Posted 9:44 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2012
[caption id="attachment_11710" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Volunteers walk fields in search of artifacts with Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center staff."]
[/caption]
Volunteers will walk fields in the Holmen area in search of new archaeological sites Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6. The Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center’s annual volunteer field survey is a chance for the public to discover artifacts and potential archaeological sites for future exploration.
“It’s kind of like a treasure hunt,” says Geri Patschull, of La Crosse who will participate this year. “You are looking at the ground in a whole new way.”
Volunteers search for items such as arrowheads, spearheads and the flakes or chips of rock that came off while making such tools. Artifacts range from about 600 to 6,000 years old.
“If items are on the surface that is probably a good indication that there is more underneath,” says Jean Dowiasch, education coordinator for MVAC.
MVAC records sites where items were found and follows up with thorough excavations.
Geri, her husband, Doug, and their son, Ben, 13, have attended the field survey since Ben was in second grade. Ben found a hide scraper that year and has been hooked on the field surveys ever since.
“Every year you learn a little bit more about what you are looking for,” says Ben.
So far in La Crosse County there are 871 archaeological sites already recorded, ranging in size from an isolated find to large village sites like Sand Lake Archeological District which covers hundreds of acres.
“It’s more than just going out in the field and looking for arrowheads. You learn a lot about history,” says Doug.
Geri and Ben plan to attend the survey again this year.
If you go —
What: MVAC volunteer field survey
When: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6
Where: Archaeology Center, UW-L
To register: Call MVAC at 608.785.8454 or e-mail Jean Dowiasch at jdowiasch@uwlax.edu. The number of participants is limited, so register early. Children may participate if accompanied by an adult.
Cost: The cost is free, however, participants are encouraged to become MVAC members. MVAC membership is $35 and $10 for students.
[/caption]
Volunteers will walk fields in the Holmen area in search of new archaeological sites Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6. The Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center’s annual volunteer field survey is a chance for the public to discover artifacts and potential archaeological sites for future exploration.
“It’s kind of like a treasure hunt,” says Geri Patschull, of La Crosse who will participate this year. “You are looking at the ground in a whole new way.”
Volunteers search for items such as arrowheads, spearheads and the flakes or chips of rock that came off while making such tools. Artifacts range from about 600 to 6,000 years old.
“If items are on the surface that is probably a good indication that there is more underneath,” says Jean Dowiasch, education coordinator for MVAC.
MVAC records sites where items were found and follows up with thorough excavations.
Geri, her husband, Doug, and their son, Ben, 13, have attended the field survey since Ben was in second grade. Ben found a hide scraper that year and has been hooked on the field surveys ever since.
“Every year you learn a little bit more about what you are looking for,” says Ben.
So far in La Crosse County there are 871 archaeological sites already recorded, ranging in size from an isolated find to large village sites like Sand Lake Archeological District which covers hundreds of acres.
“It’s more than just going out in the field and looking for arrowheads. You learn a lot about history,” says Doug.
Geri and Ben plan to attend the survey again this year.
If you go —
What: MVAC volunteer field survey
When: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6
Where: Archaeology Center, UW-L
To register: Call MVAC at 608.785.8454 or e-mail Jean Dowiasch at jdowiasch@uwlax.edu. The number of participants is limited, so register early. Children may participate if accompanied by an adult.
Cost: The cost is free, however, participants are encouraged to become MVAC members. MVAC membership is $35 and $10 for students.