Syllabus
Course
Anth P-405
Field Experience in Archaeology
Section 11905
Summer I, 2008
May 7 – June 18, 2008
Instructor
Kathryn “Chris” Glidden, MA
Lecturer & Archaeological Lab Director
Department of Anthropology
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Office: CA431 – The Archaeology Lab
Course Description
2008 Field Experience In Archaeology - a six-week intensive course on historic archaeology with practical application in the field using archaeological techniques, methods, and theory. This is a non-residential field school held between May 7 and June 18, 2008 and working in the field Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The course includes sections in both field and laboratory methodologies used in archaeological research. This year’s historical archaeological field research will be at the Boxley Cabin, an 1828 homestead located in Veterans Park, Sheridan, Indiana, and will be a public archaeology program with students participating in tours of the site and interactions with both volunteers and the public.
Syllabus Disclaimer
This syllabus is a tentative schedule for the arrangement of this class and can be revised at any time at the discretion of the instructor.
About the Site
George Boxley was the first pioneer settling in Adams Township, Hamilton County, Indiana. The story, however, goes deeper than just being one of the first people to settle Indiana. George Boxley was a wanted man, an early abolitionist, from Virginia with a $1000 bounty on his head, accused of aiding African Americans escaping bondage in 1816. After nearly ten years on the run, Boxley found a small knoll on a hill where prairie was visible and decided to stop and settle at that location. He named it Pioneer Hill and there he stayed until he died in 1865.
George and Hannah Boxley raised 11 children in their log cabin, taught them lessons in a second cabin on the property, and possibly used a third cabin as a station of the Underground Railroad. Two sons founded their own town in Hamilton County, and another son became a lawyer and built an Italianade home directly in front of the log cabin in 1870. During this time, an African American woman by the name of Nancy Revels was employed and lived in a small gabled structure in the middle of a cluster of outbuildings.
The Sheridan Historical Society and the Town of Sheridan are very active in preserving the heritage of Pioneer Hill so the archaeology will bring both visitors and volunteers to the site. Students will be participating in a civically engaged public archaeology program not only learning archaeological skills but also by giving tours of the site and working with volunteers in the excavation units or at the screens.
Required Texts and Readings
2007 Little, Barbara J. Historical Archaeology: Why the Past Matters. Left Coast
Press. Walnut Creek, California. ISBN-10:1-59874-023-3.
All other required readings are on pdf format online on Oncourse.
2003 Carmichael, David L. et al. Volume 2: Excavation, Chapter 2 “Excavation: A
Brief History,” pp. 15-30; Chapter 3 “Archaeological Excavation is
Controlled Destruction,” pp. 31-48. The Archaeologist’s Toolkit.
Altamira Press. Walnut Creek, California.
2008 Delle, James A Tale of Two Tunnels: Memory, archaeology, and the
Underground Railroad. Journal of Social Archaeology, 8; 63. Online
version at http://jsa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/8/1/63
2003 Ewen, Charles R. Volume 4: Artifacts, Chapter 8 “Materials Analysis,” pp.
42-66; Chapter 9 “Classification,” pp. 67-88; Chapter 10 “Data
Manipulation,” pp. 89-116. The Archaeologist’s Toolkit.
Altamira Press. Walnut Creek, California.
2008 Glidden, K. Chris. Preliminary Archaeological Research Design: The Boxley
Cabin Site: Site 12H1260. Department of Natural Resources, Division of
Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Indianapolis, Indiana.
1907 Johnson, Howard. A Home in the Woods: Pioneer Life in Indiana. Indiana
University Press. Reprint 1978.
2007 McDavid, Carol. Chapter 4: “Beyond Strategy and Good Intentions:
Archaeology, Race, and White Privilege,” pp.67-88. Archaeology as a
Tool of Civic Engagement. Altamira Press. Walnut Creek, California.
2005 Sheridan Historical Society. A Man with a Price on his Head: The Life and
Times of George Boxley. Unknown Author. Sheridan, Indiana.
