REU Site: Upper Gila Preservation Archaeology Field School

该项目由SBE理事会的本科生研究经验（REU）站点计划资助。除了整合研究和教育之外，它还具有科学和社会效益。位于新墨西哥州西南部农村的上吉拉保存考古实地学校，在长期研究项目的背景下，提供实践培训，教授道德责任和科学严谨的考古方法。培训是在保护考古学的精神下进行的，这是一种整合大局研究、利用现有藏品、重点实地考察、遗址保护和当地社区外展的哲学。在一组经验丰富的讲师的密切监督下，该项目为本科生提供了一个沉浸式的环境，在这个环境中，他们可以学习考古领域和实验室工作的基础知识，以及如何将他们的工作与具有当代相关性的更广泛的人类学问题联系起来。具体来说，学生将接受挖掘和调查技术、实验考古学、文物处理和分析、报告写作和公开演讲等方面的培训。基于遗址是不可再生资源的前提，保存考古实地学校正在培训下一代学术，私营部门和政府机构考古学家。这个项目吸引了来自不同文化和经济背景的优秀学生。招生目标是代表性不足的群体，包括印第安人、西班牙裔和社区/小型大学本科生，这些群体的STEM机会有限，以及来自主要学术机构的学生，以增加该学科所代表的观点的多样性。学生们的努力直接为西南考古的长期研究项目做出了贡献，该项目专注于前接触时期（公元1200-1450年）美国西南部南部的萨拉多现象。本研究研究了西南地区在动荡和危机时期多元文化群体的迁移和社会融合过程。学生们批判性地思考考古和历史对不同社区的价值，并探索不同的方式来交流科学研究结果。学生们通过参与当地社区的外展活动、撰写研究报告和在专业会议上演讲，向不同的观众展示他们的作品。即使是那些没有继续从事考古工作的学生，也可以在积极的研究环境中学习合作和合作、批判性思维、吸引公众以及文化资源的重要性等宝贵技能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project is funded from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites program in the SBE Directorate. It has both scientific and societal benefits in addition to integrating research and education. The Upper Gila Preservation Archaeology Field School, located in rural southwestern New Mexico, provides hands-on training in ethically responsible and scientifically rigorous archaeological methods in the context of a long-term research project. Training is conducted within a Preservation Archaeology ethos, a philosophy integrating big-picture research, use of existing collections, focused fieldwork, site preservation, and local community outreach. Under the close supervision of a team of experienced instructors, this program offers undergraduate students an immersive environment in which to learn the fundamentals of archaeological field and laboratory work and how to link their work to broader anthropological issues that have contemporary relevance. Specifically, students are trained in excavation and survey techniques, experimental archaeology, artifact processing and analysis, report-writing, and public presentation. Based on the premise that sites are non-renewable resources, the Preservation Archaeology Field School is training the next generation of academic, private sector, and government agency archaeologists. This project attracts exceptional students from a variety of cultural and economic backgrounds. Student recruiting targets underrepresented groups, including Native American, Hispanic, and community/small college undergraduates with limited STEM opportunities, as well as students from major academic institutions to increase the diversity of views represented in the discipline. Student efforts contribute directly to Archaeology Southwest's long term research program focused on the Salado Phenomenon in the southern U.S. Southwest during the late pre-contact period (A.D. 1200-1450). This research studies the processes of migration and social integration of culturally diverse groups during this time of upheaval and crisis across much of the Southwest. Students think critically about the values of archaeology and history to different communities and explore different ways to communicate the results of scientific research. Students present their work to various audiences through participation in outreach events for the local community, writing research reports, and presentations at professional meetings. Even students who do not go on to pursue careers in archaeology learn valuable skills in collaboration and collegiality, critical thinking, engaging the public, and the importance of cultural resources, in an active research setting.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.