Calling All Archaeologists: New Inver Hills Class Offers Unique Experience For Community Members

We  have just survived a history-making winter like no other — wouldn’t it be fitting to delve into a summer experience that’s just as unforgettable?

Thanks to a partnership between Inver Hills Community College and the Dakota County Historical Society, the college is offering a new, hands-on archaeology class for both students and interested Inver Grove Heights community members this summer.

Called "Field Experience in Archaeology," the class will be led by Professor Jeremy Nienow, from the Inver Hills Community College Anthropology Department. The course will engage students with a blend of in-class learning and field experiences, focusing on topics like surveying, excavation, experimental archaeology and ethics.

On Tuesdays, the class will meet on campus for discussions, lectures, films, and some labs, said Nienow. Then, on Thursdays, students will take an in-depth look at the issues discussed in class by going into the community and seeing them in the field, Nienow said. Coursework — mainly reaction papers or journal entries — will vary, depending on whether a the participant is taking the class for college credit or is registered as a community member, according to Nienow.

“We will go to several historical societies, do some archaeology, visit archaeological sites in progress, and meet some of the ‘movers and shakers’ in the local archaeological community,” Nienow said.

“Students can get behind the scenes and ‘hands-on’ with artifacts,” Dakota County Historical Society Executive Director Chad Roberts said. “One site is likely to be the LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings, a site the Dakota County Historical Society operates — and that visit would involve an actual excavation conducted by students.”

According to Inver Hills Marketing Communications Manager Helen Ebert, the idea for this new class came about after extensive discussions between Nienow and Roberts.

“Jeremy [Nienow] did a two-day shovel test and dig on the LeDuc grounds last summer and thought it would be a great hands-on, relevant opportunity for students and community members to get some experience in archaeology,” Ebert said.

“Last year, we took a few local students and some IHCC college students for two days of shovel testing on the back side of house and outbuildings," Nienow said. "Chad Roberts and I worked closely with them to create a introductory experience, and we just could not turn down the chance to create a lasting link between Dakota County Historical Society and Inver Hills Community College – thus [after about a year of planning], the summer course was born.”

Professor Nienow said he hopes that those who experience the class will gain an understanding of archaeology in Minnesota, how it is practiced and why it's important.

“Personally, I think students will gain a big-picture view of what archaeology really is – from field excavation to research and lab/classroom work. It is a complex science and not always glamorous,” said Roberts. “That being said, students will also get their hands dirty – for many of us that is the really fun part – and begin learning how to interpret things they find.” 

“If a student is thinking about becoming an archaeologist for a future career, then seeing some aspects of what we do on a regular basis may provide them with one more vital piece of information in making that decision,” Nienow added.

REGISTRATION

The class is also offered to community members for a $75 fee. Call 651-450-3578 and ask to register as a community member for ANTH 2120: Field Experience in Archaeology.

Spaces in the class are limited; interested students must sign up before the end of May. According to Nienow, the number of seats for Inver Hills students and community members will be approximately equal.