Program Dates: May 15, 2023 – July 7, 2023 (8 weeks)
All students will receive:
- A weekly stipend of $600 ($4,800 total)
- Coverage of housing and most meals at SMCM
- Coverage of travel expenses to/from SMCM (up to $700)
- Coverage of field trip expenses, including to Colonial Williamsburg, VA
- Student may enroll in up to 8 credits
Following the first week of orientation when students are briefly introduced to all areas of the program as well as safety instruction in the lab and field, students will be divided into teams and move through the following modules during Weeks 2-6:
Module 1: Archaeology and Mapping at West Ashcom (Week 2-5): Activities in the field will be supervised by Dr. Liza Gijanto and include surface collection, shovel test survey, and full excavation units. These will be paired with instruction in mapping using total station, GPS units and drones directed by Scott Strickland and Dr. Isaac Shearn.
Typical day of Archaeology at West Ashcom:
Departure 7:00 AM: Leave for West Ashcom.
Field Prep 7:45 AM All students should meet at the shed and bring equipment to the excavation site.
8:00 AM-12:00 PM Morning Session
Lunch 12:00-1:00 PM Students should bring a bagged lunch.
1:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Session
4:00-4:30 PM Pack up equipment and cover all open excavations, depart for SMCM.
Module 2: Materials Characterization (Week 2-4): Non-destructive testing of artifacts from West Ashcom will be performed at the SMCM Museum Studies Lab. This laboratory, supervised by Dr. Randy Larsen, is equipped with a variety of instruments that students will use to glean chemical information about each artifact. Specifically, X-Ray Fluorescence (Midex M) provides elemental characterization. Infrared spectroscopy (Nicolet 6700 FTIR with Golden Gate ATR) along with Raman Spectroscopy (Horiba Xplora plus confocal Raman microscope) provides information about inorganic and organic characterization. Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (Ocean Optics UV-Vis spectrometer) and multi-spectral imaging system (CHSOS) allows for the quick analysis of glass and pigmented items. Thermal analysis (TA Q600 and Q500SA) will be used for rehydroxylation dating estimates. Dr. Larsen will provide hands-on, small group training on each technique.
Typical day at SMCM Museum Studies Lab Schedule – Material Characterization:
8:00 AM-9:00 AM Review of equipment operations and safety issues.
9:00 AM-12:00 AM Morning Session: Material Characterization and documentation.
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch. Students will be able to have lunch in the campus cafeteria.
1:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Session Material Characterization and documentation.
Module 3: Conservation, collections management and exhibition development (Week 2-4):
Students participating in these activities will work directly with the staff at the MAC Lab, Dr. Peters from the Boyden Gallery, and the SMCM Collections Technician. They will gain experience handling artifacts from the time of collection in the field (washing, sorting, and labeling) to final curation. Students will also learn basic artifact identification and cataloging to help prepare them for their individual projects. One morning session each week will be devoted to exhibition development with Peters.
Typical MAC Lab Schedule
Departure 7:15 AM Leave for MAC Lab (St. Leonard)
8:00 AM-12:00 PM Morning Session: Conservation with Nichole Doub
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch. Students should bring a bagged lunch.
1:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Session: Collections Management with Rebecca Morehouse
Departure by 4:15 PM
Typical SMCM Archaeology Lab and Exhibition Development Schedule
8:00 AM-8:30 AM Review of procedures and proper handling of materials/set up of lab.
8:30 AM-12:00 AM Morning Session: processing, housing, documentation or exhibit instruction
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch. Students will be able to have lunch in the campus cafeteria.
1:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Session: processing, housing, documentation
Module 4: Data Management (Week 6): All Data Management instruction will take place at
SMCM (Computer Labs and Museum Studies Lab) and will include instruction by Dr. Shearn, Dr. Gijanto, and Scott Strickland. Training in data management will emphasize literacy in four software applications that will be used to accomplish four tasks: 1) mapping, 2) 3D modeling, 3) statistical analysis, and 4) digital curation. Teams will rotate between these four areas during Week 6.
Typical SMCM Data Management Schedule
8:00 AM-8:30 AM Review of project goals and software
8:30AM-12:00 AM Morning Session: work with ArcGIS, Agisoft, Excel/Access or photography/scanning
12:00-1:00 PM Lunch. Students will be able to have lunch in the campus cafeteria.
1:00-4:00 PM Afternoon Session: work with ArcGIS, Agisoft, Excel/Access or photography/scanning
Research Projects and Presentations (Week 7-8):
Weeks 7-8 will be devoted to completing individual research projects with a culminating symposium at the end of Week 8.