KANSAS ARCHEOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAM - PAST
The Kansas Archeology Training Program has been held in June almost annually since 1975. The program offers the opportunity for members of the public to work in the field and lab alongside professional and avocational archeologists. Find more about our past programs.
This program is a partnership between the Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas Anthropological Association (KAA). KAA members have provided hundreds of volunteer hours to work in the field and the lab, helping to make this program possible each year.
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Adair Cabin Site (14MM327)
At this original cabin site Samuel and Florella Adair lived on the western edge of Osawatomie. The cabin was moved to John Brown Memorial Park in the city in 1912. The field school included geophysical survey, metal detection, shovel testing, and excavation. Part of the cabin foundation was exposed, as well as walkways and an…
Albert Bell Site (14SD305,) Cottonwood Ranch (14SD327)-2002
The field school returned to two sites partially excavated in 1990. The focus at Cottonwood Ranch, a 19th century sheep ranch, was to search for the remains of a turn-of-the-century icehouse. A trash dump was found that contained Pratt family artifacts. An Upper Republican earthlodge yard and midden was investigated at the Albert Bell Site,…
Albert Bell Site (14SD305), Cottonwood Ranch (14SD327)-1990
Albert Bell Site is an earthlodge habitation site culturally affiliated with Middle Ceramic period Upper Republican peoples Cottonwood Ranch 19th century sheep ranch constructed (1885-1896), outbuildings (built 1891-1892), symbolize English settlement and ranching on the High Plains in northwest Kansas, operated as Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site by the Kansas Historical Society, listed in the…
Bell Site (14CM407)
A Wilmore complex site occupied during the Middle Ceramic period (1000-1500 CE). 47 volunteers contributed 2,021 hours Reports: Don Rowlison (1984) “Plans for the KAA Annual Dig” Journal of the KAA 4(9):147-154; Don Rowlison (1984) “Excavations at the Bell Site Provide New Information from South-Central Kansas” Kansas Preservation 6(6):1-2; Don Rowlison (1985) “A Preliminary Report…
Billy Dixon’s Whisky Ranch (14EL311)
The Billy Dixon Whisky Ranch trading post was established as a waystation and supply post along the Saline River in 1870. This site is the possible location of the ranch. 140 volunteers contributed 6,100 hours, 57 participants were new to the program Reports: Virginia A. Wulfkuhle (2013) “Stock Up on Archeology at the Billy Dixon…
Booth Site (14CM406)
A Middle Ceramic period Wilmore complex site. 130 volunteers contributed 5,590 hours Reports: Randall Thies (1989) “Plans for the 1989 Kansas Archeology Training Program” Journal of the KAA 9(8): 151-164; William B. Lees and John D. Reynolds (1989) “Fifteenth Annual Training Program Dig Held in Comanche County” Kansas Preservation 11(6):6-7; William B. Lees (1990) Chronological Placement of…
C. F. Thompson Site (14RC9)
Great Bend aspect village site is listed with the Tobias Site as the Tobias-Thompson National Historic Landmark. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Little River Archeological District 81 volunteers contributed 3,483 hours Reports: Randall Thies (1986) “Plans for the 1986 Kansas Archeology Training Program and Annual…
Claussen Site (14WB322)
The field school was a partnership with the Kansas Anthropological Association, Odyssey Archaeological Research Fund at the University of Kansas, and the Kansas Historical Society. Two components were investigated, one dating to the late Paleoindian/Early Archaic (8,800 years ago) and the other to the Ceramic Period (810 years ago). Chipped stone, mussel shell, gastropods, vertebrate…
Coffey County (14CF357), (14CF369)
Both sites were habitation areas occupied by members of the Pomona focus during the Middle Ceramic period (1000-1500 CE). 60 volunteers contributed 3,000 hours Reports: Thomas Witty (1979) “Plans for the 1979 KAA Dig” KAA Newsletter 24(6): 1-7; Randall M. Thies (1981) Archeological Investigations at John Redmond Reservoir, East Central Kansas, 1979 Report on file,…
Coffey Site (14PO1)
The site is an important Archaic-age locality on the banks of the Big Blue River north of Manhattan. This was a partnership with the University of Kansas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Kansas Historical Society. The field school did not yield the expected wealth of Archaic artifacts, but it did uncover possible…