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Paleontology-Archaeology Field Experience Planned for 2011
People with an interest in paleontology and archaeology will
have an opportunity to try both field and laboratory work in August of
2011! The planned site is at Mammoth Park, where the
excavation of a 11,000 year old extinct giant bison (Bison antiquus) will continue. The partial
remains of other extinct giant animals (megafauna) may also be excavated. As we work
down to the depths of these extinct animals, we may locate and document evidence of a past human presence, in the form of stone flakes that
were produced during the times that these ancient creatures lived in the Valley, and naturally shed human hair from the same time period. This class has filled, so if you are interested, please contact Gary Palmer, at PCC, to be added to the wait list.
If the flood deposits from winter prevent our accessing this site, then we will work at Mammoth Park, in Woodburn. This is the site of an extinct giant bison (Bison antiquus), as well as approximately a dozen other species of now extinct Ice Age animals.
These opportunities are due to a partnership between researchers and volunteers from the Yamhill
River Pleistocene Project and those of the Mammoth Park Project. Instruction is provided by professionals from the Institute for Archaeological Studies, with assistance from members of the OMSI paleontology laboratory, and other visiting professionals from the University of Oregon.
These experiences are open to both adults
and students (over
18 years of age), through the Continuing Education program at Portland Community College. A classroom session, discussing the peopling of the Americas and excavation protocols, will precede field work.
This opportunity is thanks to partnerships between the professionals and volunteers of the Yamhill river Pleistocene Project, Mammoth Park, and the Institute for Archaeological Studies.
(Be sure to look at the Yamhill River Pleistocene Project website!)
Participants will learn field and laboratory methods, and will be invited to participate in all aspects of fieldwork, from recording the items they have excavated to screening of both dry and wet sediments.
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