2001 Field School in Prehistoric Archaeology

May 21 - June 22, 2001

The Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University announces its 2001 summer program in prehistoric archaeology at Aztalan, Wisconsin. Located in southeastern Wisconsin, the field site lies approximately 30 miles east of Madison, and is located in a state park.

The Site
Graduate and undergraduate students will receive training in archaeological excavation and survey while participating in ongoing research concerning the spatial organization of a prehistoric “frontier” Middle Mississippian village. Aztalan is one of the northernmost outposts of what archaeologists call Middle Mississippian culture. This tradition is most notable at the Cahokia site located near St. Louis in west-central Illinois, and Aztalan shares many characteristics with Cahokia such as large platform mounds, stockade walls, house construction, pottery decoration, and agricultural practices. However, Aztalan also has an apparent Late Woodland occupation that both preceded the Mississippian, but was also contemporary with it. Current research is focused on trying to understand the complex relationship between Middle Mississippian and Late Woodland cultures. This project has National Science Foundation funding to attempt to understand the site’s structure.

Instructor and Staff
The field school is directed by Professor Lynne Goldstein of Michigan State University, with a staff of several experienced graduate students. The instructor to student ratio is high (approximately 1:4) and students will receive a great deal of individual attention and hands-on learning. Additionally, several specialists will be working on the project from time to time, and students may have the opportunity to work directly with these specialists. Specialists include Dr. Robert Brinkmann, geoarchaeology; Dr. Michael F. Kolb, geoarchaeology; Dr. Katherine Egan-Bruhy, floral analysis; and Dr. Beverly Smith, faunal analysis.

Tuition and Fees
The field school lasts five weeks, from May 21 to June 22. Enrollment is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in any college or university. Applicants should have had at least one course in either anthropology or archaeology. Students must register for 6 semester hours of Lifelong Education (off-campus) credits, for which the total tuition (resident or non-resident) is $1422. An additional fee of $500 covers field costs, including supplies, housing, food, and transportation while in the field. Field conditions may be a bit primitive; we will have access to modern facilities, but we may be camping.

The application deadline has been extended to March 23, 2001. Enrollment is limited.

Please visit http://www.ssc.msu.edu/%7Eanp/aztalan.htm for an application and more details.