PROJECT
DETAILS
Project Details
Enrollment | Application | Transportation | Accommodations | Schedule | Responsibilities | Equipment and Supplies
Enrollment
There are two ways to enroll in the summer field school. As an enrolled student you will receive six credit hours; as a volunteer you can simply take part in the field school. Note that program fee is different for each.
To receive credit, you must enroll in ANT622 for Summer Session I. In addition to university tuition for six credit hours, you must pay a program fee of $850.00. The program fee covers lodging, meals and supplies.
The program fee for volunteers (those participating in the field school without receiving credit) is $1,250.00. Contact the project director, Michael Bever, for information on payment options.
The program fee is due no later than April 21, 2006. If you withdraw prior to the beginning of the program, $200.00 of the fee is non-refundable. The entire program fee is non-refundable after the start of the program on June 1, 2006.
Prerequisites for the class include upper division standing and the completion of ANT462M, Archaeological Field Techniques (or its equivalent at another university). Space is limited, and upper division anthropology majors from the University of Texas at Austin, enrolling for credit, will receive priority.
For additional information on enrollment, contact the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Anthropology. For estimates on the cost of summer tuition and payment options, check out the Office of Accounting's Tuition and Fees page.
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Application
To participate in the program, you must fill out and submit an application form. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible to reserve your space in the field school. Included as part of your application, you must also fill out (1) a Release and Indemnification Agreement for Adult Students and (2) an Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment for Adults. These are required by the University. The Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment requires proof of insurance. Temporary insurance is available through the university (for enrolled students).
Note: to reserve your space, you need only submit the application form, but the other two forms must be submitted when you pay your program fee on or before April 21, 2006.
At the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs Travel Policy page you can find (in Microsoft Word format) the Release and Indemnification Agreement for Adult Students (if enrolling for credit), the Release and Indemnification Agreement for Adult Non-Students (if not enrolling for credit), and the Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment for Adults.
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Transportation
The field site is located about 10 miles north of Victoria, Texas, along Highway 87. The drive is 115 miles from the University and takes two to two and a half hours.
There are two options for transportation:
You may use your own transportation to the field site. This will give you the flexibility to visit town in the evenings and leave the project housing facilities on the weekends. However, you will be responsible for ensuring you arrive on time. If you choose this option, please let us know and we will provide directions. To minimize the number of vehicles on site, we ask that you car pool if possible. Note that once you arrive on site, transportation will be provided from the housing facility to the work site.
If you cannot provide your own transportation, we can provide transportation from the University. Note, however, that you are only guaranteed transportation to the field site at the beginning of the summer session and back to Austin at the end of the session. You may not be able to return to Austin every weekend. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will need transportation.
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Accommodations
Accommodations will be provided on the ranch, located near Victoria, Texas. The ranch house has a kitchen, toilets and shower facilities. For sleeping, bunk beds and cots will be provided, and rooms will be shared. You must bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, towel and toiletries (see supplies list below). You may, if you wish, camp outside. There is a large, well-maintained lawn for tents.
All meals will be provided, though students will have to rotate cooking and clean-up duties. Food and lodging will be available every day during the duration of the project, including weekends. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have special dietary needs.
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Schedule
The first two days of Summer Session I (Thursday and Friday, June 1-2) will be spent at the Texas Archeological Research Laboratory in Austin. Transportation to TARL from the University campus is available on regularly scheduled shuttle buses. Both days will be spent in orientation and training for the field school.
We will travel to the site on Sunday, June 4. The work week will run Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays will be free, though some field trips will be conducted on Saturdays. If you leave for the weekends, you must return to the field site each Sunday evening. We will return to Austin on Friday, July 7.
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Responsibilities
Although the primary purpose of this field school is to provide students with training in archaeological field methods, the philosophy of the program is that this can best be accomplished by conducting the fieldwork in a true research-oriented fashion. The work you will be taking part in is productive archaeological research, and everything we do is aimed at learning the most we can about the past through archaeological excavation.
As part of this, we will conduct weekly lectures and training sessions, and you will be required to purchase a course packet of reading materials. We also will provide you with a handbook of field procedures. Periodically check the News & Updates link for information on the availability of these materials.
For students enrolling for credit, you will be graded primarily on your participation in field activities. However, we will also require you to keep a journal of daily activities and impressions - essentially a field notebook - that will be turned in at the end of the semester.
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Equipment and Supplies
Major field equipment will be provided. However, you will need to bring your own excavation kit, consisting of certain essential items. Most of these items can be found at a large hardware store. You will also want to be prepared for various (though primarily hot) living and field conditions. You can get a list of recommended supplies and required equipment here: