For convenience, Archaeology at the University of Maine is compartmentalized
into prehistoric archaeology and historical archaeology.
However students should be aware that there are many topics of interest
which bridge both disciplines and are of special interest to many anthropologists,
among them the rise of civilizations and the mutual effects of culture
contact between Europeans and Native Americans.
Prehistoric archaeology is the
study of societies who existed before substantial written records were kept.
Although there were literate societies in Mesoamerica at the time of first
European contact, prehistoric archaeology of the Americas generally refers
to study of indigenous peoples, the ancestors of today's Native Americans,
the time of Columbus.
Here at the University of Maine prehistoric
archaeology is taught by anthropological archaeologists specializing
in the archaeology of the Americas.
Historical Archaeology
Historical archaeology, as we use
it in the Americas, is the study the spread of European culture to the Americas
and its effects on indigenous peoples, particularly during colonial and early
American periods. While the perspective is one of material culture--archaeological
sites and artifacts--it is the documentary record that sets historical archaeology
apart from prehistoric archaeology.
The University of Maine is unusual in
offering extensive undergraduate training in historical archaeology. Consequently
undergraduates at the University of Maine have the rare opportunity to take
courses that most students do not have access to until they get into graduate
school. University of Maine undergraduates are encouraged to take any of the
courses listed below for which they have the pre-requisites.
During the summer months, the University
of Maine commonly has field opportunities for undergraduate and graduate
students
seeking excavation experience, and occasionally positions for those with
previous experience. Participation is by application only, and University
of Maine students
will often be competing with students from all over the world. Field programs
are seldom finalized until after the spring break, but it is best to submit
your application in early in the spring semester.
A significant number of students is often
recruited for excavations within the state. Information on prehistoric digs
in Maine is provided by Dr. Brian Robinson, whereas
Dr. Alaric Faulkner handles field work in historical
archaeology. For example, recently Dr. Faulkner conducted a survey and excavations
along the St. George River near Cushing, Maine, and is currently working on Revolutionary War fortifications in Castine, Maine.
Note also that Dr.
Kristin Sobolik often recruits students for excavations and other projects.
All
of these faculty members can be reached at
Department of Anthropology
University of Maine
South Stevens 5773
Orono, ME 04469-5773
The several archaeology laboratories at the
University of Maine provide for analysis and interpretation of a variety of
prehistoric and historic remains recovered from throughout North and South America,
more specifically from the Northeastern and Southwestern United States, Peru,
and Cuba. The laboratories are fully equipped for all stages of analysis and
include high-quality dissecting scopes with photographic capability, equipment
for artifact photography, a fully equipped darkroom with high quality B/W processing
capabilities, and state-of-the-art computer equipment with both DOS and Macintosh
formats.
Most of the Archaeology Laboratories accessible
to students are concentrated in South Stevens Hall. The Historic Archaeology
Laboratory on the second floor of South Stevens Room 246 is managed by Dr.
Faulkner. It maintains an extensive comparative collection of historic period
artifacts from the northeast, largely from English and French colonial sites
of the 17th and 18th centuries. Next door in room 238 is the Faunal Laboratory,
managed by Dr. Sobolik, which houses the principal
comparative collection of faunal material, and is also set up for the analysis
of macrobotanical remains. These, include a large zooarchaeological laboratory
which contains a large comparative collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish,
and invertebrates from North America, with focus on taxa from the Northeastern
and Southwestern United States. Also on this floor is the Teaching Laboratory,
room 232, and the Peruvian Research Laboratory, room 232A, managed by Dr.
Sandweiss.
On the first floor of South Stevens, room
120 is the Prehistoric Archaeology Research Laboratory, Dr.
Robinson's Laboratory. This facility is used for special research projects,
generally involving prehistoric research in the northeast.
Major prehistoric comparative collections
are housed in the Prehistoric Archaeology Laboratory in the basement, managed
by Stephen Bicknell. Here too is a sediments and soils lab, analysis space for
students and researchers, storage space for collections, and photographic and
drafting facilities.
Stephen A Bicknell, research assistant
Also in the basement is Dr. Faulkner's Conservation
Laboratory used primarily to conserve metals and wood from historic sites.
(publication)
Stephen A Bicknell, research assistant
