2007 Field School Excavating a latrine at Block 6-Prison Hospital

The Center for Historic and Military Archaeology at Heidelberg College is sponsoring a summer field school at the historic Johnson's Island Civil War Prison site.  The program will run from Monday June 9 to Friday July 12, 2008.  Students will receive 6 semester hours of credit in ANT 250/251 (Archaeological Field Methods/Experience).

Brief overview of Johnson's Island Civil War Prison:

From April 1862 until the end of the war, Johnson's Island Civil War Military Prison functioned as the main Union depot for Confederate Officers.  Designed to hold approximately 2500 prisoners of war,  Johnson's Island eventually held up to 3200 at any one time.  The overcrowding resulted in the construction of new latrines and to an expansion of the prison compound.  Expansion of the prison facilities provides archaeologists with an opportunity to study changes in the physical structure of the prison as well as in the lifestyles of it's occupants.   In comparison to the thirty-one Union prisons, Johnson's Island is unique in its purpose (housing Confederate Officers), in its military garrison (recruited specifically for guard duties) and in its condition (as an archaeological site). (For more on the history of Johnson's Island, click here.)

2007 Field School:

Since the spring of 1989, Dr. Bush has been investigating the Johnson's Island Civil War Prison. This site, located on a small island in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie (just north of Cedar Point) held over 10,000 Confederate Officers captured at hundreds of battles during the Civil War. One of the unique aspects of this site is it only held officers. Past research has allowed us to specifically locate many of the special use areas of the prison. Investigations have been undertaken within the Prison Compound at various locations, including the Prison Hospital. Previously, some of the latrines associated with the hospital have been explored. Last year, we began our investigation of the actual location of Block 6, the Prison Hospital.  This coming Summer (2007) we will be continuing our investigation of this block. We are anxious to understand what the daily experiences were for those that found themselves confined to the hospital. Only the very sick were usually placed into the hospital.  The hospital block has specific areas designated for cooking, treatment, storage of the deceased; and we hope through our investigations we may be able to discern some of these.

We are offering a five week field school (six credit hours) for undergraduates in college as well as high school seniors. We are also offering a two-week introduction to archaeology to juniors and seniors in high school. These are excellent opportunities to gain archaeological experience as well as learn about the American Civil War and the prison system. In addition to the field experience, there will be laboratory sessions at the newly constructed archaeological laboratory at Heidelberg College.

Participants in the field school will gain experience in basic excavation techniques, on-site photography, the recording of archaeological data, and identification and conservation of historic cultural materials.  Students will work at the site all day Monday through Friday for five weeks.  Housing is available on the Heidelberg College campus with transportation to the site.  Johnson’s Island is connected to the mainland through a causeway built from Marblehead to the island in 1972.

Participation Requirements:

No previous experience is required. The program is designed for undergraduate college students, graduating high school seniors, or adults interesting in gaining intensive field experience.  All enrollments must be for the full 6 hours and for the full five weeks.   Enrollment in the program is limited to 12 and admission to the course is based on the order in which applications are received.  Two texts are required for the course.

Staff
Dr. David R. Bush
Professor of Anthropology
Site Director and Principal Investigator for the Johnson's Island site

Season dates:  June 09, 2008 - July 12, 2008

Application Deadline- May 25, 2008

    
Registration
Students should enroll in Ant 250 and Ant 251 for a total of 6 semester credit hours. 

Tuition
$2183.00-6 credit hours
Housing at the college costs $60.00 per week ($300.00 for the five weeks). Food is not included.

For Further information
Dr. David Bush
Director, Center for Historic and Military Archaeology
Heidelberg College
Tiffin, OH 44883
(419) 448-2327 (office)
(419) 448-2236 (facsimile)
dbush@heidelberg.edu