24/06/2022
Looking to do some volunteer archaeology this summer? Try Mammoth Cave National Park from June 27 to July 9.
It's next WEEK!!!
Volunteers will join an archaeological research team that will be conducting a preliminary survey and excavation at the park. The project will investigate the surface conditions and upper 3 feet of deposits within an historically filled-in geologic pit at the Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave.
Ed Jakaitis, the park’s Cultural Resource Program Manager, anticipates that the daily volunteer crew will range from 3 to 5.
Fieldwork runs from June 27 to July 9, 8:00am to 5:00pm, with an hour lunch break. Camping could be arranged for those who want to stay at the park.
Although you may have to lift heavy buckets - upwards of 45 lbs. - much of the work will be careful ground surface survey for artifacts and hand excavation and screening small quantities of soil. University of Idaho MA candidate Kailey Alessi and Ed Jakaitis will be on site to guide and instruct.
Interested?
Volunteers must contact Ed – [email protected] or 270-855-1024 – with the days they are available and a description of their experience. Resumes are appreciated, but not required.
Ed will take volunteers on a first come, first served basis until the dates are filled.
Try it – you might like it!
About the photo:
Located ¼ mile down the hill from the park visitor center, the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave is the largest natural opening into the Mammoth Cave system.
For thousands of years, this site has served as a gateway to the underground world beneath the park. Ancient Native people first entered the cave through this entrance between 5,000 and 4,000 years ago. They were looking to mine the cave’s walls for minerals.
Later, saltpetre mining operations dominated the landscape near the entrance.
Eventually, this led to tourism in 1816. Since then, over two hundred years of guided cave tours have taken place at Mammoth Cave.
Image Credit:
https://www.nps.gov/places/mammoth-cave-historic-entrance.htm
