Cultural Resource Management Professional Training Program

Participants will gain hands-on experience in both Phase I survey (shovel testing, pedestrian reconnaissance) and Phase II evaluation (test units, feature excavation) at multiple historically significant locations across Old Cahawba, including:

• Barker’s Slave Quarters

• The Historic Downtown

• The Perine Mansion Grounds

You will receive daily instruction in key areas such as:

• CRM laws and compliance: Section 106, NHPA, NEPA, and state preservation regulations

• Excavation and survey methods: Provenience, stratigraphy, field documentation, and health/safety

• Artifact identification: Ceramics, glass, metals, lithics, and ecofacts

• Laboratory processing: Cleaning, cataloging, and basic artifact analysis

• Technical documentation: Site forms, maps, field notes, photography, et al. 

• Public archaeology: Engaging communities and interpreting cultural landscapes

• Career readiness: Fieldwork ethics, job expectations, and pathways in CRM

The schedule balances lecture, fieldwork, lab work, and collaborative presentations, culminating in a Public Archaeology Day where students present findings and demonstrate field techniques.