Schedule
Class begins at 8:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm with an hour for lunch 11:30 – 12:30 pm
Week 1 Day 1 Wed 05/07 Meet on campus CA431
Day 2 Thu 05/08 Meet on campus CA431 Read Carmichael
Day 3 Fri 05/09 Meet on campus CA431 Read Ewen
Week 2 May 11 – 16 Meet on site Read Glidden, Johnson, Sheridan Hist. Soc.
Site will be open on Saturday, May 17 – Armed Forces Day
Week 3 May 19 – 23 Meet on site Read Little, Part I and II
Site will be open on Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day
Week 4 May 28 – 30 Meet on site Read Little, Part III and IV
Week 5 June 2 – 6 Meet on site Read McDavid and Delle
Week 6 June 9 – 13 Meet on site Project presentation
Site will be open on Saturday, June 14 – Flag Day
Week 7 Day 1 Mon 06/16 Meet on site
Day 2 Tues 06/17 Meet on site
Day 3 Wed 06/18 Meet on campus
Public Archaeology Days
Staff and Volunteers will be working on the following weekend days:
Saturday, May 17, Armed Forces Day;
Monday, May 26, Memorial Day;
Saturday, June 14, Flag Day.
Reading Discussions and Project Presentations
Beginning with Week 2, each student will be required to lead a discussion on the readings. Every student is to participate in the discussion of the readings even when it is not their turn to lead the discussion. A sign up sheet will be provided for reading discussion leaders. Discussions will be held onsite any day during the week that they are scheduled.
Week 6 each student will make a presentation on what they believe would be a good next step in developing further community relations with the Sheridan Historical Society and the Town of Sheridan. Projects could be about presentation of specific artifacts for museum display, curation issues for the artifacts, further archaeological investigations (where and why?), preparing a presentation for a school group (Elementary, Middle, or High School) or organizations in Sheridan (Kiwanis, Elks, etc). Projects must be in written form following standard formats (3-5 pages, double spaced, 12 pt font), however, posters, dioramas, or any other visual or audio enhancement will also be welcome at the time of presentation to the class.
Grading
Your grade for field school will consider several factors:
Work ethic, demonstration of skills learned (lab and field procedures), ability to
work well with others.
Preparation for discussions on required readings and participation in those discussions.
Presentation and Project.
Attendance is mandatory. If you miss a day, you will receive an Incomplete until
that day is made up by working in the lab after the summer semester is completed.
There are several Saturdays during Summer I when the site will be open, makeup
days could also be scheduled on those days.
Site Policies
Because this is a public archaeology program, we want to encourage members of the Sheridan Historical Society, townspeople, and archaeological volunteers to come and participate in excavations and artifact processing. In order to do this, certain basic rules are necessary for students on site: No foul language; No inappropriately revealing clothing, such as but not limited to, Tube Tops, Midriff-baring tops, Too loose or Too tight tank tops, short shorts, low waisted pants, etc.
Rain Policy
After the first week and unless otherwise instructed, we will meet on site every day – rain or shine.
What to Wear
May in Indiana brings a wide range of weather circumstances that the archaeological field worker must be willing to work in. One year we even had snow flying in the first weekend of May – it was unusual, but it did occur. There is an old hoosier saying that if you don’t like the weather right now, just wait 5 minutes. It will change. So how can you plan on what to wear?
For the first weeks of May, you will need blue jeans, sweatshirts, and jackets. Bringing a change of clothing is always a good idea in case we get caught in a quick shower. Most likely we will be returning to work when the storm passes, and dry clothes are really appreciated then as are dry shoes. You might want to bring clothes that will be a little warmer if we get a cool dark day, or clothes that are a little cooler in case the days are warm and humid.
Good shoes are always a must, no bare feet or sandals are permitted on site. Some archy folks prefer a workman’s construction boot while others just wear tennis shoes.
Hats for providing individual shade are always a good idea for the archaeological field worker. Sunscreen should also be worn to help protect your skin for UV damage.
Tools – we provide.
Lunch – you provide. You may either bring your lunch or bring money to purchase lunch at one of Sheridan’s restaurants.
Water – you provide.
Transportation to site – you provide.