|
|
FYI} SUMMER 1996 FIELD CLASS
Charlie Urbanowicz (charlie_urbanowicz@MACGATE.CSUCHICO.EDU)
Wed, 27 Mar 1996 08:38:41 U
FYI} SUMMER 1996 FIELD CLASS = Interdisciplinary Field Opportunity in
ZOOARCHAEOLOGY AND FIELD ECOLOGY
For the past seven summers California State University, Chico, has offered a
field school in zooarchaeology for advanced undergraduates and graduate
students interested in either archaeology or animal ecology. This summer we
are looking forward to another 3-week session from July 21 to August 10,
1996. Below is more detailed information about the course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Zooarchaeology is the interdisciplinary subfield of archaeology which
centers around the identification and interpretation of animal remains from
archaeological sites. These remains, most commonly fragmented pieces of
bone, can be used to reconstruct past environments, understand
paleoecological relationships, or study how prehistoric people used native
animals.
The interdisciplinary nature of zooarchaeology poses certain intractable
difficulties for adequate instruction and learning, some of which we attempt
to rectify in this concentrated field class. Anthropology graduate students
with a primary interest in human behavior are often deficient in their
basic knowledge of animal ecology and life history strategies. To these
individuals an important source of interpretation as well as the subtleties
of the natural world may be hidden.
To overcome these problems, we intend to simultaneously introduce students
to zooarchaeological identification techniques and field ecology in the
congenial atmosphere of the Eagle Lake Biological Field Station. Emphasis
in the course is on acquiring the technical skills of vertebrate
identification, the knowledge to begin interpreting archaeofaunal remains,
and an understanding of the scientific process as it applies to the past.
Anthropology students, particularly those interested in ecology, would
profit
from the opportunity to observe species interactions in their natural
environment. In addition, students will benefit from direct exposure to
general vertebrate osteology and the application of taphonomic principles to
the interpretation of archaeofaunal remains.
This intensive immersion into the subject includes the following:
1. Lectures on the principles of zooarchaeological interpretation,
quantification, and taphonomy.
2. Laboratory sessions on generalized fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and
mammal osteology.
3. Lectures on taxonomy and life history strategies of the major
vertebrate classes in the Eagle Lake area.
4. Individualized student projects emphasizing biological or
archaeological interpretations (depending on credit option).
5. Daily field trips and hikes encompassing the varied habitats of the
Eagle Lake ecosystem.
6. Weekend field trip to archaeological sites in the Great Basin
7. Live capture of fish, reptiles, and mammals for observation.
8. Guest lectures from visiting professors.
Students can achieve some level of competence in vertebrate identification
and develop an appreciation for the potential information that may be
derived from the study of archaeofaunal remains.
LOCATION:
The Eagle Lake Biological Field Station is situated on the shore of scenic
Eagle Lake, located in the relatively undeveloped and undisturbed
northeastern tip of California. The remnant of a much larger Pleistocene
lake, Eagle Lake sits at the junction of four major geologic provinces:
bordered on the west by the forested slopes of the Sierra Nevada and
Cascades, on the east by the arid Great Basin, and on the north and east by
volcanic Modoc Plateau. This region offers a unique set of biological
communities, including a rich vertebrate fauna. The Eagle Lake Biological
Field Station includes student dormitories, dining hall, library, and
five-room laboratory, as well as several boats available for both scientific
and recreational use.
INFORMATION:
The course is taught jointly by Dr. Frank E. Bayham, Raymond J. Bogiatto and
Antoinette Martinez whose backgrounds span archaeology, zooarchaeology,
biology and ecology. It may be taken for 3 units of upper division or
graduate level credit in either anthropology or biology. Recommended
academic preparation should include General Biology and/or Introduction to
Archaeology. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. Students who would like
to attend should submit a brief letter summarizing their academic background
and interest in the subject to the address below.
Dates: July 21 - August 10, 1996
Cost: $990 includes registration, room and board, field trips and
transportation from Chico to Eagle Lake.
Non-refundable deposit of $100 due by June 10, 1996; final payment by July
8, 1996.
Application Deadline: May 17, 1996
For further information, please contact:
Frank E. Bayham
Department of Anthropology
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0400
Phone: 916.898-4300 or 916.898-6192
E-Mail: fbayham@oavax.csuchico.edu
Find out more about the Departments of Anthropology and Biology, and the
Eagle Lake Biological Field Station on the World Wide Web:
http://www.csuchico.edu
===========================end==============================
|