WY-3930
July 11-17, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to full session
The Middle Fork of the Powder River area, located in the southern Bighorn Mountains in Hole-in-the-Wall country, is rich in both prehistoric and historic archaeological resources. Numerous sites were discovered and documented in the area between 1958 and 1990, but few were recorded in detail or tested for subsurface cultural remains. This year, we will start to set that straight! Volunteers and BLM archaeologists will survey to relocate these previously recorded sites and update them accurately with newly-produced maps, digital photographs, feature drawings, and artifact inventories. We will also do shovel tests to ascertain the presence and potential density of subsurface cultural materials. Volunteers will get to experience a broad range of Wyoming's archaeological resources during the project, including known prehistoric rock shelters, open lithic scatters, cairns, rock art, and stone circle sites. In addition, volunteers will do a survey of selected sandstone exposures in the area to identify previously unrecorded rock art panels.
Data from this PIT project will be used to help determine eligibility for the placement of sites on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and establish a management plan for the important resources of this area. Join us this July in the beautiful Bighorn Mountains as we hike through the history of Wyoming!
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking moderate distances over often difficult terrain each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous GIS data collection (especially the use of Trimble XT and XM units), mapping and drawing, lithic material and tool identification, photography, and/or archaeological survey and excavation experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 10 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent camping at no charge at Outlaw Campground; pit toilet, no potable water; Kaycee is a full-service community with motels, B&B, restaurants, RV parks, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: Kaycee, 22 miles
Applications due: May 10, 2010
WY-3944
August 23-27, 2010
Must commit to full session
The Cherokee Trail (also known as Trappers' Trail) was an overland route through the present-day States of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. It was in use from approximately 1850 into the early 1890s, and was first established by a wagon train headed to the gold fields of California. Among the members of this expedition were Cherokee Indians who had left Oklahoma to join the broader gold rush frenzy. The trail eventually came to Fort Bridger, which linked the route to the busy emigrant trails of the west. It continued to be used by travelers and pioneers moving westward until the turn of the century.
Ashley National Forest staff and PIT volunteers will team up this summer to find, map, and document segments of the historic Cherokee Trail where it crosses the Green River in southwestern Wyoming. In addition, participants will find, map, and similarly document the historic Bryan to Brown's Park Road. This road (in use ca. 1868-1900), which follows the Green River through the heart of historic Outlaw Country, was built to link the town of Brown's Park, Utah, to the then newly built Transcontinental Railroad. Participants will hike several miles a day as we document these historic road segments, but through some spectacular country with interesting site areas. We will use metal detectors in a variety of these areas to find artifacts associated with the historic roads.
If you own and are willing to bring a metal-detector, please let us know on your application. It's not necessary to have one to participate, but since we have a limited supply of them, it sure helps to have some extras! Come to Flaming Gorge and help us find history!
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Previous archaeological survey, historic artifact identification, and/or metal-detecting experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Camping is available at nearby National Recreation campgrounds; facilities vary and fees may apply; the towns of Green River, Rock Springs, and Manila (UT) are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for own lodging/personal camping equipment, meals, water, and transportation (historic trails are split by Green River and make access to the routes logistically difficult; coordination will be essential; details for daily work areas will be provided to project participants prior to start date)
Nearest towns: Green River, 20 miles; Rock Springs, 35 miles; Manila, UT, 25 miles
Applications due: June 21, 2010
WY-3956
August 30-September 3, 2010
Must commit to full session
Join us on the Medicine Bow National Forest as we walk the wagon ruts of the historic Cherokee Trail! This 1850s emigrant trail through southern Wyoming was made famous by western writer Louis L'Amour. Thousands of emigrants blazed their way to California and Oregon as they crossed the Big Laramie and followed Boswell Creek. The years of constant use left deeply eroded swales in some places, yet only minor evidence of use in others. Volunteers and Forest staff will survey along the historically known areas of the Trail to locate, photograph, and map portions of the route that have been "lost" over time. With the aid of historic maps, GPS units, and metal detectors, we will hike through history. We hope to see you in August as we follow the Cherokee Trail and record the ruts and other traces left behind by travelers of the past!
Please note on your application if you own and are willing to bring your own metal detector or GPS unit.
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Must be physically capable of walking moderate distances over varying terrain each day while carrying equipment; Previous experience with metal detectors, GPS, and/or photography helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent or RV camping at no charge at FS Boswell Campground; pit toilets; no potable water; additional camping at private campgrounds in Woods Landing or Laramie, facilities vary, fees apply; Laramie is a full-service community with motels, RV facilities, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging; food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: Woods Landing, 18 miles; Laramie, 40 miles
Applications due: July 5, 2010
WY-3908
September 20-24, 2010
Must commit to full session
Please join us in the Alkali Divide Paleontological Special Interest Area on the Thunder Basin National Grassland in northeastern Wyoming. This region encompasses nearly 6,000 acres of rocky outcrop from the Lance Formation of the Late Cretaceous (99.9 - 65 mya). The Lance Formation and the contemporary Hell Creek Formation of neighboring Montana and the Dakotas are renowned for their exceptional fossil records. Much has been learned about the pattern of dinosaurian extinction at the end of the Cretaceous in this region due to the excellent preservation of terrestrial life found in the Lance. PIT volunteers and Forest staff will conduct a survey within the outcrop to identify and collect vertebrate fossils deposited in terrestrial environments near the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. Fossil remains found in the project site and surrounding areas thus far have included Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Edmontosaurus, and what may be Ankylosaurus. Microfossils also occur in the project area, including remains of crocodilians, turtles, fish, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates. We will document the locations of fossils with GPS units, and will excavate larger fossil finds as circumstances allow. We will also perform limited screen sampling and collection from the microvertebrate localities. Experience with this type of work is always a help, but don't worry: if you don't know what to do, we'll teach you!
Please be aware that as this project is based in a Paleontological Special Interest Area, no personal fossil collecting is allowed. See you in September!
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Prior experience with field excavation techniques used in the collection of large vertebrate fossils helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Tent camping on site; catered meals available at minimal cost, water, chemical toilets; Newcastle is a full-service community with motels, B&Bs, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment (gear suitable for a variety of weather conditions, especially tents capable of withstanding sustained winds, sometimes in excess of 50 mph), food (if opting not to purchase catered meals), extra drinking water, and transportation (if opting to stay off site)
Nearest towns: Newcastle, 25 miles
Applications due: July 19, 2010