2008 Public Archaeology Field School

at the

Vancouver National Historic Reserve

June 17 - August 2, 2008

NPS Photo

Field school students excavate the burned roof fall from a mid nineteenth century soldiers’ kitchen in 2007.

The National Park Service, Portland State University, Washington State University Vancouver, and the Vancouver National Historic Reserve Trust are pleased to announce the eighth annual field school at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

The two-part program will introduce the methods and theories of fieldwork in historical archaeology. Students will participate in all aspects of field and laboratory work including survey techniques, positioning units, subsurface excavation methods, mapping, drawing, site photography, as well as cleaning, identifying, cataloging, and analyzing artifacts.

NPS Photo

The Public Archaeology Field School provides students with an opportunity to help excavate and study some of the Pacific Northwest's most significant sites.

The season will also include a public lecture series featuring visiting scholars, guest speakers and staff.

This year’s project will build upon the 2007 Field School excavations of the early (ca. 1846-1880) history of the U.S. Army component of the fort, including investigations at enlisted men's barracks, laundresses’ quarters, officer's quarters and related kitchens.

In 2007 we found foundation remains of the enlisted men’s kitchens and officers’ quarters and an associated kitchen. We will expand our examination of these structures as well as search for remnants of associated middens and shaft features (privy sites) to collect samples of Victorian material culture and the remains of meals. We will continue our work in the laundress quarters and soldiers’ barracks.

NPS Photo

Wooden foundation remains of an enlisted men’s kitchen excavated by students in the 2007 Archaeology Field School.

The project will help explore the U.S. Military story at Fort Vancouver during the period of the Indian Wars and the Civil War by examining the various living conditions at Vancouver Barracks for officers, soldiers, and laundresses; the food types prepared and served to consumers in the military kitchens, messhalls and at individual residences (officers quarters had attached kitchens); as well as examine the influence of the military bureaucracy on the lifestyle of the inhabitants.

Nineteenth century social changes in urban areas of the eastern United States involved the redefinition of the concepts of class, work and home, of public and private space, and the roles of men and women. Information produced from these excavations will help address whether consumer choices made by U.S. Army residents at the fort reflect their personal aspirations and identity with some of the attitudes of broader American society. Results will also help to preserve and interpret sites associated with Officers Row and the Parade Ground.

Course Information

Part I: Introduction to Field, Laboratory, and Interpretive Techniques in Historical Archaeology

Part II: Advanced Techniques in Historical Archaeology

Dates

Part I: Tuesday - Saturday, June 17 - July 12, 2008

Part II: Tuesday – Saturday, July 14 - August 2, 2008

Course Registration Information

Please Note

Financial aid is available through the respective Universities in accordance with their policies.

The field school runs Tuesday through Saturday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Students are responsible for providing their own accommodations and daily transportation to the field site (public transit is available).

To Apply

For early notification please submit application by April 11, 2008.

Notification of early applications will be by April 18, 2008.

Application deadline has been extended to June 2, 2008