The Geoarcheology Academy is a two and a half-day Texas Archeological Society (TAS) Academy that explores how geological and soil formation processes affect archeological sites, and how investigators use this information to reconstruct both the human and natural histories of an area. This academy will be offered at Victoria College and the McNeill Family Ranch, March 8-10, 2024.

Following a series of classroom lectures that introduce basic principles, participants will be in the field working in small groups of ~10 with the instructor to discuss open trench profiles that that have been previously analyzed. Participants can expect to learn a soils-geomorphology approach to interpret a landscape, how geoarcheological analysis can be applied to site excavations, as well as gain an understanding of geoarcheological reports and how best to work with the geoarcheologists for your projects. 

This is the first time that TAS is offering this type of Geoarcheology Academy; it builds upon the Introductory Geoarcheology Academy held in 2020 and the Advanced Geoarcheology 201 held in 2022. This academy blends the elements of these two academies by providing a balance of classroom with field learning and focuses some attention specific to archeological site excavation. The instructors are all experienced geoarcheologists. Dr. Charles Frederick taught for several years at the University of Sheffield, England and is now a consulting geoarcheologist. Karl Kibler is a consulting geoarcheologist with Cross Timbers Geoarcheological Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Brittney Gregory is the current geoarcheologist with TxDOT, and Dr. Jim Abbott is TxDOT’s previous geoarcheologist, recently retired.

Dr. Gus Costa is a consulting geoarcheologist out of Houston and Mr. Ken Lawrence is a consulting geoarcheologist with SWCA Environmental Consulting, Inc in Austin. The registration fee ($200) plus TAS membership is for two and a half days instruction including refreshments and lunches; and will include a digital manual. A certificate of participation will be awarded to attendees. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit is available for teachers as approved by the Texas State Board of Education Certification (SBEC). No previous archeological experience is needed to enjoy these sessions.

Scholarship opportunities are available! https://www.txarch.org/TAS-Scholarships-Overview

For lodging recommendations please refer to the information available on the Victoria Chamber of Commerce website: https://www.victoriachamber.org/#