The University of Missouri-Kansas City Geosciences Department and the Bates County History Museum are co-sponsoring an archaeological field school June 8 - 28, 2009 in Bates County, Missouri. The field school will be offered through the University of Missouri-Kansas City, but is open to all current university students in good academic standing.
 
This field school will focus 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 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 11. Order 11 of 1863 resulted in the complete depopulation of Bates County and the total destruction of all towns, farms, live stock, and crops.  Order 11 created an extraordinary archaeological time capsule in Bates County.
 
The field school will research the effects of this order, particularly the ability of the county’s people to recover economically and socially after the war. 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. 
 
Interested parties may go to www.geocities.com/annmraab and click on the link for the 2009 Field School page. There they will be able to download the entire application and information packet.
 
For more information or for questions, please contact Ann Raab at [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]