2024 PaleoWest Foundation CRM Field School

The inaugural PaleoWest Foundation Field School has been completed successfully. Ten students from all walks of life and from all over the country converged in Southwest Colorado to learn about archaeology and cultural resource management (CRM). The PaleoWest Field school is unique in that, unlike other field schools that train students in collecting data for research purposes, we train students in the practical skills needed to obtain an entry-level job in the CRM industry, including survey, site recording, resource evaluation, and writing. The field school therefore addresses the current need in the industry for trained CRM practitioners, as well as provides opportunities to students who otherwise would have no way to navigate a path into the industry, including members of underrepresented communities.

In this intensive, two-week course students learned the practical skills necessary to succeed in cultural resource management (CRM) fieldwork such that they are prepared to enter the private workforce once out of college. This course emphasizes training in survey methods, site recording protocols and best practices, current technology used in the field by CRM practitioners, descriptive writing for site records and reports, and the basics of evaluating sites for listing in the NRHP, per Sections 101 and 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The field school is held in southwest Colorado on private land on the Hawkins Preserve for two weeks. In 2024, the field school was taught by seasoned CRM archaeologists, including two highly experienced CRM field directors. The course comprised lectures, hands-on lab analysis, evening programs, and actual field survey and site documentation. This course presents real-world opportunities to practice the principles of cultural resource management archaeology.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student are able to:

• Identify and document an archaeological site, including site mapping and photography.

• Understand and contribute to recommendations for NRHP eligibility of sites.

• Fill out appropriate site records.

• Navigate infield recording technology.

• Conduct pedestrian survey.

• Understand the laws and legislation that drive CRM.

• Conduct basic laboratory analysis techniques.

• Contribute to CRM report sections.

Practical Outcomes 2024

• Three students were either a THPO (for Poaque Pueblo) or worked in THPO offices (in California) and learned a great deal about the nuts and bolts of CRM archaeology as well as the role of the THPO. They were grateful not only for the infield experience they gained but also for the literature and course materials we were able to provide them.

• Two students who had already graduated were granted job interviews subsequent to graduation from the course. They were both successful in those interviews due to the knowledge and experience gained in the course. One will work with Chronicle Heritage’s Tucson office and one will be working with Chronicle’s Salt Lake City Office.

• One student is being considered for an internship in Chronicle Heritage’s San Diego office

• All students who took the course for college credit earned an A due to their engagement and retained learning as indicated on the final exam.

• Due to their high level of engagement and performance in the field and in the classroom, all students will have earned letters of recommendation from the instructor once they graduate and are in search of employment.

Student Testimonials

I think the best part about field school was how much it taught me about CRM and archaeology as a whole in those two weeks. It felt like I learned a whole semester's worth of info in two weeks. And I was able to then apply what I learned each day, which really helped to cement it. It changed my whole perspective on what it meant to be an archaeologist.
– Jack Christiano, student

I just want to thank you and Chronicle Heritage for selecting me to be a part of the inaugural class at PaleoWest Foundations-CRM Archaeological Field School. I feel so grateful to have learned the very high standards of field work that Chronicle Heritage sets. What an amazing two weeks. The best thing about field school was going into the field and identifying artifacts, putting those items into words and then translating it on to the iPad. I feel like this skill is so important in CRM and will be something I need regardless of where I land. I will be able to show other people in my office the skills I now know, when we eventually get iPads.
– Anthony Kline, student