Archaeology Field Day to dig into campus past

The public will have a rare opportunity to get a firsthand look at archaeology in action during an Archaeology Field Day on Sunday, May 2, from noon-4 p.m.

The free event will be staffed by the Great Lakes Archaeological Research Center, whose researchers are conducting a comprehensive survey of UW–Madison archaeological sites. The crew will demonstrate archaeological research techniques and facilitate hands-on opportunities to sift through excavated material and look for evidence of past occupation. Artifacts and displays will also be available.

The field day activities will take place in the wooded area near the junction of Lake Mendota Drive and University Bay Drive.

George Christiansen, the lead archaeologist from the center, will give on-site talks at 1 and 3 p.m. He will describe Wisconsin archaeology and the significance of the university’s ancient sites where, thousands of years ago, the open fields on the west edge of campus were part of a wetland linked to University Bay. These wetlands were likely an excellent area for hunting and food-gathering activities of the local people. Researchers believe that Native American groups would have used the dry land on the edges of this wetland to set up seasonal camps.

Historical records indicate that artifacts — dated to about 10,000 years ago — have been found in this area.

The Getty Trust recently awarded UW–Madison a grant to conduct a comprehensive inventory of historic and cultural resources on the main campus. The two-year study will result in a cultural landscape plan that will allow campus planners to preserve and interpret unique campus resources such as the Civil War Camp Randall, historic designed landscapes such as Henry Mall, and the ancient archaeological areas and preserved effigy mounds scattered across campus.

In addition to the exploration of the University Bay site, a team of archaeologists will survey more than 100 acres of campus to locate new or little-known sites where Native Americans lived.

The Archaeology Field Day is being held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Historic Preservation and Archaeology Week, sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Free parking is available at the 1918 Marsh lot or the athletic fields lots off University Bay Drive. Appropriate footwear for a walk in the woods is recommended.