Pala Vieja Fieldschool

Location: Texas Big Bend

Season: May 27, 2025 to July 4, 2025

Deadline Type: Contact for Details

Website: https://cbbs.sulross.edu/2025-summer-archaeological-fieldschool/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
Sul Ross State University

Project Director:
Devin Pettigrew

Project Description:

This course will provide students first-hand experience doing archaeological fieldwork in the Texas Big Bend. Our primary work will occur at Pala Vieja, a small rockshelter with strong potential for preserved perishable materials (cultigens, basketry, weapon components, etc.). Maize has been recorded and dated from the surface of the site linking early maize introduction to the region and promising further subsurface deposits. Taught methods will include formal excavation, open-site recording, digital mapping (GPS, robotic total station), experimental studies, and artifact curation. Reading, lectures, and discussion will take place after fieldwork to introduce additional materials, and field trips to adjacent sites will give a taste of the archaeology of the northern Chihuahua Desert. Our field base is a rustic ranch house with kitchen, indoor bathroom and shower, camping space in the yard, and adjacent tinaja for swimming.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Full duration of field school

Room and Board Arrangements:
The field school base camp is a rustic ranch house with kitchen, living/study area, full bathroom, and camping area in the yard.

Academic Credit:
6 credit hours