[OR_Archaeology] WSU Field School pairs with BLM's Vale District in Owyhee River Canyon

[Susan White]

(WSU Field School flyer attached)

(from Kris' Archaeology Blog at archaeology.about.com)

WSU Anthropology Dept's 2010 Field School will be in the Owyhee River Canyon, approx. 60 km from the Jordan Valley in southeastern Oregon. Directed by Dr. William Andrefsky, Jr., the excavations will focus on a prehistoric multicomponent site with a large pit house village.  Field school classes will emphasize both academic and practical instruction in developing basic skills in archaeological excavation, survey, mapping, photography, and field curation. Laboratory procedures and lectures will focus on lithic analysis, faunal analysis, and paleo-environments.

About the site
The archaeological site dates from approximately 7,000 to 2,000 years ago and is situated along the northwestern boundary of the Great Basin culture area. The most recent occupation of the site is a large village of numerous pit houses that were occupied and abandoned on multiple occasions. Preservation of organic materials and stone tools at the undisturbed site is excellent. The site area is situated on the portion of the Owyhee River, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. It is a truly magnificent setting with massive basalt and sandstone rock formations and abundant wildlife, such as desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, cougar, and rattlesnake.

Logistics
The course runs for a total of five weeks from May 24 through June 25, 2010. A one-day class orientation on the WSU campus in Pullman, WA precedes the move to the base camp at the historic 1930s Morrison Ranch on the Owyhee River. The field season is divided into three 9-day blocks with a 2-day break between each block. In addition to site excavations, the class will take a 3-4 day field trip to examine other sites in the region and to conduct archaeological survey exercises in the canyon country of eastern Oregon.

Tuition and Expenses
Current WSU and non-WSU undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to enroll. All participants must register for either 8 credit hours of Anthropology 399 (undergraduate) or 8 credit hours of 599 (graduate) through WSU. Tuition for undergraduate enrollment is $3,040.00 (resident), $3,120.00 (non-resident), and graduate student tuition is $3,216.00 (resident), and $3,296.00 (non-resident). Tuition is subject to change by the Board of Regents.

A special course fee of $543.63 covers food for five weeks, transportation to the base camp, local transport, field trips, and laboratory and field supplies.

Inquiries and Applications
Inquiries and application forms should be submitted as soon as possible. The deadline is April 15, 2010. Students who intend to participate in the course should contact: Jennifer Ferris, Field Director, Archaeological Field School, Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, PO Box 64910, Pullman, WA 99164-4910 (jennifer.ferris at email.wsu.edu; 509.335.3441; fax 509.335.3999).

Preference will be given to early applicants and anthropology/archaeology majors. The course will be limited to 15 students.

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