Archaeology Field School: Central Coast 2013
Central Coast, British Columbia
June 3 - July 20, 2013
The UNBC Department of Anthropology, the Heiltsuk First Nation, and the Wuikinuvx First Nation, in collaboration with the Hakai Beach Institute are pleased to offer an archaeology field school during the summer of 2013, subject to sufficient enrollment.
This 15-credit (full semester) field school takes place in the spectacular Hakai Area, an ancestral homeland of the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuvx Nations on the central coast of British Columbia. The region has a rich Aboriginal history that spans at least 10,000 years and includes some of the earliest known archaeological sites in British Columbia. This is also one of the most scenic places in the world, with plentiful marine and terrestrial wildlife and rugged coastlines, also renowned for its world class fishing opportunities. It is not unusual for field school participants to see wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas (killer whales), dolphins, black and grizzly bears, deer, eagles and much more.
This 15-credit (full semester) field school takes place in the spectacular Hakai Area, an ancestral homeland of the Heiltsuk and Wuikinuvx Nations on the central coast of British Columbia. The region has a rich Aboriginal history that spans at least 10,000 years and includes some of the earliest known archaeological sites in British Columbia. This is also one of the most scenic places in the world, with plentiful marine and terrestrial wildlife and rugged coastlines, also renowned for its world class fishing opportunities. It is not unusual for field school participants to see wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas (killer whales), dolphins, black and grizzly bears, deer, eagles and much more.
Fees
The cost of the field school is tuition for 15 credits (approximately $2400 for Canadian residents) plus a $1750 fee to cover the cost of logistics and project supplies.
The extra fee also covers transportation to the project area from Prince George and back, as well as food in the field.
Non-Canadian residents: please refer to the UNBC Academic Calendar for International Students fees.
Other costs:
Each student is responsible for providing their own textbooks, tents, sleeping bags and other personal equipment and supplies (list will be provided).
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Schedule
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Schedule
The entire program will be delivered in the field; there will be no classes on the Prince George campus. The field school crew will leave Prince George on June 5 and set up field camp upon arrival in the Bella Coola Valley. Classes begin within 2-3 days and feature: lectures, seminars, field trips and practical exercises on survey and mapping. The second phase takes place on Calvert Island and consists of testing and excavations of a large, ancient shell midden site until July 19. At that time, the excavation will come to an end, the field camp will be struck down and students will be transported back to Prince George by July 21. Students will have until August 23 to complete and submit any outstanding assignments and exercises.
Accommodations & Camp Life
Students will have to bring their own tents and sleeping bags for the first two weeks in Bella Coola. Everyone will be a full participant in camp life, including helping with the camp set up and take down, preparing meals and caring for the equipment. Camp life is rustic but comfortable. A limited amount of electrical power is available; however, priority of use will be given to teaching and research equipment. For the rest of the project, accommodations will be at the Hakai Beach Institute on Calvert Island.
Phase 1: Introduction
During the initial weeks participants will become familiar with basic concepts in archaeological survey and mapping, and they will receive training in the use of appropriate equipment. Students will learn to operate a variety of equipment from aerial photos, compass and Abney level to GPS, and total stations, and to create maps using a number of techniques. Participants will be introduced to the variety of archaeological sites that occur within the region and elsewhere. Local and long distance field trips may be undertaken to enhance learning. Students will also be introduced to issues on conducting archaeology with First Nations peoples, particularly on the importance of integrating Traditional Knowledge and oral histories. If available, Elders and other community members may share their knowledge on culture and history. In past field schools such knowledge has been in the form of story telling and song, collecting plant foods and medicinal plants, constructing summer dwellings, creating roasting pits, learning fishing and processing techniques, working with traditional technologies and more. An important goal of the field school is to encourage participants to bridge the gap between Traditional Knowledge and Western Knowledge. To foster this, university students will take field school courses side by side with community members.
Phase 2: Survey & Excavation
The second phase consists of several weeks of field survey and excavation at one or more archaeological sites in the region. The first two weeks involve a survey program on foot and by boat, including the recording of any new archaeological sites. Students will be exposed to various types of sites and material culture such as: culturally modified trees, rock art, shell middens and different artifact types and faunal material. Following this, everyone will participate in an excavation for the remainder of the field school.
Phase 3: Completion
Phase 3: Completion
Upon completion of the field school students will have: a good grounding in the techniques and methods of archaeological survey and excavation; an understanding of Northwest Coast archaeology; and legislation pertaining to heritage management in British Columbia. Participants will also have an awareness of the social context of conducting archaeology on Aboriginal history, and the importance of Aboriginal perspectives and community-based approaches. With this training and upon graduation, students will be eligible for employment in the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) sector in British Columbia. Successful completion of an archaeology field school is a necessity for employment in archaeological consulting. Several participants of our previous field schools are now employed in CRM. In the last five years alone, more than twenty-five of our field school graduates have found employment in CRM, a very high success rate. This training will also greatly benefit students that intend to continue their studies in graduate work, or those with an interest in archaeology and/or First Nations History.
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Course Descriptions
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Course Descriptions
The field school package consists of three courses, for a total of 15 credits. All participants must register for all three courses.
- ANTH 416-6 Archaeological Survey and Mapping
- ANTH 417-6 Excavation and Field Interpretation in Archaeology
- ANTH 418-3 Archaeology and First Nations
Students that have completed archaeology courses and are close to graduating will be given priority, followed by those that have taken ANTH 205 (Introduction to Archaeology). All students that have successfully completed any other archaeology courses (ANTH 203, ANTH 212), however, are eligible to apply.
NOTE: the field school can also be taken for graduate level credit (ANTH 616-6, ANTH 617-6, ANTH 618-3). Please contact Dr. Rahemtulla if you are interested.
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Application Process
Application Deadline: April 12, 2013
- All potential participants must submit an application form.
- Once admission to the field school is granted, registration in the three courses will be permitted.
- Non-UNBC Students will have to apply for general admission prior to registration.
Please complete the application form and forward it to Dr. Farid Rahemtulla (address at the bottom of the application form) or fax to 250-960-5545 Attn: Dr. Rahemtulla.
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Contact Information
Dr. Farid Rahemtulla
Tel: 250-960-6691
Email: farid.rahemtulla@unbc.ca
