The Roles and Research of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History Archaeology Field School by Katelyn McDonough

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Katelyn McDonough Department of Anthropology University of Oregon

Abstract:  Archaeology field schools are one of the primary ways that prospective professionals gain hands-on experience and training in archaeological field and lab methods to pursue a career in archaeology. The University of Oregon Archaeological Field School program, offered through the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, has trained ~700 students over the last four decades while simultaneously conducting impactful research into the human experience in the northern Great Basin during the last 14,000+ years. In addition to instruction in excavation, survey, and mapping, the field school introduces students to research design, cutting-edge methodologies, and cultural heritage management so they understand the intricacies of the project and are prepared to seek professional employment upon completion of the course. This talk provides an overview of the field school program, with updates from recent fieldwork and an emphasis on opportunities for students.

Bio:  Katelyn McDonough is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Director of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s Archaeology Field School at the University of Oregon. She is an environmental archaeologist interested in long-term relationships between people, foodways, and landscapes. Much of her ongoing research focuses on people’s interactions with plants and changing environments during and since the late Pleistocene in North America.