Interdisciplinary Field Opportunity in Zooarchaeology And Field Ecology

For the past eight summers California State University, Chico, has offered a field school in zooarchaeology for advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in either archaeology or animal ecology. This summer we are looking forward to another 3-week session from July 21 to August 10, 1996. Below is more detailed information about the course.

Zooarchaeology is the interdisciplinary subfield of archaeology which centers around the identification and interpretation of animal remains from archaeological sites. These remains, most commonly fragmented pieces of bone, can be used to reconstruct past environments, understand paleoecological relationships, or study how prehistoric people used native animals.

The interdisciplinary nature of zooarchaeology poses certain intractable difficulties for adequate instruction and learning, some of which we attempt to rectify in this concentrated field class. Anthropology graduate students with a primary interest in human behavior are often deficient in their basic knowledge of animal ecology and life history strategies. To these individuals an important source of interpretation as well as the subtleties of the natural world may be hidden.

To overcome these problems, we intend to simultaneously introduce students to zooarchaeological identification techniques and field ecology in the congenial atmosphere of the Eagle Lake Biological Field Station. Emphasis in the course is on acquiring the technical skills of vertebrate identification, the knowledge to begin interpreting archaeofaunal remains, and an understanding of the scientific process as it applies to the past. Anthropology students, particularly those interested in ecology, would profit from the opportunity to observe species interactions in their natural environment. In addition, students will benefit from direct exposure to general vertebrate osteology and the application of taphonomic principles to the interpretation of archaeofaunal remains.

  1. This intensive immersion into the subject includes the following:

  2. Lectures on the principles of zooarchaeological interpretation, quantification, and taphonomy.

  3. Laboratory sessions on generalized fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal osteology.

  4. Lectures on taxonomy and life history strategies off the major vertebrate classes in the Eagle Lake area.

  5. Individualized student projects emphasizing biological or archaeological interpretations (depending on credit options).

  6. Daily field trips and hikes encompassing the varied habitats of the Eagle Lake ecosystem.

  7. Weekend field trips to archaeological sites in the Great Basin.

  8. Live capture of fish, reptiles, and mammals for obeservation.

  9. Guest lectures from visiting professors.

  10. Students can achive some level of competence in vertebrate identification and develop an appreciation for the potential information that may be derived from the study of archaeofaunal remains.

The Eagle Lake Biological Field Station is situated on the shore of scenic Eagle Lake, located in the relatively undeveloped and undistrubed northeastern tip of California. The remnant of a much larger Pleistocene lake, Eagle Lake sits at the junction of four major geologic provinces: bordered on the west by the forested slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, on the east by the arid Great Basin, and on the north and the east by volcanic Modoc Plateau. This region offers a unique set of biological communities, including a rich vertebrate fauna. The Eagle Lake Biological Filed Station includes student dormitories, dining hall, library, and five-room laboratory. as well as several boats available for both scientific and recreational use.

The course is taught jointly by Dr. Frank E. Bayham, Raymond J. Bogiatto and Antoinette Martinez whose backgrounds span archaeology, zooarchaeology, biology, and ecology. It may be taken for three units of upper division or graduate level credit in either anthropology or biology. Recommended academic preparation should include General Biology and/or Introduction to Archaeology. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. Students should fill out an application form and submit a brief letter summarizing their academic background and interest in the subject.

Dates: July 21 - August 10, 1996

Cost: $990 includes registration, room and board, field trips and transportation from Chico to Eagle Lake.

Non-refundable deposit of $100 due by June 10, 1996; final payment by July 8, 1996.

Application Deadline: May 17, 1996

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Frank Bayham
Department of Anthropology
California State University, Chico
Chico, Ca. 95929-0400
Phone: (916) 898-4300 or 898-6192
E-mail: Dr. Frank Bayham