2023 canada: heads-smashed-in
Closed
05/08/2023
06/25/2023
Dr. Shawn Bubel
Dr. Kevin McGeough
Mr. Bob Dawe
$ 3,910
04/07/2023
April 23, 9:00am Pacific Standard Time
8 Semester credits
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Students are advised that this site is of a significant importance to our global heritage, Canadian heritage, and in particular – to the heritage of First Nations, primarily to the Blackfoot people. Attending students will be gain broad access to the site’s unique material culture. Students are expected to be mindful and respectful at all times of the site’s historical, ideological, political and economic complexities.
OVERVIEW
Heads-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located in the Porcupine Hills of southwestern Alberta, Canada. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has an interpretive centre run by mostly Blackfoot staff that has hosted over two million visitors since 1987. The site is an elaborate complex spread across the landscape where, for at least the past 5,500 years, hunters used the natural landscape to drive herds of bison off cliff edges and then process the animals in the vicinity. It is one of the most important locations of Indigenous heritage.
Our work at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump aims to clarify chronological and contextual issues related to the earliest occupation phases at the site, evaluate the relationships between different parts of the site, and identify earlier uses than those currently well-documented. Through this work, students will learn about the site and develop key skills necessary in North American archaeology. These elements of the project will involve targeted testing and excavations in three areas of the site and supplemental testing, surveying, and mapping in three other areas. During the field school students will have an opportunity to excavate at the site and process the archaeological materials they unearth in the laboratory.
Illustration of First Nations buffalo hunt at Heads-Smashed-In
Students excavating and sifting at the Spring Channel Area of the site
A view of the Buffalo Jump from a distance
Recovering artifacts from the spring channel
Students excavating at the spring channel 2022
Students conduct test excavations in the forested area near the site
Students learn how to throw darts using the Atlatl
Students & staff attending First Nations blessing ceremony prior to excavations
Students analyzing faunal remains from the site
Excavating half a unit at the site
Camping ground at the project's basecamp
Instructors
All field school directors are experts in their field and passionate about their work. To discuss the suitability of this program for your career goals – whether within or outside academia – you are invited to contact the directors directly. For a broader discussion which CFS program to choose, you are welcome to contact our staff directly – you can do that through our “Contact Us” page.
Prof. Shawn Bubel
University of Lethbridge
DR. Kevin McGeough
University of Lethbridge
Testimonials
This is a new program. There are no testimonials at this time
Student Fees
- You must apply online for this program – application is free
- A $300 nonrefundable deposit is required to secure a space in the program
- Payments with credits cards incur 2.5% processing fee
- A $100 Late Fee will be added to the program costs if tuition is not paid in full by payment deadline
- Please carefully read our Cancelation Policy before committing to attend our programs
- Trip cancellation insurance is not provided by CFS. Such policies have changed due to Covid 19. If you wish to purchase an insurance policy that covers pandemic contingencies, explore Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) plans. Insuremytrip or Travel Guard are possible websites where you may explore different insurance policies
Tuition Includes:
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Costs of Instruction
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Room & Board
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Cost of Academic Credit Units
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Health and Evacuation Insurance
Accommodations
During the four-week excavation component of the field school, the students and directors live at the campground (basecamp) just south of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Students must bring their own tent, sleeping bag, air mattress/cot, towels, and other personal items (shampoo, soap, etc.). There are washrooms, showers, and laundry facilities at basecamp. A camp kitchen and other facilities will be constructed upon arrival. Lights and electricity are available at the campsite but electricity must be used sparingly. There is limited internet but good cell phone reception at basecamp. Students and staff will take turns cleaning, cooking, and caring for basecamp.
Diet
The field school team prepares well-balanced, nutritious meals. Since these are group meals, individual dietary needs will be accommodated as best as possible, although it is not possible to be fully gluten free, kosher, etc. There will be a number of meat or dairy, vegetable, and starch (rice, potatoes, bread, etc.) choices. Breakfasts and dinners are prepared and eaten at basecamp. Individual lunches are packed in the morning and are taken to the site along with water containers.
Travel Information
We suggest you hold purchasing your airline ticket until six (6) weeks prior to departure date. Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and a range of other factors may require the cancelation of a program. The CFS typically takes a close look at local conditions 6-7 weeks prior to program beginning and makes a Go/No Go decision by then. Such time frame still allows for the purchase of deeply discounted airline tickets while protecting students from potential loss of airline ticket costs if CFS is forced to cancel a program.
Head-Smashed-In is located in Alberta, Canada, about 18 km north and west from Fort Macleod. The closest international airport is Calgary, Alberta (YYC), which is about a two & half-hour drive from basecamp. Students may attend the ZOOM course from anywhere but need to arrive in Fort Macleod NO LATER than May 22 at 8:30pm. We will meet all students at the Circle K Shell Station, drop off point of the Red Arrow bus service. Staff will wait to pick up students upon Red Arrow bus service arrival, regardless of its time of arrival that day to the Circle K Shell Station.
Meeting Point
Visa Information
US citizens need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), have a valid passport, a return flight ticket, and proof of sufficient funds for entry to Canada. Although the Canadian government does not require that a passport be valid for three months from the date of entry, airlines routinely do so and may decline boarding if a traveler has less than three months validity on his or her passport.
Applying for an eTA is a simple online process. Most applicants get their eTA approval (via an email) within minutes. However, some requests can take several days to process if you are asked to submit supporting documents. It is best to get an eTA before you book your flight to Canada.
Citizens of other countries are asked to check the Canadian Embassy website page at their home country for specific visa requirements.
Travel regulations related to COVID-19 change constantly and participants must make themselves aware of these before travel.
Safety
Our primary concern is with education. Traveling and conducting field work involves risk. Students interested in participating in our programs must weigh whether the potential risk is worth the value of education provided. While risk is inherent in everything we do, we do not take risk lightly. We engage in intensive review of each field school location prior to approval. Once a program is accepted, we review and monitor each program annually to make sure it complies with all our standards and policies, including student safety.
Students attending our international programs are covered by a comprehensive Health Insurance policy that includes physical illness or injury, mental or chronic conditions. There are no deductible and 100% of costs are covered up to $250,000. In addition, we provide Political & Natural Disaster Evacuation policy, which allow us to remove students from program location if conditions change.
Students attending our domestic programs (within the US) must have their own health insurance and provide proof upon enrollment. Program directors are familiar with local authorities and if in need of evacuation, local emergency services and/or law enforcement will be notified and activated.
We have an explicit and robust harassments & discriminations policies. If students feel they cannot discuss personal safety issues with program staff, they are welcome to call the CFS emergency hotline and talk directly with CFS staff members.
Call (+1 562 584-0761) or email (info@fieldsciences.org) if you have questions about the safety of any program.