Project Description
The objectives of this research include the final publication of investigations at an archaeological site. For four field seasons (2017-2019, 2022) I directed excavations at a multicomponent (i.e. occupations from numerous time periods) site in Texas. The excavations took place as an archaeological field school where undergraduate students enrolled in a summer class and learned basic archaeological field methods. The materials and artifacts from this site, mostly stone tools, need analysis and reporting. The methodology for this project includes laboratory-based process of stone tool materials, such as counting, weighting, drawing, and photographing. Methods also include debitage analysis where students will learn to identify specific features of stone tools and flakes and analyze them. Students will also review field notes and help create figures and text for publication.
Tasks and Responsibilites
Students will work directly with archaeological materials, specifically with stone tools. They will be tasked with counting and weighing artifacts and learn how to analyze debitage. Analyzing debitage tells us how prehistoric peoples were making tools in the past. Debitage analysis involves learning to identify key features on flakes (the waste products from making a stone tool) such as platforms, where specifically the flake was hit. Students will be responsible for completing debitage analysis of the archaeological collection. Students will also be involved in generating data for the final publication of this archaeological site, including creating figures.
Desired Qualifications
None Listed.