Participants to explore prehistoric sites in revival of 1975 first-ever program

Once named by National Geographic Traveler magazine as one of the country's 50 top state parks, Scott State Park is known to many Kansans as a place of astounding beauty. For others, it is a place of great historical and archeological significance, particularly the park's El Cuartelejo Pueblo ruins, which are the northernmost Pueblo ruins in North America.

Because of this rich prehistoric value, the first-ever Kansas Archeology Training Program (KATP) field school was held at Scott State Park in 1975. Now, the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) and the Kansas Anthropological Association (KAA) have decided to return for the annual KATP field school on May 30-June 14. The field school will be open to members of KSHS and KAA, as well as the general public. Participants will experience a variety of fieldwork, including site surveys and recordings, as well as test excavations of new and previously recorded sites in the area.

The school will be a working archeological study and will include walking surveys of areas previously unexplored. Small crews will investigate a number of promising areas in the park, as well as surrounding areas. Sites will be fully documented and recorded, adding to the understanding of prehistoric and historic use of the area.

Scott City High School, 712 Main Street in Scott City, will be the project headquarters for registration, classes, artifact-processing lab, and some evening programs. Details will be included in a registration packet to be posted on the KSHS website , kshs.org/resource/ katpcurrent.htm, about March 1.

Registration forms submitted by May 1 qualify for a participation fee of $20 for KAA and KSHS members and $80 for nonmembers. After May 1, the participation fee increases to $30 for members and $90 for nonmembers. Volunteers may participate for a single day or the entire school period. Participants must be at least 10 years of age, but a legally responsible adult must accompany those younger than 18. For more information, phone 785-272-8681, ext. 266.

A detailed article on the school by KSHS archeologists C. Tod Bevitt and Virginia A. Wulfkuhle can be found in the Winter 2009 issue of Kansas Preservation magazine, available online at www.kshs.org/resource/kpnews.htm.

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