Summer Field School Offers Forays Into Native American And Early Colonial Archaeology, May 21-June 29

Chestertown, MD, March 9, 2007 — Washington College's Department of Sociology and Anthropology will again offer a Summer Field School in Archaeology from May 21 to June 29, 2007. Taught by archaeologist Darrin Lowery, Dr. John Seidel and staff from the Washington College Public Archaeology Laboratory, the course provides practical experience in all phases of field archaeology. This summer's work will continue the search for Indian sites in Kent County, moving to the Eastern Neck and Rock Hall area. In addition, archaeologists will be searching for some of the earliest colonial sites in the area, dating to the second half of the 1600s. Last year's efforts revealed sites with Indian trade beads and pipes dated to the late 1600s, and deed research has suggested the location of several additional early colonial sites.

The eight-credit program—open to both college students and adults—will teach excavation and lab techniques; remote sensing; artifact identification, dating and analysis; and mapping and surveying of archaeological sites using both theodolite and GPS. Hands-on fieldwork will be augmented by lectures and special presentations, laboratory work, and trips to regional sites and museums.

"This year's Field School will give students the chance to explore Native American and colonial archaeology," said Seidel, associate professor of anthropology and environmental studies and Interim Director of the College's Center for Environment & Society. "Over the past two years, we have found more than 40 unrecorded archaeological sites in the county, up along the Sassafras River. We'd like to take a closer look at several of those through excavations, while shifting our search for new sites to a new area, around Eastern Neck. This is exciting work—these are completely unknown sites, including some of the very first colonial settlements in the area."

Interested students are encouraged to apply early, as space in the class is limited. Limited housing on the Washington College campus may be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The class runs for six weeks, meeting five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The base of operations is the Washington College Public Archaeology Laboratory in the Custom House. Vans will take students to field sites outside of Chestertown. Tuition is $2,700. Students will register for ANT 296 Sections 10 and 11.

For more information and to register, contact Dr. John Seidel at 410-778-7756, or via e-mail: jseidel2@washcoll.edu.