The Tristán de Luna Combined/Maritime Field Schools

Location: Pensacola, FL, US

Season: May 14, 2018 to July 28, 2018

Application Deadline: March 30, 2018

Website: https://uwf.edu/cassh/departments/anthropology-and-archaeology/field-schools/2018-schools/

Discount for AIA members: No

Program Type:
Field school

RPA Certified:
no

Affiliation:
University of West Florida

Project Director:
Dr. John Bratten, Dr. Greg Cook, Dr. John Worth

Project Description:

University of West Florida (UWF) is now accepting applications for Archaeology field school 2018. Offered at both the graduate (ANG 6824, advanced) and undergraduate (ANT 4824) levels, students will work on the Pensacola area’s rich terrestrial and maritime archaeological past from the 16th through the early 20th centuries.  Explore the Tristán de Luna y Arellano 1559-1561 settlement attempt of the Florida Gulf Coast where students can gain unique hands-on experience excavating the Luna settlement on land, Luna shipwrecks underwater, or both. Options include taking a 10 week Terrestrial, 10 week Maritime, or 5 week Terrestrial and 5 week Maritime Combined field school. Both the Maritime and the Combined options require an additional week of Scientific Diver training. Additional research may be conducted at Arcadia Mill a 19th century industrial complex, other mill sites along the Blackwater river, and on other shipwrecks in the region.

UWF will be conducting a combined terrestrial and maritime archaeology field methods course during the summer of 2018. In the combined field school, qualified students will split their summer, taking the maritime component during either the first five weeks or the second five weeks of the course. For the maritime component, students will participate in underwater archaeological investigations in Pensacola Bay and surrounding waters. This summer’s activities include excavations on vessels dating to the Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano expedition of 1559; hull recording of maritime landscapes and small vessels in local rivers; remote sensing survey using magnetometer and side-scan sonar; as well as site assessments and dives on known historic wrecks and maritime sites located in the area. Fieldwork will be supplemented by lectures and discussions on themes ranging from the colonization of northwest Florida to maritime landscapes and economic maritime connections in the Gulf region. When not diving, students will perform topside duties such as dive tending and support, artifact recording, and database entry. Students will also participate in the conservation and laboratory analysis of recovered material.

• Prerequisites: In addition to having completed “Principles of Archaeology” (ANT 3101) with a grade of ‘C’ or better, an open-water scuba diving certification from a nationally recognized dive agency (PADI, NAUI, YMCA, etc.) is required for participation in the maritime field school. Students must also provide their own masks, fins, snorkel and weight belt; it is recommended that students also supply their own regulator and B.C.D., but there are some units available for rent from the Marine Services Center if this is not possible. In addition, all students must complete mandatory scientific diver training during the week of May 15-19, 2018. Additional information about CPR/First Aid certification providers and snorkel checkout/swim test dates will be provided upon notice of acceptance into the field school.
• Accommodations: Participants are responsible for their own housing and meals. Arrangements can be made to live in campus housing. Alternatively, the Pensacola area offers many weekly and monthly rentals.
• Transportation: Daily transportation to the staging location, the University’s Marine Services Center in Pensacola, is the responsibility of the student. Transportation to boat launches and dive sites will be provided by the University whenever possible, but students may occasionally be required to carpool to local dive locations.
• Schedule:
  • May 14 – May 18: UWF Scientific Diver Training (mandatory for all students participating in combined field school)
  • May 21 – June 23: First session of Maritime Field School
  • June 25 – July 28: Second session of Maritime Field School

Period(s) of Occupation: Spanish 16th century colonial

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 11 weeks

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: Principles of Archaeology” (ANT 3101) with a grade of 'C' or better, and an open-water scuba diving certification from a nationally recognized dive agency (PADI, NAUI, YMCA, etc.) is required for participation in the maritime field school. Students must also provide their own masks, fins, snorkel and weight belt; it is recommended that students also supply their own regulator and B.C.D., but there are some units available for rent from the Marine Services Center if this is not possible. In addition, all students must complete mandatory scientific diver training during the week of May 15-19, 2018. Additional information about CPR/First Aid certification providers and snorkel checkout/swim test dates will be provided upon notice of acceptance into the field school.

Room and Board Arrangements:
Room and board not provided. UWF does offer dorm housing (for a fee) for the summer sessions. Cost:

Academic Credit:
3-9 credits offered by University of West Florida. Tuition is Undergraduate: FL RESIDENT $ 218.98 per credit, Non resident $ 648.37 per credit; Graduate: Fl resident $384.60 per credit, Non resident $1044.24 per credit ​.