Landscape Archaeology: Pictograph and Ghost Caves

Explore the landscape and history of one of Montana’s most significant archaeological sites, Pictograph and Ghost Caves.

Get the full history of Pictograph and Ghost Caves from its use and occupations by Montana’s first peoples to its WPA era archaeological excavations and modern day use as a state park and National Historic Landmark.  Learn archaeological field methods such as environmental sampling, 3D laser scanning, photogrammetry, landscape mapping, and site preservation. Learn tribal histories of the area and the significance of Pictograph Cave and its surrounding landscape, gain an understanding of culturally sensitive decision-making and the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Hear from Montana State Park’s managers about the challenges of preserving sites like Pictograph Cave State Park and participate in preservation documentation and cutting-edge methodologies.

At the end of this course, you will:

• Understand how a GPS unit works
• Understand the methods of investigation for a variety of archaeological sites
• Get a sense of archaeological technology such as laser scanning and digital imaging applications
• Understand ethnohistorical and ethnographic resources relevant to cultural landscapes
• Understand the ways in which land managers need to consider multivocal perspectives in decision making relevant to archaeological landscapes

There will be a series of readings that will assist with this course; a list will be provided upon registration. For a sample please feel free to visit the project’s website for its University of Montana student participants at: http://cas.umt.edu/anthropology/landscape/default.php

Planned Class Schedule:

Class will meet in the morning at Pictograph Cave State Park at 9:00am, there will be an hour break for lunch and class will conclude at 4:30pm. 

The preliminary itinerary for the week is:

Monday, July 29: Guided tour and in-depth history of Pictograph and Ghost Caves, guest lectures – Sara Scott, Montana State Parks Heritage Resource Manager and Tim Urbaniak, Archaeological Landscape Digitization Specialist and Instructor-City College. In the afternoon we will conduct a site survey and explore the surrounding landscape to monitor other sites related to the sandstone bluff.

Tuesday, July 30: Mapping and 3D laser scanning of the caves and surrounding landscape.

Wednesday, July 31: Focus on environmental ecology and the changes in the landscape over time with special emphasis on paleoecological sampling and environmental recording.

Thursday, August 1: Tribal histories of Pictograph and Ghost Caves, land management, preservation, and the importance of multivocal, culturally-sensitive decision-making about the region’s cultural and natural heritage.

Please bring the following supplies: Mechanical pencil (0.5 or 0.7 lead size), art eraser, pen, appropriate clothing for working outdoors (please understand that Montana weather changes often so plan ahead); we suggest long pants, layered tops, hats (wide brim or baseball), yard work style gloves, sturdy walking/hiking shoes, a portable folding camp chair/stool, sunscreen, bug repellant, water bottle, camera, metric tape measure, backpack, and compass.

We will provide you with: a field notebook, drawing clip board, paper, and rulers.

CAUTION:  ****Tetanus Shot****

Please make sure your tetanus shot is updated.  This is the standard for archaeological field work.

Activity Level:

This course is rated as Moderate. This experience will entail the possibility of walking the equivalent of several miles during the course of the day, sitting in the sun, and/or climbing steep terrain. Most days will require several hours of standing and walking with intermittent sitting. If you are concerned about a physical limitation but are still interested in participating please contact bethany.campbell@mso.umt.edu to discuss the possibility of accommodations prior to registering.

About the Instructors:

Dr. Kelly Dixon is an accomplished historical archaeologist and award-winning author of two books.  She is currently an associate professor in The University of Montana's Department of Anthropology. Dixon specializes in frontier west archaeology and has worked at sites like the Donner family campsite in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Boston Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada, Coloma Ghost Town in the Garnet Mountains, and Rosebud Battlefield in southeastern Montana.

Bethany Hauer Campbell, M.A., is an anthropologist specializing in interdisciplinary research and artifact curation. Campbell has served as The University of Montana's Anthropological Curation Facility curator and is the Project Manager for the Montana Anthropogenic Research Cooperative. She has taught anthropological collections management, care, and ethics.

Registration:

Registration is now OPEN. The deadline for registration is July 22, 2013. Enrollment is limited to 6 participants.

This personal enrichment course is not offered for university credit.  Formal admission to The University of Montana is not required, and all participants pay the same course fee, regardless of state residency.

Top photo courtesy of Tim Mazzaferro, www.timmazzaferro.com.  Historical photo 81.0493, L. A. Huffman, Archives & Special Collections, Mansfield Library, The University of Montana.  Pictograph photos courtesy of Pictograph Cave State Park.  Photos may not be reused without permission.