Training Oklahoma's Archaeologists

Archaeological field schools are a vital part of training students in archaeology. They are located at an archaeological site where students spend several weeks immersed in the archaeological field experience—including camping near the site, excavating artifacts during the day, and fireside lectures in the evenings. Students learn how to find and excavate sites, how to identify and remove artifacts, and the methods necessary to collect invaluable data that can provide insights into past societies.

In June of 2017, OU students will be excavating at the Deer Creek Site, an 18th century ancestral Wichita village, located near Kaw Lake just east of Newkirk, Oklahoma. This site is one of only a few fortified villages on the Southern Plains and it offers a glimpse into the daily lives of Wichita peoples as they interacted with the French and other neighboring groups. OU students would participate in mapping the site and excavating part of the fortifications (ditch and ramparts), interior trash mounds, storage pits, and fort entryway.

Why we need your help:

These archaeological field schools can be very expensive, often requiring more than $20,000 to cover the living expenses of students and instructors, transportation to and from the site, and expenses related to the recovery and curation of artifacts. Many of these costs are passed onto the students in the form of fees and students might pay from $2000 to $6000 to participate. This campaign seeks to raise funds to offset many of these costs for the students, hopefully saving students hundreds of dollars in fees.

 Funds from this campaign would be put towards camp site rentals, meal expenses, vehicles to transport students from Norman to Kaw Lake, and purchasing equipment/supplies.