Volunteer Opportunities
We cannot offer any volunteer opportunities at the present. Due to funding shortfalls all of our fieldwork is on hold. Check back as we will list any openings here. But please read on.
Almost every kid at some time wants to become an archaeologist when they grow up, and our fieldwork projects provide the opportunity for grown up kids (ages 16 and above) to try it out. We provide this summary statement of a typical fieldwork session in case you are interested. And if you decide to sign up for one or more of our projects you will have an idea of what you are getting into.
Although fieldwork can be hot and dirty with unwanted insects, we cannot think of many things more interesting than spending a ten-day field session with a group of volunteers who have gone out of their way to learn about archaeology and ceramics! We usually begin the learning process during breakfast and continue throughout the day until it's time for bed. We normally set up a field camp (no electricity) with tents and a campfire just like real archaeologists do it. Some people prefer to bring along their RV's for a bit more comfort. In exceptional cases we allow folks to stay at a motel in a nearby town as long as commuting is a viable option. Necessarily, volunteers need to be able to comfortably spend entire days out in nature and be able to walk several miles each day.
We usually spend the entire first day of each session setting up the camp, getting to know each other and laying a foundation of needed knowledge through formal lectures, question and answer periods and an introduction to the technical equipment and procedures. We always start out by giving you an broad introduction to archaeological method and theory, followed by a summary of our knowledge of regional and local archaeology and ending with presentation of the particular problem being addressed by our research. And we also provide a basic introduction to the local geology (where the clay and temper comes from), botany (which plants will hurt you) , zoology (what is that strange bird?) and a host of other things that archaeologists like to know.
The Institute provides water, portable toilets and miscellaneous camp equipment. During one field season we provided a camp cook and manager to provide meals but subsequently we have developed a less costly and frankly more interesting way of making sure people get fed. When assembling a volunteer crew we ask them to not only to bring their own food and menus for the session (we always end up stopping in town at least once for ice cream!) but also to expect to prepare and eat the eveing meal as a group, includes sharing ingredients and labor in a very social and satisfying way.
Our fieldwork research focuses on three interrelated tasks. Under the direction and supervison of the Field Director, volunteers are given the opportunity not only to find and collect the research data, they also are expected to use their new-found knowledge to interpret and discuss the results:
1. The major, and usually initial task is to locate previously recorded archaeological sites that promise to contain ceramic artifacts of interest. We do not perform excavation on archaeological sites since the desired data can be obtained from ceramic artifacts on the ground surface. Volunteers are assigned to crews of three members each and instructed in the use of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) recievers. When (and if) a site is located the crew uses survey pin flags to mark the physical location of the various pieces of broken pottery (sherds) of interest. Using a Personal Data Assistant (PDA), a portable scale and the GPS, the crew records specific data about the sherds and removes a small portion of each sherd for technical ceramic analysis.
2. Technical ceramic analysis is performed by each crew back at camp. The first step entails refiring the sherd nips collected in the field using a small, generator-powered research kiln, wihich brings all samples to a comparable state. Once cool, each sherd nip is examined under a binocular microscope for determination of temper type. Subsequently, the refired clay color is determined using a Munsell Soil Color Chart and all data is entered using PDA's.
3. In order to identify matching clay and temper sources, the crews additionally locate, document and collect voucher samples from targeted geological locations. Small portions of each clay voucher sample are processed and mixed with temper type sample materials and treated to the same refiring and technical ceramic procedures as the sherd nips, which allows for direct comparison of source materials with ceramic artifacts.
Since we are intently focused on ceramics and their technology, the volunteers also collect and process their own ceramic resources to create and fire their own pottery treasures during the ten day session. As with the nightly campfire, there is something magical about firing your pots in a big blazing fire!
The slideshow below contains photos of our 2003 Passport in Time (PIT) volunteer crew members. Passport in Time is a volunteer opportunity sponsored by the USDA Forest Service http://www.passportintime.com. Please click on PIT Volunteer Reports to read about our PIT volunteer experiences on the Blanding Red Ware Project activities in San Juan County, Utah.