ENST 217 - Land Use History: Vassar Preserve

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as ANTH 217) This project-based intensive contributes new data to our understanding of the Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve’s land use history. Students work as a team every Friday morning and sometimes supervise volunteer contributors. Activities might include archival land deeds research, reviewing historic aerial photographs and maps, hiking with global positioning systems (GPS) to record surface ruins, structures, and artifacts, soil survey using a small bore corer, archaeological excavation of shovel test pits, soil and artifact analyses, animal bone identification, interviewing informants, reading and summarizing reports, querying and updating a geographic information system (GIS). The results of each semester’s projects are presented to the Preserve’s oversight committee and used as a starting point for the next semester’s projects.

This is a graded intensive with mandatory attendance and participation every week. Fieldwork sometimes takes place in less than ideal conditions (rain, wind, heat, cold) and students need to protect themselves against ticks, poison ivy, and other natural hazards. Four students are accepted into this intensive after applications are reviewed by the instructors. To apply, interested students must send an email to both instructors that explains their interest in the Preserve and outlines how their existing skill set would benefit the land use history project. Previous coursework in one or more of the following is essential: archaeology, public history, geography, field biology, or field geology. Any potential scheduling conflicts that might limit the student’s full participation in this intensive should be disclosed at the application stage. Applications are due by the end of the first week of pre-registration. The instructors select the four applicants who would create an excellent team for that semester’s project goals. April Beisaw.

Prerequisite(s): Special permission (students have to apply)

One 4-hour period.

Course Format: INT