Intensive Summer Course Series

2025 Courses

Field Archaeobotany – May 28-30, 2025 with Dr. Chantel White

This course will cover the principles and practicalities of field archaeobotany with a focus on carbonized macrobotanical remains. Attendees will learn: excavation sampling strategies, how to build a water-recycling flotation system, recording and flotation processing techniques, how to test recovery rates, and how to set up a field laboratory and sort heavy fraction. We will also review permitting issues for importing archaeological samples to the US and procedures for creating a botanical reference collection.

Petrography- June 2-6 2025 with Dr. Marie-Claude Boileau

The CAAM Intensive Course will introduce thin-section petrography for the study of stone, ceramic, and building materials from archaeological and historical contexts. Participants will learn the basics of optical mineralogy and the petrography of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. These skills will then be applied to the interpretation of provenance (i.e., location of production), manufacturing technology, and weathering processes.

Archaeological Metals – June 2-6 2025 with Vanessa Workman

This course provides an introduction to the analysis of archaeological and historical metals. Participants will learn the basics of microstructural and chemical analyses of metals using optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as several elemental analyzers. Standard metallographic sample preparation methods (embedding, polishing, etching) are also reviewed. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine materials held in the Penn Museum – CAAM metallographic sample collection. Participants are encouraged to bring a small set of their own prepared (embedded & ground) samples.

Archaeogeophysics – Date: TBD with Dr. Jason Herrmann

In this five-day intensive workshop at Bartram’s Garden participants will gain hands-on experience with geophysical survey techniques for archaeological sites. Fieldwork is complemented by classroom instruction on geophysical sensor theory and physical properties of archaeological targets. Some GIS experience is recommended but not required. Participants will learn to collect, process, and interpret geophysical data using: magnetic gradiometers, earth resistance meters, and electromagnetic induction.

Information

Location: Courses will be held in the Penn Museum’s Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials (CAAM) located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA.

Course fees: $900 for 5-day course, $600 for 3-day course. Fees include all course materials and access to laboratory facilities. Travel to and from Philadelphia, accommodation, meals and course credits are not covered by the course fees.

A minimum of 4 participants is required for courses to be offered.

Past Intensive Courses