The Dirt on Archaeology

Spring is here and we are starting fieldwork again on the San Rafael Swell. We have already been out recording sites, including rock art and several lithic scatters. Our next Saturday on the Swell is scheduled for April 25. We will be recording and mapping a Fremont Village that we will be excavating over the next few years; starting the very important task of documentation. We will have lunch at the site—there is no shade so please bring a hat with a brim and plenty of sunscreen, and warm clothes in case it is windy. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Rochester site. A narrow, rocky hiking trail is involved, but well worth it for the spectacular Barrier Canyon and Fremont style petroglyphs.



Jen Zivkovich recording an archaeological site on the San Rafael Swell

Members, museum patrons, students, CVAS members and anyone interested is invited to come along. We meet at the museum at 8:30 am, and plan to return around 5 pm, so bring plenty of lunch, snacks, water, hiking shoes, a warm coat, hat and sunscreen. For more information, or to reserve a spot in the museum vehicle, contact Dr. Renee Barlow at renee.barlow@ceu .edu, PR Director Christine Trease @ christine.trease@ceu.edu, or Education Director Lloyd Logan at lloyd.logan@ceu.edu.

Oregon Public Broadcasting has finished up the pilot for the “Time Team USA” archaeology series. It will probably air on KUED in June. It features the U of U’s new excavations in Range Creek, and also the Pilling Figurines, with scenes shot right here in the museum. Stay tuned for more about the program…



Rochester Site

This summer we are working on archaeological sites in Range Creek (including excavation, survey, and further documentation of granaries and the flute site), Nine Mile Canyon, the Price River Canyon, and the San Rafael Swell. We will also be trying to identify the location of several sites in the area of Robbers Roost. There will be lots of hiking and hot, thirsty days, but is a great way to spend time out in the field. If you are interested in volunteering, if you know sites that need to be recorded, or if you just want to hang out with archaeologists for a few days, contact us at the museum.



Spiral Horned Snake Pegtroglyph

The College of Eastern Utah Archaeology Field School

The CEU/Prehistoric Museum Field School will run four weeks this year, from June 8 through July 3, in Range Creek. We will continue excavations at one of the sites we started last year: a small Fremont farming village with several pithouses and a stone masonry structure. We may also investigate a second group of three structures that we found above the excavation area last year, and begin mapping and excavations at the Burnout Village—the largest village in Range Creek.



photo of Casey Dooms

Time: June 8 to July 3
Where: Range Creek, Utah
What: Students will camp in the canyon Monday through Friday and gain experience excavating a Fremont Village with pithouses, hearths, ceramics, lithics and ground stone artifacts. Students will also participate in surveying and mapping archaeological sites for several days, and learn to process and analyze artifacts in a field laboratory.

The College of Eastern Utah has open enrollment, and accepts applications on a first-come, first-serve basis. The cost is $175 for three credit hours, in addition to a special fee. For more information contact Renee Barlow at 435-613-5290 or renee.barlow@ceu.edu.

Renee Barlow, Curator of Archaeology