UWM Field School 2023

The last week of Field School has passed. The students excavated features, expanded the trench, and, most importantly - excelled. For instructors, this week is both bittersweet and fulfilling, as it is difficult to say goodbye to capable, hardworking, and unique individuals. Watching skills develop and growth occur is the most rewarding part of education. It will be exciting to see where our future archaeologists go!  Figure 1. Aubrey Morris and Anissa Zaske screening. Anissa is holding a small Madison point.  Figure 2. Gil Amador in a wall trench with a total station rod. The rod is a receiver for the total station's laser, measuring point position.  Figure 3. In the foreground, Madison Baynes works in a large feature. In the background, Ricky Huertas opens up a new trench.  Figure 4. Tim Piatek, Bryce Hansen, and Anissa Zaske uncover a large ceramic pot in situ. Figure 5. Rachel Stewart cleaning a floor for a photograph.  Figure 6. Crystal Morgan, an archaeolo...

 "Make it work" - a quote from fashion expert Tim Gunn and the motto of the field school for this week. Due to the poor air quality from Canadian wildfires, students were out of the field for several days. Fortunately, archaeological work never ends, and students had the opportunity to learn how to wash and sort artifacts at UWM and visit the Hoard Museum. When it was safe to be in the field, students continued excavating features.  Figure 1. The week started out strong with cupcakes from Maria Innis' talented mother. Note the little handmade screens! Figure 2. Elsie Touchstone, Bryce Hansen, Gil Amador, Rachel Stewart, and Sydney Davis 'excavate' the cupcakes.  Figure 3. Elsie Touchstone and Cat Vankammen carefully 'pedestal' pottery. Pedestalling involves removing most extraneous dirt from the artifacts but leaving them in situ for photographing and mapping. They will later be collected.  Figure 4. Ian Auger enjoys Fort Atkinson's Hoard Museum.  Figu...