**Check back with us in November for information about the upcoming 2011 Summer Fieldschool**

The Caves Branch Archaeological Survey Program announces its 2010 Archaeological Fieldschool Program through the University of Mississippi Study Abroad Program. The academic component of the CBAS provides undergraduate and graduate student participants with intensive, hands-on exposure to a variety of archaeological and bioarchaeological field methods. Students will have the unusual opportunity to work closely with the project directors and other staff members in small groups and will be involved in all aspects of the field research. Participation in the CBAS project will include instruction focused on the following:

1. Speleoarchaeology: learn to document the material remains of ancient rituals in several of the hundreds of caves found throughout the area.
2. Bioarchaeology: help map a cave ossuary and learn bioarchaeological excavation and analysis techniques.
3. Settlement Archaeology: excavate and map ceremonial and residential structures at the Late Classic site of Deep Valley.
4. Lab methods: learn what happens to artifacts after they are excavated by processing, organizing, and analyzing material culture.

This course is aimed primarily at teaching undergraduate and graduate students basic archaeological methods. No previous experience is necessary and the program is open to students from all colleges and universities. Course instruction is led by Dr. Gabriel Wrobel, Dr. Kip Andres, and a staff of experienced graduate students.

Costs: The basic cost of the 4-week program is $1950 US. This includes pick-up and drop-off from the airport, transportation within the country, guided fieldtrips to archaeological sites, meals and lodging during the workweek and on some weekends (see "2010 Schedule" for exceptions), guest lectures, and fieldschool instruction. This fee does not include airfare, personal expenses, travel insurance, personal equipment, or academic credit.


The 2010 Schedule:

General Schedule: The workweek is Monday through Friday. Days are intensive, beginning at 5:30 a.m. and usually lasting 10-12 hours. After returning from the field, students are responsible for washing and processing the artifacts collected that day. In addition, lectures on archaeological methodology and Maya history will be given 2-3 evenings every week.

Weekend / Travel Schedule:
Arrive - May 30 / July 4 (Sunday). Fly to Belize. You'll be met at the airport and transported to our home base at Caves Branch Lodge.

First weekend - San Ignacio - After work on Friday, we leave for a weekend in San Ignacio. San Ignacio is located near the Guatemalan border and is Belize's largest backpacker hub, offering a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment. San Ignacio is also the home base for several other archaeological projects, so you will get a chance to meet and mingle with students and staff from other projects.

Housing - both Friday and Saturday nights are included.
Food - Friday night dinner is included. All other meals are on your own. We'll provide you with some restaurant suggestions for all budgets. Good local food can be found for under $5 a meal. San Ignacio also has a wide variety of exotic and familiar food choices including fresh seafood, Thai, Indian, Italian, and pizza.
Activities - Friday night after dinner, we'll join the students from another project for a lecture, after which students are free to mix and mingle with the other group. On Saturday and Sunday, we'll tour several of the local archaeological sites including Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, and Buena Vista. You'll also have time to rest, relax, and do some shopping.

We'll return to Caves Branch Sunday afternoon in time for dinner.

Second weekend - Tikal - Friday afternoon we'll leave for the site of Tikal in Guatemala. This trip is optional and the costs are not included in the project fees, so if you want to stay behind and work, we'll cover your room and board. Otherwise, the Tikal weekend usually runs approximately $150-200 per person (the actual price depends on exchange rates, gas prices, and other variables) including room, board, transportation, passport fees, and park entrance. We'll be staying in the picturesque colonial island town of Flores on Lake Peten-Itza, and will arrive Friday evening in time for dinner and some nightlife. First thing on Saturday morning, we'll head to Tikal and we'll spend the day touring the main parts of this extensive site. Expect to see impressive pyramids and spider monkeys! After our tour, back for a second night in Flores. On Sunday, you will get a chance to wander Flores on your own - - we recommend you take advantage of the incredible shopping and perhaps take a boat tour of the lake. We'll return to Caves Branch Sunday afternoon in time for dinner.

Third weekend - The Long Weekend - On Thursday morning we cut you loose for a four-day weekend. Most students head to the islands, where you can enjoy sun, sand, and the world's best snorkeling! Others choose to explore more of the mainland. Prices are a little more expensive on the islands, so we recommend you buy a travel book about Belize and plan your budget beforehand. Whatever your tastes and budget, we'll help you make arrangements. If you decide you'd rather stay on site and work over the weekend, we'll be happy to cover your room and board. Students need to return to Caves Branch before dinner on Sunday night.

Leaving - On Saturday (June 26 / July 31), we'll load everyone on the bus and take you back to the airport, at which point the project is officially over. You may decide to stay and travel afterwards, however, and as always we'll be more than happy to offer some recommendations of places to see. If you are interested in expanding your archaeological experience, you can attend the Belize Archaeological Symposium in Belize City, which begins on June 30th and concludes with a banquet the evening of July 2. All of the archaeological projects in Belize will report on their research over the past year and you will have the opportunity to meet most of Belize's archaeological community.




Dates:
Session 1 Sunday, May 30 - Saturday, June 26
Session 2 Sunday, July 4 - Saturday, July 31

Deadlines: Students wishing to participate must submit the completed application form by March 1, 2010. The application can be emailed to Gabriel Wrobel at gwrobel@olemiss.edu. Because of limited space, only 15 students will be selected for each session. Those taking the fieldschool for academic credit will be given priority for these slots. All students will be contacted within one week of the March 1st deadline and those chosen will be given further instructions for enrollment.

Academic Credit: Academic credit is offered through the University of Mississippi. These credits are transferable to other universities and the courses are:
Anth 390: Archaeology Abroad
Anth 391: Bioarchaeology Abroad
The cost of the 6 credit hours is $1750 US, and this fee also includes travel insurance. Click here for more information about the UM Study Abroad program and for application instructions.



Grades: Material from the lectures and field instruction will be included on two tests given after the 2nd and 4th week. Grades are based on exams, participation, and quality of excavation notes.

Food and Lodging: We will be living in a rustic jungle lodge near the capital city of Belmopan. Facilities include a modern kitchen with refrigeration, 24-hour electricity, showers and flush toilets. Food will be standard Belizean fare, which includes lots of rice and beans, and chicken. Vegetarians will be accommodated, though should expect a more limited diet.

For more information, contact Gabriel Wrobel at gwrobel@olemiss.edu or 662-915-6544