeological Investigation of Three Late Prehistoric Habitation Sites in Southwest Kansas, M.A. thesis, Department of Anthropology, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.

1997 - Gove, Graham, Sheridan, & Trego Counties Site survey and recording of prehistoric and historic sites.

• Seventy-five KAA members volunteered a total of 2,987 hours during the survey conducted in portions of these four counties. The survey documented the presences of several previously unknown sites, including prehistoric quarries, associated habitation areas, and historic sites.

• Reported in: Martin Stein (1997) " KATP Wraps Up 1997 Western Kansas Survey," Kansas Preservation 10(1):8-14; Martin Stein (2005) Sources of Smoky Hill Silicified Chalk in Northwest Kansas, Kansas State Historical Society Anthropological Series Number 17.

1996 - Ellsworth County, Fort Ellsworth (14EW26) & Fort Harker (14EW310)

• A total of 185 KAA volunteers donated 8,300 hours in the archeological investigation of these two historic frontier military posts.

• Fort Ellsworth was an active U.S. Army post from 1865 to 1867. The site is now located on federal land associated with Kanopolis Reservoir. Artifact collecting and metal detecting are not allowed on federal property.

• Reported in: Milton Reichart (1997) "Sifting Through History: From sun-dried bricks to dinner forks, one Kanopolis field school participant reports on the important artifacts unearthed during the KATP's annual dig,&qout; Kansas Preservation 19(1):1-3; and Robert J. Ziegler (2001) Historical Archaeology at Locality 6 of the Fort Ellsworth Site (14EW26), Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County, Kansas, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District.

• Fort Harker, established by the U.S. Army to replace Fort Ellsworth, was occupied from 1867 to 1872/73. This site is located on privately owned land. Four of the original stone fort buildings remain, two of which are owned by the Ellsworth County Historical Society. The old Guard House is operated as a museum.

• Reported in: Marsha K. King (1997), Results of Archeological Investigations at Fort Harker, 14EW310, Ellsworth County, Kansas. Kansas State Historical Society Contract Archeology Publication Number 17.

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