Who are you going to call before you dig?

When Carl Knappett embarked on a multi-year quest to unearth a Minoan palace at Palaikastro on the Mediterranean island Crete, he enlisted students in the Department of Earth Sciences to help him figure out where to dig.

Knappett is an expert on material culture in the Department of Art. The students travelled to Crete as part of the Faculty of Arts & Science Research Excursions Program, which is designed to give third-year students a chance to take part in a research project in an off-campus setting.

Under a very hot sun and the skillful direction of instructor Charly Bank of the Department of Earth Science, the students spent five weeks scanning the subsurface of the site for patterns of magnetic materials that might indicate the presence of a structure buried below. Upon sensing something underground, the students mapped out a small area to investigate further and collected as much data as possible about the spot.

“It’s cool to be among the first to use geophysics in archaeology,” said third-year geology student Ragan Danford. “We’re writing a report for the archaeologists and there aren’t many published articles for us to use for reference.”

The area surveyed by the students had been excavated in the 1950s and 1960s only to be covered over again. They had only old maps to work from, none of which showed a palace in the area. And for all five students, it was their first time carrying out geophysics research using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometry – the fundamental tools of the trade.

During their visit, the students could do little more with their data than some rudimentary analysis, as Crete archaeological permits allow for either surveying or digging, but not both. They are now analyzing that data, and preparing a report that will be used by Knappett and his colleagues to plan the excavation of the site.

Bank has led several courses in the Research Excursions Program and is an enthusiastic champion of the unique learning experience that it offers students.

“Apart from the knowledge gained about a particular subject, students also develop skills needed for successful field research – communicating, troubleshooting problems, teamwork, getting to know others professionally and socially,” said Bank. “These things can’t be assessed through an exam or an essay.”

“The program is also an opportunity to test the demands of fieldwork in case a student is considering a career in research, and to make changes to his or her path if it turns out to be something other than expected.”

Danford said in spite of some of the trying conditions the group faced – extremely hot weather, learning quickly how to work with strangers, equipment breaking down – it was the fieldwork that she enjoyed the most and found most useful.

“Before this course I had no clue about GPR and magnetometry and no interest in geophysics,” said Danford. “Now I realize how I can apply the methods to my existing interest in aggregate geology. I’ve figured out the job I want to have.”

Applications for summer 2013 courses are now being accepted, and are due by Monday, February 24. For a list of course descriptions and to get an application form, visit the Research Excursions information page.