Six Ball State University students and two professors went in search of historical evidence as part of a field school conducted by the anthropology department.
Students involved in the archeology field school will earn six credit hours and develop techniques they will need in their professions.
Matt Collins, one of the participating students, said the students dug pits, screened the soil and mapped sites while still having a lot of fun.
"It is like playing in a really big sandbox," he said.
The group worked in two locations this summer. Currently, they are working at Mounds State Park near Anderson. Earlier in the semester, the students searched for evidence of artifacts in a 250-acre field in Hancock County. They will visit a third site later this week.
Beth McCord, one of the professors running the field school, said the 5-week course allows students to get out of the classroom and engage in hands-on learning.
"All of the students have been very enthusiastic about the work," she said.
During the field school, the students have learned how to carbon date, preserve a dig site, make contour maps and perform other techniques in archaeological studies.
McCord said students are able to learn how to use some of the newest archeological technologies as well as gain job training.
Students involved in the field study gain experience in cultural resource management work, the largest field in which archeology majors go on to work.
"[The field school] offers practical application and integrates the skills needed to get a job," McCord said.
Christa Barleben, one of the students at the site, said it was nice to get out of a traditional setting.
"Archaeology is not only a classroom experience but also needs to be experienced in the field," she said.
Students identified two reasons why the field study was appealing: they were learning in the field and having fun.
Julie Koogler, another archeology student, said she learned how much of the technology worked and how to apply what she learned to lab work.
McCord said field schools like this one are highly recommended to students in the anthropology department and those simply interested in archaeology.
Brent Alexander, one of the students, said for those interested in a field study to "be prepared for a lot of work, but I would recommended doing it to anyone."
This particular field school will not be offered again for at least another two years, but there are other options. The anthropology department offers various field schools in which students can participate. The department will work at Mounds State Park again during Archaeology month this September. During this time, the public will be able to be exposed to the wide world of archaeology by visiting sites and working with professional archaeologists.
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