Archaeology Field School

Upcoming Info Sessions

November 11th, 5-6pm, AOB 201
December 3rd, 7-8pm, Wads 138W
January 13th, 5-6pm, Annex Lounge 103
February 12th, 5-6pm, Annex Lounge 103
Attend in person or virtually:
https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/83319670860

The 2025 Field School Experience

You are invited to join the MTU's Social Sciences Dept's summer archaeology Field School in 2025! The field school will meet for seven weeks, May 5 – June 20, 2025, MTU's Summer Track A. Students will have the opportunity to enroll in from 6 – 9 credits of courses in Field Archaeology (3 – 6 credits) and either Public Archaeology (3 credits) or Intro to Archaeology (3 credits). In 2025 the Field School will continue a multi-year program exploring Native American and European Copper mining and life in the scenic Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The 2025 Archaeology Field School will be primarily based at the Delaware Mine historic site, a partnership site of the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The Delaware Mine has a wide array of both industrial historic structures and remains and many ancient and precontact mining pits. We will study both prehistoric and historic mining remains and develop plants to interpret our discoveries.

Along with work at Delaware, the crew will undertake archaeological survey and testing work at other nearby sites in the Keweenaw Peninsula, including places like the Redridge Dam and a maritime survey of the Keweenaw's now-underwater ice age landscapes.

All students will have opportunities to participate in all aspects of the work: survey – both instrumental and pedestrian - site lay-out, excavation, remote sensing, field lab work, and public education. No archaeological experience is necessary.

You! All undergraduate students are welcome to be a part of the 2025 Field School. You do not need to be a history or anthropology major to be a part of the team. While prior archaeological course work would be great, it is not a requirement. Non-MTU students are also cordially invited to join us. MTU students will need to have completed both UN 1015 and UN 1025 prior to the start of the program.

Us: Professors Tim Scarlett and Dan Trepal lead the program, bringing extensive experience in mining archaeology, remote sensing, survey, and geospatial technologies. Cooperating scholars and community members of the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community, Michigan Technological University and the Keweenaw National Historical Park will also lend their expertise.

SS 3210 – Field Archaeology, 3 – 6 credits. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to archaeological field methods, topics covered will include instrumental survey, pedestrian survey, GIS studies, shovel test pitting, site preparation and layout, excavation, proper completion of field forms and notes, and experimental archaeology. A very hands-on experiential course students will take part in all of the above activities under the direct supervision and instruction of the faculty and graduate TAs. Supplemental readings and site visits will also be a part of the course. For MTU students, this course fulfills General Education and Essential Education degree requirements (HASS).

SS 3990 – Public Archaeology, 3 credits. (You must also be in enrolled in SS 3210.) This course will explore the ways in which archaeology is presented to the public. Being primarily based at a major public site, Delaware Mine, will allow for a hands-on component, weekly field trips to other historic and archeological sites will broaden the experience for the students. For MTU students, this course fulfills General Education and Essential Education requirements (HASS).

SS 2200 – Introduction to Archaeology, 3 credits. (You must also be enrolled in SS 3210.) This course is an introduction to archaeology. Students who are not anthropology majors that have not taken this course may find this class to be a more useful course. For current MTU students, SS 2200 fills specific General Education (HASS, Social Responsibility & Ethical Reasoning) or Essential Education requirements. This course may be more appropriate for some MTU students.

SS 5700—For graduate students, Archaeological Field Methods provides for ongoing skills training in field excavation and survey methods, while also allowing them to take supervisory and leadership rolls in the field. Graduate students will have more intensive discussions about survey design and issues of cultural heritage law and policy, while also conducting field-based research.

Archaeological field work doesn't really have any "typical days". Discoveries, weather, visitors, and the unexpected constantly shape daily activities. Most course time will be spent at the Delaware Mine, but all students will participate in other remote work at sites like Redridge or "on the water" at places like Bete Grise, Grand Traverse Bay, or Buffalo Reef.

