Fox Farm: A Fort Ancient Village ( A.D. 1100-1650), Mason County, Kentucky
June 9 - August 4, 2011

Fox Farm is one of the largest Fort Ancient sites in the Ohio River valley. It sits on a broad, gently rolling ridgetop about 60 miles north of Lexington, near Maysville, Kentucky. Prehistoric village farming peoples, whom archaeologists call “Fort Ancient,” lived at Fox Farm from about A.D. 1100 to 1650.

Research at the site spans more than a century. It has documented a long-term, intensive occupation, marked by thick cultural deposits, evidence of structure rebuilding, and multiple plazas, mounds, and cemeteries. Despite this long history of investigation, the site itself is very poorly understood. Last summer, the University of Kentucky initiated a three-year study at Fox Farm, and held its Summer Archaeology Field School there. These investigations revealed that site integrity is high.

This summer, UK archaeologists will return to Fox Farm for their final summer season. Our research will target Fox Farm’s internal organization, and cycles of village growth and contraction. In so doing, we hope to gain a fuller appreciation of this site’s unique character and why Fort Ancient groups chose to live on this interior ridgetop for over 500 years.

COURSE
Learn the fundamentals of archaeological research, including survey and excavation techniques, geophysical techniques, site interpretation, and artifact classification and cataloging. To enroll, sign up on-line March 28th - April 19th or May 3rd - June 9th, 2011 for Anthropology 585 at www.uky.edu/registrar.

ACADEMIC CREDIT, TUITION, AND FEES
6 credit hours only (ANT585 fulfills major core requirements for UK undergraduate Anthropology majors)
Out-of-state tuition (Non-Kentucky residents): $4,386 / In-state tuition (Kentucky residents): $2,118
Supplemental laboratory fee: $75
Tuition and lab fee will be billed through the Registrar’s Office.

ROOM AND BOARD
Housing provided
$25/week fee for meals

TRANSPORTATION
Transportation provided weekly between the UK Archaeology Facility in Lexington and the field site.

PREREQUISITES
Consent of the instructor (Dr. A. Gwynn Henderson -gwynnhenderson@uky.edu)

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Dr. David Pollack (David.Pollack@uky.edu), Dr. A. Gwynn Henderson (gwynnhenderson@uky.edu), Dr. Steve Ahler (sahle2@uky.edu) or the UK Archaeology Facility at 859-257-1944.