Please note that the Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation and the Kingston Archaeology Centre have closed. This site is still available for historical and informational reasons, but none of the services or products described here are available anymore.
In the morning the participants will learn how to research the history of an archaeological site using archival documents including historic maps, photos, and written documents. In the afternoon participants will become familiar with the tools and methods archaeologists use while excavating through hands-on activities and workstations.
Excavations on a real archaeological site! Participants will learn excavation methods under the supervision of an experienced archaeologist and trained archaeological instructors. Excavations involve digging units by hand using trowels; collecting the dirt in buckets; and screening it through 6 mm mesh. Artifacts are then collected from the mesh and bagged by provenience. The archaeological site is outside and thus excavations are weather dependent. Participants are given frequent shade and water breaks to deal with the summer’s heat and sun.
In the morning participants will be able to wash and sort the artifacts they excavated earlier in the week. In the afternoon participants review the week followed by a discussion of career opportunites and education required for fields related to archaeology and history such as: historians, archivists, field archaeologists, material culture specialists, conservators, curators, and collections managers.
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