Proposed 2006 Summer Field School in Archaeology

Paleo Indians in the Rocky Mountains June 1-30th, 2006

PI: Dr. Laurie Weinstein, Dept of Social Sciences, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT. (203) 837-8453 weinsteinl@wcsu.edu
Co PI: Dr. Mark Stiger, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Western State College, Gunnison, CO. (970) 943- mstiger@western.edu
Senior Personnel: Mr. Eric Bjornstad, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Western State College, Gunnison, CO. (970) 943- ebjornstad@western.edu


This archaeology field school will bring together a diverse group of 12 students recruited from throughout the U.S. for 4 weeks from June 1-30th, 2005. They will help excavate the Mountaineer Site, one of the “hottest” archaeological sites in the country because it contains the oldest known structure in North America. This 10,400 year old structure is adjacent to other contemporaneous Folsom activity areas, including ones that contain extinct bison bones and Folsom lithic assemblages, representing all stages of artifact manufacture. What makes the site especially unique is it’s placement on top of a 9,000’ mountain. The students would be working under the direction of Dr. Mark Stiger, Mr. Eric Bjornstad and Dr. Laurie Weinstein. Students will receive 6 credits for the successful completion of the field school. 4 Credits from Western State and 2 Credits from WestConn.

Dr. Stiger and Mr. Bjornstad have been excavating, publishing and presenting information about this site since they discovered it in 2000. Dr. Weinstein was a Visiting Professor of Anthropology at Western State in 2002 and then brought her archaeology students from Connecticut to work with Mark and Eric in June 2005. This “trial run” of bringing five Connecticut students out to Colorado was extremely successful, and it was funded by a variety of sources, including Dr. Weinstein’s credit card and Dr. Stiger’s generosity!

Field School Students will continue the excavation of the Mountaineer site and participate in a four day sightseeing and camping trip to the four corners (Mesa Verde, Ute Mountain Park, Hovenweep, and Lowrie Pueblo). Additionally, we will include a two day seminar in archaeological ethics and the importance of historic preservation. This seminar will feature presentations by the Colorado State Office of Archaeolgy, anthropologists who work in CRM for native peoples and Native Peoples. Dr. Weinstein will organize the seminar and provide the background on federal and state cultural resource legislation.

As more information becomes available we will post it!