In preparation for the Costa Rica summer field school, students, crew chiefs, and faculty met in Eller every day during the week prior to departure. The first day we were handed a lot of archaeological equipment. Each participant is required to carry some gear in order for the field school to accomplish its goals during the two weeks spent in Costa Rica. Students were also briefed on the requirements of the field school. Dr. Lynn Harris, also, discussed the possibility of finding artifacts from two slave ships, Fredericus and Christinus, that were sunk in or near Cahuita National Park. Dr. Nathan Richards gave a brief lecture on the history of El Lanchon, a barge that is connected to, and remains a symbol of, the defeated oil industry in Costa Rica. The crew chiefs – Jeremy Borelli, Hannah Piner, and Melissa Price – gave presentations on the history and demography of the three towns, located within Talamanca Provence, that we will be visiting. The remaining days consisted of lectures on the methodologies we will use to record the artifacts, the wildlife that we will encounter, and the local fishing vessels.
Learning the methodologies used to record the anchors, cannon, and brick pile was particularly interesting to me. I am also excited for some of the terrestrial animals we will see in Costa Rica, like sloths and capuchin monkeys.
Every afternoon, field school participants met for a snorkel fitness session. These were an opportunity for us to practice our snorkeling skills prior to our arrival in Costa Rica. These practice sessions always turned into a friendly competition between the teams in each lane. With the conclusion of the lectures and snorkel fitness sessions, we are now fully prepared for, and more than ready to begin, the Costa Rica field school.
– Katie