2026 Archaeology Lab Experience: Analysis of Archaeological Data from Excavations at Frenchman's Park
During the fall and winter quarters, students excavated on campus at Frenchman’s Park, documenting archaeological deposits associated with daily life at Stanford in the early twentieth century and with the 1906 earthquake (M 7.9), ranked by the USGS as one of the most significant earthquakes of all time (https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/).
Excavations generated a substantial body of contextual and spatial data, including potential evidence of student bonfires described in the early issues of the Stanford Daily and the deposition of materials from buildings damaged in the 1906 earthquake, such as gold-leaf mosaic tiles possibly from the Stanford Memorial Church. Excavations also produced a substantial amount of quantitative data derived from ceramic and glass assemblages, historic bottles containing residues, remains of foodstuffs, and many other forms of material evidence.
In summer 2026, we will focus on the analysis and interpretation of datasets related to research questions that we define at the beginning of the project. Working with excavation records and associated data, we will explore patterns in the data to better understand how people responded to the devastating earthquake and how everyday life unfolded for students and other members of the Stanford community during the university’s formative years.
Accommodations and other individual details will be discussed at a later time if your application is accepted. Please contact the Student Services Officer, Kira Salazar, atksal@stanford.eduwith any questions, concerns, or information you would like to share.
- Analysis of Archaeological Data
- Data Visualization
- Archaeological Interpretation
- Communication of Results to the Broader Community
Eligibility
- This field experience opportunity is open to all undergraduates except graduating seniors.
- Undergraduates from all majors are encouraged to apply.
- No prior knowledge of archaeology is required, although we prefer to support students who will pursue an archaeology-centered career. All necessary training will be provided while in the field.
- If the this field experience is run remotely, accepted students will receive stipends from VPUE. Stipend amounts will be determined by VPUE and communicated to students when they are accepted to the field experience.
- Students who plan to participate in an archaeology field experience cannot receive a major grant or a Chappell-Lougee scholarship within the same academic year as their field experience.
Requirements
- Meetings: Students accepted to our field experiences are required to participate in meetings with the faculty leader of their program. Each field experience has different meeting requirements that will be communicated by the faculty leader.
- SURPS application: Upon completion, the Archaeology Center requires that participating students apply to SURPS (Symposia for Undergraduate Research and Public Service). Students may work together to complete an application and present at the SURPS event the following spring, if selected.
- Yearbook entry: Upon completion, students are expected to submit a 300+ word summary of their experience with several photos for the Archaeology Center yearbook.
- Participation: Each of our field experiences is part of an ongoing research project led by a Stanford faculty member. While in the field, undergraduates are expected to contribute to the team effort of the archaeological project at the faculty member's direction. Fieldwork can take the form of a number of different activities, from clearing undergrowth in preparation for excavation to laboratory analysis of archaeological samples. Each day's activities can look different, and may change depending on the evolving direction of the research. Students participating in a field experience should be prepared to be flexible and responsive to the instructions of the faculty member or other senior project staff.
