Student Research on the Naco Valley Archaeological Project, Northwestern Honduras

该奖项为继续开展REU项目提供资金，该项目旨在为积极进取的本科生，特别是女性和少数民族提供机会，在洪都拉斯西北部纳科谷考古项目的背景下，发展他们作为考古实地科学家的技能。该项目的重点是学生进行一项重要的独立研究项目，从提出假设到最后的写作，由实地课堂教学和学生与研究负责人之间轻松而激烈的互动的生活和工作环境支持。本课程基于首席调查员过去在野外环境中与本科生合作和指导的丰富经验，特别是在1988年和1990年纳科谷季节进行的NSF-REU现场项目上。归根结底，该项目的目标是帮助学生从新手研究助理成长为初级同事，对自己做出独立研究决策和贡献科学知识的能力充满信心。1988年和1990年的努力构成了当前方案的模式，它们成功地实现了这些目标。

This award provides funds to continue an REU program which is designed to provide highly motivated undergraduates, especially women, and minorities with the opportunity to develop their skills as archaeological field scientists while working within the context of the Naco Valley Archaeological Project, NW Honduras. The project focuses on student conduct of a significant independent research project, from the enunciation of a hypothesis to final write-up, supported by in-field class instruction and a living and working situation in which interaction among students and research leaders is easy and yet intense. This course of study is founded on the Principal Investigator's considerable experience in collaborating with and instructing undergraduates within field settings in the past, and especially, on NSF-REU site projects which took place during the 1988 and 1990 Naco Valley seasons. Ultimately, the goal for the project is to help students grow from neophyte research assistants to junior colleagues confident in their ability to make independent research decisions and contribute to scientific knowledge. The 1988 and 1990 efforts, which form the model of the current program, were successful in accomplishing these objectives.