UAF 2008 Archaeological Field School: Tanana Basin Archaeology at Gerstle River
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| Time: May 19-June 21, 2008 |
ANTH
F495/F695 - 4 or 6 credits |
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Description:
Gerstle River is a multicomponent site consisting of 8 components dating from 12,000 to 3,800 cal BP in deeply buried stratified contexts in the mid Tanana Basin, near Delta Junction, Alaska. Over the last 4 years, we have excavated over 100 square meters and recovered over 10,000 lithic artifacts, including microcores and microblades, projectile points, bifaces, burins, various scrapers, etc., multiple individuals of wapiti and bison, and a mammoth ivory point, many in association with 13 hearths from the lower components. This is clearly one of the most significant sites in Alaska, offering us the opportunity to examine site structure at the level of activity area. The presence of well-preserved faunal remains along with numerous lithic remains and a wide variety of tools in stratified contexts enables us to document patterns in site use and to test hypotheses about technology, subsistence, and settlement of ancient populations in Interior Alaska.
The 2008 excavation and field school at Gerstle River is designed to expand on activity areas and hearths already excavated and to excavate the edge of the bluff prior to erosion and collapse. We expect to recover numerous lithic and faunal remains and associated hearth features. This will give the students of the field school an unparalleled opportunity to participate in a cutting edge excavation of an important site, using modern archaeological equipment and techniques that will be valuable to them in their future work and classes.
We will use the grid established in previous years, and a Leica Total Station will be used for mapping. Students will be trained in both instrument and traditional methods of provenience control. Various excavation strategies, stratigraphic profile drawing, and field recording will be emphasized. Archaeological features (firepits, etc.) and articulated faunal remains will likely be encountered, enabling students to get specialized training in excavating and preserving these rare entities. Students will take part in faunal conservation in the field laboratory.
Stratigraphy at the site consists of a series of aeolian sediments up to four meters thick with five buried Bw horizons and two paleosol complexes. Given the complexity and time depth of the site, students will get a chance to develop excavation skills useful for many different archaeological problems (zooarchaeology, stratigraphy, spatial analysis, feature excavation, etc.). This is one of few sites in Interior Alaska with excellent faunal preservation, micro-stratigraphic and radiocarbon controls, and multiple activity areas, giving us a unique opportunity for analyzing site structure and site use.
Lectures will be conducted on a regular basis on various aspects of archaeological theory, excavation practice, and analyses. I feel that archaeological field schools should give students both hands-on practical training in excavation and laboratory techniques as well as understanding the interface between theory and practice.
At the end of this field course, the students should:
1. understand archaeological research designs and their impacts on field investigations
2. have competence in field excavation and documentation methods (including basic mapping, use of total station, line-level, stratigraphic profiling, and excavation techniques).
3. understand basic problems in subarctic stratigraphy, taphonomy, and site formation and site disturbance factors
4. gain experience in working in remote field settings
5. evaluate the context of archaeological finds
To read publications related to this site, see Dr. Potter's personal page.
Images of the Site :
Click on each image for an enlarged view (all images by Ben Potter).
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Plan of the 2008 excavation |
Logistics:
Course begins at UAF, Fairbanks, Alaska, in Room 303, Eielson Building. The Gerstle River site is
accessible by road via the Alaska Highway, though the site lies 30 miles
from the nearest town. Course fees cover transportation from UAF to the site, trips to regional archaeological sites like Broken Mammoth, and to and from Delta Junction.
Life in
the Field:
A field camp will be established on site.All excavation equipment,
supplies, food and transportation to and from the site and Fairbanks
will be provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks or the instructor.
Students will be expected to provide their own sleeping bags, outdoor
clothing, good work boots, rain gear, and tents. Weather is generally warm throughout the summer, with relatively little rain, and the wind minimizes mosquitos.
In addition to excavation
duties, students will participate in camp chores (taking turns cooking).
Food will be purchased by the instructor prior to and during the field
school - if you have special diet needs, please inform the instructor prior to thel. We'lll be working six days a week, days off can be spent
hiking, fishing, sight-seeing, canoeing, or lounging. Students will have opportunities to visit Delta Junction every few days; services include telephones, stores and restaurants. There is cell phone coverage at the site.
The Tanana River Basin is located in the central interior portion of
Alaska and the local vegetation consists of interior upland spruce-hardwood
forest floral communities (white and black spruce, poplar, willow, and
mosses), with south facing slopes maintaining xeric floral communities
typified by sagebrush. The Alaska Range is visible from 10 to
15 miles south of the site. Summer weather is generally moderate
to warm (70°-80° F), though some cold nights (40°s F) may
occur. A variety of wildlife is present in the site area, including
brown and black bear, moose, caribou and fox.
View from the Gerstle River site (Photo by Luke Schulze)
Schedule:
The schedule is tentative, and subject to change due to weather, etc.
--Mon, May 19: meet at 9:00 AM at Eielson 303, preliminary briefing on the course, the site, the excavation process, and the schedule. Visit to the UA Museum and the Campus site.
--Tues, May 20: Gearing up for the trip
--Wed, May 21: Departing Fairbanks for Gerstle River. Visit to the Broken Mammoth Site, setting up camp.
--Thur-Sat, May 22-24: Excavation and lecture (site gridding, mapping, excavation)
--Sun, May 25: day off
--Mon-Sat, May 26-31: Excavation and lecture (stratigraphy, geoarchaeology, site formation)
--Sun, Jun 1: day off
--Mon-Sat, Jun 2-7: Excavation and lecture (culture history, lithic analysis)
--Sun, Jun 8: day off
--Mon-Sat, Jun 9-14: Excavation and lecture (faunal analysis)
--Sun, Jun 15: day off
--Mon-Fri, Jun 16-20: excavation, lecture (stratigraphic profiling), backfilling, breaking camp
--Sat, Jun 21, depart Gerstle River for Fairbanks
How to
Apply:
The UAF Field School is particularly suited to graduate and undergraduate
students in archaeology, anthropology, history, ecology and related
disciplines. But, applications are encouraged from people of all backgrounds.
There are no prerequisites, but an introductory archaeology course is recommended. Prospective students should be 16 or older and physically
able to live and work in a remote wilderness area.
Fees for this course are $1440 and include excavation equipment, all meals, transportation between the site and Fairbanks, showers, and travel to and from Delta Junction. UAF Summer Sessions has reduced tuition to in-state rates for all students, in-state or out of state. Each student should have accident insurance coverage. This coverage can be purchased from UAF for $2.50/day.
The University of
Alaska is committed to equal opportunities for students experiencing
disabilities. Due to the rigors of the fieldwork, students with disabilities
are expected to notify the instructor of any potential difficulties
prior to enrollment so that arrangements may be made to ensure a positive
educational experience. Instructor permission is required, so please contact Dr. Potter (ffbap3@uaf.edu) to apply.
To receive a registration form, contact:
Summer Sessions
University of Alaska Fairbanks
214 Eielson Building
PO Box 752627
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7540
Phone: (907) 474-7021
Fax: (907) 474-5297
Email: summer@uaf.edu
Visit their webpage for more info: www.uaf.edu/summer