Antigua: Betty's Hope Archaeological Field School

bettys hope

Antigua: Betty’s Hope Archaeological Field School

A CSU, Chico Research Foundation non-credit summer field experience
Location: Antigua, British West Indies - BW
Dates: June 15 - July 13, 2013
Fees: $4,630; including room and board, ground transportation, and insurance.
Academic Credit: optional, see below
Project Director: Dr. Georgia Fox
Field School Flyer (PDF)

About the Trip:

Betty’s Hope, which is being considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is located on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Betty’s Hope is a former British sugar plantation that operated from 1651 until its sale by the Codrington family in 1944; the plantation operated continuously for almost 300 years, pre- and post-emancipation, thus allowing for long-term historical continuity in one place.

The main focus of the field school is to provide hands-on training in archaeological field work:

excavation
mapping
surveying
analysis and processing of archaeologically recovered materials

The field school includes these activities:

field archaeology
lectures on Antigua’s history
plantation archaeology
weekend field trips
trips to the beach

Working on the island will also allow students to experience contemporary caribbean culture.

Want to learn more about archaeological research opportunities on Antigua?
In 2010, Dr. Reg Murphy presented a lecture, “The Archaeology of Antigua and Barbuda”, on the CSU, Chico campus. Dr. Murphy works for the Nelson’s Dockyard as Museum Director/Curator and archaeologist, and as a consultant on cultural resources development/management throughout the Caribbean. Field School participants will work closely with Dr. Murphy. To learn more about archaeology in Antigua, view his forum presentation.

To view pictures from past field schools click on the picture

Academic Credit:

Participants in the non-credit field school may opt to earn four units of academic credit by enrolling in ANTH 280 Field Archaeology, ANTH 380 Field Archaeology, or ANTH 480 Advanced Field Archaeology for an additional fee of $240.

Room & Board

Accommodations and meals are provided by the field school. Living accommodations will be in cottages that are fully furnished and located in the quiet residential area of historic Nelson’s Dockyard National Park at English Harbor. The houses are set on a hillside and are cool and spacious, with adequate workspaces and a great scenic view of the sea.

Three delicious meals a day are provided by our own fabulous cook. Everyone will meet at the main house for meals. All meals are varied, well balanced, and delicious. Breakfast is light - fresh fruit, cereal and toast; lunch is a brown bag sandwich affair to be eaten in the field during the week, with a warm lunch being served on weekends; dinner is a full hot meal. Meals can be supplemented with snacks that are available at local shops. Students are not permitted to cook in the accommodations houses. All students will be expected to assist with kitchen duties on a rotational basis.

Note: Due to logistical constraints, it is not always possible to provide meals to individuals with dietary restrictions (i.e. strict vegans). Since all students must be on the group meal plan, please contact the instructor if you have dietary restrictions.

Application & Deadline Information

Extended Application Deadline: May 3, 2013 (with $500 deposit)
This course is approved to run as scheduled.

Application Form: 2013 Application Packet (pdf)

How to Apply: Complete the application packet and hand-deliver or mail to:
Center for Regional and Continuing Education
CSU, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0250