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Aurora

Historical Archaeology Field School 2013
Jewish and Chinese Life in 19th Century Aurora, Nevada
Aurora Neighborhoods Project

Principal investigator: Carolyn L. White
Project staff: Eddie Dale, Ashlee Younie, Katee Withee
Historical Archaeology Field School 2013

The Aurora Neighborhoods Project was launched in 2012 as a long-term project designed to examine the multifaceted and diverse lives of the inhabitants of Aurora, Nevada. Focusing on the domestic scale, this project examines the use and manipulation of the domestic landscape and the material culture across multiple households. The scale of the town, the documentation of its residents, and the incredibly well preserved nature of the site allow an examination of daily life in this vibrant western mining town. In 2012 we investigated the house and yard of Isaac Levy and his family, a Jewish family that lived, married, and had a child during their long stay in Aurora.

In 2013 we will continue to study the households of Jewish families in Aurora, returning to the Levy House and investigating the homes of additional families in the first half of the field school. We will spend the second half of the field school investigating the homes of Chinese timber cutters and charcoal makers.

To apply, download the application form and email to clwhite@unr.edu or send to Verla Jackson, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557.

This field school is open to students from any university. You do not need to be a University of Nevada, Reno student to participate, and all students who apply are eligible for a scholarship award.

• Fieldwork: Students will receive intensive training in archaeological excavation and recording techniques, survey and excavation, material culture analysis, GPS, and archival research.
• Program cost: Summer 2013 tuition and fees: $2,500.00. Cost includes tuition (6 credits), laboratory fees, food, and transportation to and from the site from Reno. Students are responsible for their own camping equipment.
• Application deadline: May 1, 2013. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded to students who apply by April 1.

For more information contact Dr. Carolyn L. White, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557; (775) 682-7688; email: clwhite@unr.edu

Katee Withee and Alan Burgio excavate a feature at the Levy House, 2012.

Chinese cabin at the China Camp site.

The town of Aurora, Nevada. In 1861 the population was approximately 7,000.

Field school 2012!

Mapping the Levy House with plane table and alidade, 2012.

Miner's cabin, ca. 1920s.