To the extent that a typical day does exist it will go something like this, work will start at 8 am with a daily briefing and "classroom instruction" – sometimes held indoors at the Delaware Mine. Field work at about 8:45am – 9:30am, break and discussion, more work from c. 10am – Noon, Lunch, Work resumes at 1:30 pm – 3:30, break and discussion, more work until 5:00 pm. Students will manage readings and research outside of class time.

What course work will be the focus each day? This will also vary due to conditions but over an "average" week (Monday – Friday) approximately 2/3 of the time will be devoted to SS3210 and 1/3 to SS3990 or SS2200. The discussions amoung topics of different courses will often overlap and merge. At times it may be hard to say which is the "official" focus of which class.

Weekly field trips will generally take place on Wednesday. We will visit sites of historic and archaeological interest in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

All students will take a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 9 credits paying regular MTU tuition, in-state, out-state, etc. In addition, there will be a program fee of c. $2,000 – this will cover housing, most food (group cooking) and field trips. Students will be responsible for their weekend food, texts and personal gear and equipment (a trowel, notebook, field clothing – rain gear is essential!, etc.) Full equipment lists and packing instructions will be provided in the spring of 2025. Daily transportation from the field residence will be provided, but students are also responsible for their weekly travel to the field school rendezvous location – the main MTU campus in Houghton, Michigan.

During the Summer Field School, students will learn a wide range of archaeological field methods and gain proficiency using standard archaeological equipment and tools. Examples of what team members learn include the following:

• consulting documents, maps, aerial photos, remote sensing data, and oral history during excavation and survey on land and water
• use traditional and new mapping technologies, such as Global Position Systems (GPS), Total Station (EDM), remote sensing, and other instruments for GIS-based analysis
• standard excavation techniques and methods
• ethically-driven decision making about artifact collection, cleaning, identification, analyses, and conservation, considering industrial, terrestrial, and maritime archaeological sites
• live and work collectively as part of a team to achieve our goals
• work with volunteers to educate the public about archaeology

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Current Michigan Tech Students

Michigan Tech undergraduate students can take SS 3210 Field Archaeology to complete up to 6 credits for any element of their general education degree requirements. The credits can count as either HASS (up to 6 credits) or STEM (up to 4 credits). Social Science majors (including Anthropology, History, and Social Sciences) may apply the credits to meet requirements of their degrees OR for general education. SS3210 may also be used towards completion of the Social Science minor in Historical Studies. Prior to enrolling, please confirm with your departmental academic advisor that the credits will count toward your desired degree requirements.

• Register for the Field Archaeology course on Banweb. The undergraduate course number is SS3210, and the graduate course (Archaeological Field Methods) number is SS5700. You must also be enrolled in either SS 3990 Public Archaeology or SS2200 Intro to Archaeology.
• You can repeat credits for SS3210/SS5700, so you can take this course again for credit if you have already completed a field school.
• Complete the Field School Application Form.

Domestic Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Outside Universities

To register for the Field Archaeology course as a guest student, complete the following steps:

• Complete the Field School Application Form.
• Visit the registrar at your home university and request a guest student application form. Using your own university's form streamlines the credit transfer process.
• Note that you may enroll in whatever number of credit hours your institution requires. For example, some universities require their students to complete 4 credit hours of field school training. You should enroll for the number of credits appropriate to your home department's or university's requirements.
• You may need to take the form to your university's registrar, and they will certify your application and forward the form to Michigan Tech's undergraduate admissions office; confirm this step with the registrar. You may be required to pay a $30 application fee. Tech's admissions office will submit the form to the registrar's office. If you have questions about registering for this course, email Tech's registrar's office or call 906-487-2319.

International Students

International students could participate on a tourist visa, since the Field Archaeology course only lasts for seven weeks.

• Complete the Field School Application Form.
• You should contact your home university's international studies coordinator or Michigan Tech's International Programs and Services office.

Michigan Tech has a number of international cooperative and exchange agreements that can facilitate guest students from around the world. We encourage prospective students to email International Programs and Services for advice.

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