Kansas Archeology Training Program June 2-17

Public Invited to Participate in Archeological Excavation in Council Grove, Kansas

Volunteers are invited to participate in the 2016 Kansas Archeology Training Program (KATP) Field School, June 2-17, at the Last Chance Store (14MO367).  The National Historic Landmark at 502 West Main Street in Council Grove was acquired as a state historic site in 2015.  Built in 1857, it was a key stop on the Santa Fe Trail.  In addition, a metal detection survey and testing will be conducted at the 1851 Kaw Methodist Mission State Historic Site (14MO368) at 500 North Mission.  Both sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

This year marks the 41st anniversary of the KATP Field School, which provides a hands-on opportunity for the public to work alongside professional and avocational archeologists in the field and in the laboratory.  No experience is necessary, just a desire to learn.  Volunteers can participate for one day or the entire 16 days.  Participants may assist archeologists in strategic test excavation of the sites and/or help with cleaning and cataloging artifacts in the lab.  Archeology technique courses are offered and may be taken for college credit or simply for personal enrichment.

Participation fee for KATP field school is $30 for members of the Kansas Anthropological Association (KAA) or Kansas Historical Foundation (KHF).  Nonmember fee is $90.  Children must be at least 10 years old and accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.  The registration packet and further details are available on the KSHS website at www.kshs.org/14622 (including forms for KAA and KHF membership).  For more information call Virginia Wulfkuhle at 785-272-8681, ext. 266.  

Project headquarters for classes and the artifact processing lab will be the Council Grove Junior-Senior High School at 129 Hockaday Street.  While field school is in session, visitors are welcome to visit the excavation site and the lab to see artifacts being processed; visitor hours are 9am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4pm.  Classes offered include Archeological Fieldwork, Mapping, Between Discovery and Excavation: Testing Archeological Sites, and Architectural Buildings Survey.

A full schedule of evening programs will be free and open to the public; the schedule is posted on the KSHS website at www.kshs.org/14622 (click on “Registration Packet – Part 1,” link, then scroll down to “2016 KATP Evening Programs”).  At Collectors Night on June 8, the public is invited to bring artifacts for identification by archeologists.  In addition, a daytime “Scan and Share” event is set for June 9, 9:30am to 3pm, where the public is encouraged to bring historical photographs, postcards, and documents to be scanned; originals will be returned to the owners and scanned images will be added to state archives and shared with the Morris County Historical Society.

The 2016 field school is sponsored by the Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association. Preregistration must be postmarked by May 20.