Western Kentucky Field School 2004
Research Goals
The overall goals of the project are twofold. First, we identify the prehistoric community's layout by employing a programmatic approach to the organization and analysis of old materials (60-year-old WPA excavation) followed by specially targeted new excavations (ongoing fieldwork). The research benefits from the strengths of old and new work: large-scale exposures with selective sampling of artifacts versus focused excavations with the collection of diverse cultural and biological materials. Second, we explore the nature of status differentiation at a relatively isolated Mississippian site. The Annis Village is located far away from major Mississippian sites, so differences in the ranking of people (as detectable through artifacts and architecture) will be related to the structure of the local society rather than to direct outside influence from a more powerful mound center. Moreover, there do not seem to be significant earlier components at Annis Village, giving us a clear snapshot of the workings of a Mississippian community.
Applications
The following application is available in two formats.
- Microsoft Word Document (27K in size)
- Adobe PDF format (74K in size)
The Penn State Department of Anthropology will once again be offering an archaeological field opportunity in western Kentucky during the summer of 2004. The project will take place at the Annis Village, a Mississippian (ca. AD 1100-1400) site near Morgantown. Look for a writeup of the project in the Archaeological Conservancy's Fall 2003 issue of American Archaeology magazine.
General Information
Students will be taught how to lay out grids, use a transit (both optical and laser), excavate, and do preliminary laboratory work. We will also have a survey component to teach students how archaeologists go about finding archaeological sites and recording them. Most instruction will be hands-on training in the field, however some lecture and discussion along with field trips will also take place. The dates for the course will be May 16 - June 25 (the first summer session). Students will be back in time for second summer session. The course is offered through Penn State's Continuing Education Department. Students will register for ANTH 492 (3 credits) and 493 (3 credits) for a total of 6 credits. Current Penn State tuition rates can be found here (these are subject to change). In addition to tuition, there will be a modest fee to cover the cost of personal equipment for each student (trowels, tape measures, and the like). Students will keep the hand tools at the close of the field season. All other field equipment will be provided by the project.
Students will be required to pay for their own housing and food. We will be staying in dorm rooms at Western Kentucky University. The charges will be approximately $500.00 Transportation to Kentucky from State College and daily from Bowling Green to the site will be provided. However, students are permitted -- indeed, encouraged -- to bring their own vehicles for personal use. There are a lot of interesting local sights, including Mammoth Cave, within easy driving distance.
