Applications are still being accepted for the 2012 Bates County Archaeology Field School, to be held June 7-29, 2012!

This work in Bates County was featured in the March/April 2010 issue of Archaeology Magazine, and has proven to be an extremely informative and productive field school experience. Interested parties can go to http://www.batescountyarchaeology.com to download the application and information packet.

The field school, with its first season being conducted in
summer of 2008, focuses on one of the most traumatic events in American
history. In the run-up to the Civil War, the Missouri-Kansas border was the scene of
merciless partisan fighting between pro-Union and secessionist groups,
culminating in William Clarke Quantrill's infamous raid on Lawrence, Kansas,
in which nearly 200 men and boys were singled out for death. Following Quantrill's
raid, the Union Army issued General Order No. 11. This order, issued in 1863,
resulted in the complete depopulation of Bates Countyand the total
destruction of all towns, farms, livestock and crops, creating an extraordinary
archaeological time capsule in Bates County.
 
Bates County was also the site
of the Battle of Island Mound, the first military engagement of African-American soldiers in the Civil War. Missouri's newest state park, The Battle of Island Mound State Park, was recently
established in Butler, Missourito commemorate and interpret this extraordinary event in our nation's history.
 
Starting with initial excavations in the fall of 2007, and
continuing with the 2008 and 2009 field seasons, this field school first began to
research the effects of General Order No. 11, particularly the ability of the
county's people to recover economically and socially after the war. The 2011 field
season turned its attention to the Battle of Island Mound State Park, in order to locate
the primary activity areas associated with the Toothman Farm/Fort Africa, and to
begin the process of interpreting the day-to-day lives of the people who lived on
the site, as well as the soldiers of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry.
 
Although this program focuses on Civil War-era
archaeological sites, students will receive training in research techniques employed by
archaeologists around the world. This field school is valuable to students
planning advanced work in archaeology, students seeking employment in contract (CRM)
archaeology, or who merely want to experience field research in archaeology.

Thanks so much -

Ann Raab, RPA
University of Missouri-Kansas City
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