During the past decade, over 150 undergraduate and 40 graduate students have participated on a total of seven UAlbany field schools. Students participate directly in archaeological discovery and the recovery of primary scientific data about Maya society.
Undergraduate students lean basic scientific skills essential for the archaeological excavation and they practice a variety of methodological approaches appropriate to a full range of research objectives. These skills provide the credentials needed for employment with private archaeology companies once they return to the US. A field school is also the first step in professional training of students who pursue archaeology in an academic setting.
Dr. Robert Rosenswig will teach the two field school courses: Aant 335 (3 credits) and Aant 338 (6 credits). The latter is an intensive field course of practical instruction and hands-on learning that comprises the 8 hours per day (5.5 days per week) of field work. The former consist of evening lectures, lab training and weekend field trips to archaeological sites in the region.
We recognize that most students need to take more than 9 credits to progress through their program of study and to retain their full-time status for student aid. We will therefore offer two additional courses (3 credits each) that students will be able to join the week of Feb. 18, 2008. Dr. Marilyn Masson will teach Aant 330 “Stone Tool Analysis” and Dr. Sharon DeWitte will teach Aant 416 “Human Osteology.” Each class covers the analysis of a category of archaeological data that the students will have been recovering “in the ground” during their six weeks in Belize. Students will assist with some of the field laboratory processing and analysis of these types of material during their final three weeks in Belize prior to their return; the classes at UAlbany will expose them to advanced analysis techniques. Due to the potential of perceived inequities in experience levels that could impact student performance in these two classes, different expectations will be set for students participating in the field school.
Ant 335: Field Methods in Archaeology (3 credits) Instructor: Dr. Robert Rosenswig
This course introduces undergraduates to field and laboratory techniques in archaeology through lectures, practical demonstrations and exercises in the field, and readings. It will be taught in tandem with Anth 338 under the auspices of the San Estevan Archaeological Project at the site of San Estevan, Belize, Central America. Students will acquire skills in setting up excavation units, recording elevations, selecting excavation strategies and areas to test, filling out field records, making field observations, drawing plan, profile, and site maps as well as laboratory processing of artifacts. These skills will be practiced daily in the field, and lectures will cover a broad range of field methodologies. Students will be required to pass a practical exam demonstrating competence in a full range of field skills and a written exam on field methods.
Ant 338: Archaeological Field Research (6 credits) Instructor: Dr. Robert Rosenswig
Students will join the research team of the San Estevan Archaeological Project as assistant staff members in the exploration of the earliest domestic zones of San Estevan. This field research course will stress links between data collection and interpretation. The research objective of this project will be contextualized within the context of Maya sites in Belize. Lectures will cover a range of topics on Maya research, and field trips will be taken to nearby archaeological sites. During this six week period, students will be living in the Belizean Maya community (originally founded by Yucatec Maya speakers from Mexico) of San Estevan. This experience will thus represent an intensive immersion in Maya and Belizean culture, both past and present. This course will be taught in tandem with Anth 335.
Aant 339 Archaeological Lab Techniques (3 credits) Instructor: Dr. Stewart Swiny
Survey and practical application of laboratory techniques using materials from the University collections. Emphasis on physical and chemical analysis, classification, and specialized analysis. A Ant 339Z is the writing intensive version of A Ant 339; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Ant 104.
Ant 416: Human Osteology (3 credits) Instructor: Dr. Sharon Dewitte
This course is an intensive study of the anatomy of the human skeleton. This course will cover bone histology, growth and development of bones, functional anatomy, common pathological conditions, the determination of age and sex from skeletal material, and the identification of whole and fragmented bones in archaeological and forensic contexts. This course will include a laboratory component to provide students with the opportunity to examine the material discussed in class.
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