We are grateful to all our sponsors and for the support given by the NHCS and Montpelier Estate for colaboration with the Department of Anthropology of San Jose State University at the site of the Bush Hill colonial sugar plantation and factory. Physical features documented include the boiling house, curing house, windmill, cistern, Great House, laborers encvlave and much of the industrial technology of early eighteenth and nineteenth century sugar production.

The field school is certified by the Register of Professional Archaeologists. We adhere to the policies and ethical standards of the RPA.

Bush Hill Field School earns Scholarship Honors from the Register of Professional Archaeologists.

Chris Keith receives RPA scholarship for 2011.

Chris Keith measuring standing ruins at Bush Hill, July 2011. Chris will be a senior at San Jose State this fall, specializing in Physical Anthropology.

SJSU participated in an underwater cultural resource survey while on Nevis. AAUS certified members of the crew worked with Texas A&M graduate students in documenting HMS Solebay. For more information see the following websites:

http://www.nevis-maritime-archaeology.org/

www.themua.org

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Photos of Past Field Crews

Updated June 23, 2011

Send questions after August 2010 to Dr. Marco Meniketti, Department of Anthropology, San Jose State University. One Washington Square, San Jose CA. 95192-0113 or email at: marco.meniketti@sjsu.edu

Who Can Participate: Anyone who has completed a basic course in archaeological methods. First preference given to SJSU students and anthropology students from university programs.

Limited to twelve students.

Anticipated cost: $2600.00 (Does not include airfare). For a number of reasons beyond our ontrol we are having to increase fees this year. This fee includes meals, accommodations, and 3 units of upper division archaeology. It also helps subsidize guest scholars assiting on the project.

University credit: 3 units. Required registration of all participnts, included in project fee.

Above: Bridge crossing drainage ravine at Bush Hill mill.

Objectives:

To document all above surface features and assess historical value. To determine boundaries of the physical site. To document industrial and technological components present at the site. To characterize the residential component. To assist in preparing documents for public interrpretation.

Goals:

This will be the second year of a three year cooperative program. Participants will be building on the work of the 2007 crew and setting the groundwork for future research. As a principal goal, we hope to demonstrate the value of historic preservation as having local economical value, beyond academic interest, benefiting all statke holders.

Students will be engaged in survey recording using either GPS and standard transit methodology to produce site topo maps for future field school operation. Students will be instructed in mapping.

Students will document structures using methods consistent with protocols for generating accurate measured drawings.

Students will conduct randomized quadrat surface collections of artifacts, catalogue and inventory artifacts for future analysis, and learn mapping skills. This will include drawing, photographing, and identification. Students will also be instructed in issues relavent to classification, typology, and vessel form/function.

Students will condust limited pedestrian survey of the surrounding environment to locate additional features associated with the plantation.

Students will tour additional historic sites across the island. This will provide broad exposure to a variety of site types and structures from different historic periods for comparative purposes. Sites will range from prehistoric Carib middens as to colonial forts.

Students will be encouraged to develop their own research goals.

Students will have a great time.

Above: View east of Bush Hill mill-complex. Both a windmill and chimney for steam mill are visible above forest canopy. In the foreground is an area possibly used for worker's housing.

Details:

The crew will be housed in a large guest house, dormotory style with a common room and kitchen. Separate bathrooms for male and female crew. Rooms are cooled by ceiling fans and tropical breezes. Meals as will be prepared by project staff and clean up is assisted by participants. We have a large veranda for evening meetings and refereshments. Overlooking a valley, we can on occassion see across the sea to Antigua.

The house has a washing machine (line dry). Linens will be changed weekly. We will have cell phones for emergency and local operations. In 2009 most people found they had cell coverage, but the cost was high. Check with your cell service provider. We also have access to the internet at various locations in Charlestown at the library. Some students were able to use Skype at some of the island locations offereing WiFi.

The project house is located less than 1 mile from the project site and is just as close to Nelson's Lookout, a fort improved by Horatio Nelson. By mini bus we are located 15 minutes from Charlestown and Pinney Beach.

Above: The guest house at Pond Hill that serves as field headquarters and lodging, less than a mile form our study site. Dormotory style accommodations. Some students stay in smaller apartmentsat ground level.

All participants must have valid passports and Hepitatus vaccinations. You should report any personal allergies to the project director at time of registration (for example, food allergies, bees, etc.) so that accommodations can be made. A tetnus shot during the past seven years is recommended, but not required.

Once a week students will spend an hour with household chores.

Please note! Participants must be able to engage in strenuous activity in very warm and humid environmental conditions. We work under tropical canopy. Temperature at this time of year hovers around 85 degrees f. and it rains frequently. Temps drop at night to the high 70s. You must be able to lift 50 pounds.

The water tempearature is usually 87 degrees at our favorite beach.

Students will be asked to work 51/2 days per week.We start early and end early to avoid the heat. The other days will be open for sightseeing, beach time, travel to St Kitts, climbing Mt Nevis (a real tropical adventure) and other leisure.

Above: Preliminary documentation of cistern at Bush Hill. Meredith Martin, Florida State University shown with tape.

Items of Interest:

Language on Nevis is English, although a local Creole slang is prefered.

Nevis uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, fixed to US dollar. 2.65 EC$ = $ 1 US, more or less. Dollars and travlers checks can be exchanged at banks in Charelstown or simply use the ATMs, which automatically convert and take a %).

Drinking water on Nevis is safe from the tap. No need to purchase expensive bottled water as so many timid tourists feel they must. It comes from the same source of tap water anyway.

There are no snakes and no poisonous spiders on the island. The biggest danger is to remember Nevis follows the English custom of driving on the left.

We have been coming to Nevis for nearly a decade and have warm relationships will local residents. We intend to keep it that way and encourage friendly interaction. Drunkenness will be grounds for removing a student from participation and an early trip home. Intoxication is both a danger to the student and to others on the project and will not be tolerated. The same holds true for drug use and inappropriate behavior. Remember, we are guests on Nevis.

What to do if you want to attend?

Contact Dr. Marco Meniketti for additional information. Email works best. marco.meniketti@sjsu.edu

Above: Arriving at Charlestown Harbor in Gallows Bay, aboard the ferry Carib Breeze from St Kitts. Mt. Nevis in background. The mountain climb can be very exciting. A local guide is highly recommended.

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