Archaeologists in the Field

Most summers find our Archaeology students working in the dirt. Many join Dr. Huelsbeck in a summer dig school. See Dr. Huelsbeck for future summer school opportunities!

Archaeology Workshop on San Juan Island

This past August PLU students Georgia Abrams and Grant Schroeder joined PLU Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology Amanda Taylor for a Burke Museum historical archaeology field workshop on San Juan Island. Emma Holm was a teaching assistant for the project and PLU alums Ted Charles and Nicole Plastino came along for the adventure as volunteers. University of New Mexico graduate student Paulina Przystupa is working with us on a research project on historic landscapes.
The site that we are investigating, the Roche Harbor Homestead site, was a historic farmstead occupied during the early to mid 20th century. This past summer we excavated a 1×1 meter unit next to a root shed and continued total station and GPS mapping work. For his chemistry capstone project, Grant Schroeder took soil samples to test for spatial patterns in agricultural and household activities at the homestead. We also took field trips to local historical and cultural sites and enjoyed camping out on beautiful San Juan Island.

Georgia Abrams and Paulina Przystupa sorting artifacts.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Georgia Abrams and Paulina Przystupa sorting artifacts.
Paulina Przystupa (right), Georgia Abrams (center) and Emma Holm (left) preparing dinner at the field camp.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Paulina Przystupa (right), Georgia Abrams (center) and Emma Holm (left) preparing dinner at the field camp.
Emma Holm using a total station to map the site.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Emma Holm using a total station to map the site.
Excavation in front of the root shed.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Excavation in front of the root shed.
Bottle found on the surface near Roche Harbor Homestead.
Photo courtesy of Theodore Charles. Bottle found on the surface near Roche Harbor Homestead.
Emma Holm (right), Grant Schroeder (center), and Georgia Abrams (Left) on Mt. Young, San Juan Island.
Photo courtesy of Theodore Charles. Emma Holm (right), Grant Schroeder (center), and Georgia Abrams (Left) on Mt. Young, San Juan Island.
Grant Schroeder (right), Georgia Abrams (center), Emma Holm (left) and Amanda Taylor (front) at South Beach, San Juan Island.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Grant Schroeder (right), Georgia Abrams (center), Emma Holm (left) and Amanda Taylor (front) at South Beach, San Juan Island.
PLU students Georgia Abrams (2nd from right) and Grant Schroeder (4th from right), PLU Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology Amanda Taylor (3rd from right). Teaching Assistant and PLU student Emma Holm (5th from right) Paulina Przystupa (University of New Mexico, 1st from right)
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. PLU students Georgia Abrams (2nd from right) and Grant Schroeder (4th from right), PLU Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology Amanda Taylor (3rd from right). Teaching Assistant and PLU student Emma Holm (5th from right) Paulina Przystupa (University of New Mexico, 1st from right)
Georgia Abrams hard at work at night at the field camp.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Georgia Abrams hard at work at night at the field camp.
Pendant found in the root shed excavation.
Photo courtesy of the Burke Museum. Pendant found in the root shed excavation.