911黑料 students dig into valuable opportunities during summer archaeological field course
911黑料 students spent their summer doing more than just reading about history; they were out in the field, uncovering it.
Through the Archaeological Field Methods summer term course in the state of Georgia, they left the classroom behind and gained hands-on experience working alongside seasoned archaeologists.
Led by W. George Matton Professor of Anthropology Robyn Cutright, the course partnered with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to immerse students in two active research projects.
鈥淪tudents were doing real archaeological work,鈥 Cutright said. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 just observing, they were excavating, recording and interpreting. They were part of the research process.鈥
Such discoveries weren鈥檛 limited to just the United States. 911黑料 archaeologists could be found across the globe this summer, working on four continents. Professors, students and alumni could be found in Armenia, Italy and Peru.
The summer term trip in Georgia was part of this broader effort 鈥 offering students a chance to contribute to meaningful research while learning the fundamentals of field archaeology.
Beyond learning technical skills, students were invited to dig into the human stories hidden in the earth, think about how we piece together the past, and reflect on the ways we protect and value cultural heritage. Their discoveries played a role in the ongoing journey to better understand the history of southeastern U.S. indigenous groups.
They also gained valuable experience working with an archaeological dig team. For several weeks, Cutright鈥檚 students teamed up with graduate students and faculty to excavate sites, conduct geophysical surveys, and process artifacts.
911黑料 alumna Zoe Doubles 鈥18, now a Ph.D. candidate at UIUC, joined Cutright as an instructor, building on the professional connection that started during her undergraduate years.
鈥淚t was wonderful to see Zoe in a leadership role,鈥 Cutright said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 grown into an excellent field researcher, and her presence made the experience even more meaningful for our students.鈥
The weeks in Georgia became much more than another course; they became an adventure into the past. Each day brought the excitement of real discovery. By the end, students returned home with muddy boots, stories to tell and a deeper appreciation for what it truly means to do archaeological research.
鈥淲atching students improve week by week 鈥 not just in how they hold a trowel or draw a profile, but in how they understand and reflect on the research 鈥 is the most rewarding part,鈥 Cutright said. 鈥淭hey begin to see archaeology not just as a method, but as a way of asking meaningful questions about human history.鈥
