THEMOONSHINEARCHAEOLOGYPROJECT,NORTHCAROLINA(US)
CourseID:ARCH159XL
June18–July22,2017
FIELDSCHOOLDIRECTOR:
Dr.KirkD.French,ThePennsylvaniaStateUniversity([email protected])
INTRODUCTION
Overthelastfewdecadeshistoricalarchaeologistshavebeguntoexploretheintimatepatternsofdaily
lifeforsocialactorsinthepast.Historically,small-scale,sometimessubversive,systemsofproduction
andexchangeevolvedsecondarilyorinparallelwithdominateeconomicsystems.Examplesmayinclude
theformationofslaveeconomieswithinthelargercontextofplantationsystems,prostitutioninmining
towns,orillicitalcoholproduction.Theseformsofeconomictransactionsplayedequallyvitalrolesin
shapingsocialbondsinrelationalnetworksofexchange.Thesetypesofeconomicexchange,andthe
deeplypersonalrelationshipsandsensesofidentitythatemergefromthem,areintimateeconomies.
TheimportanceofalcoholinAmericanculturecannotbedisputed.Justfiveyearsintohispresidency,
GeorgeWashingtonsenttroopstosuppressaninsurrectionbyfarmersinWesternPennsylvaniawho
opposedanewtaxongrainalcohol.TheeventisreferredtoastheWhiskeyRebellionof1794andwas
thefirstmajorbattleaftertheAmericanRevolution.Priortoatrueincometaxestablishedin1916,the
majorityofFederalrevenuewasfromtaxesonalcohol.Thisnewsourceofrevenuemadepossiblethe
passageofthe18thAmendment,knownastheProhibition.OnOctober28,1919theUnitedStates
governmentimplementedanationalbanonthesale,production,andtransportationofalcohol.This
wasthefirstandonlytimeinitshistorythattheUnitedStatesgovernmentusedaconstitutional
amendmenttolimittherightsofitspeople,essentiallyturningnormallaw-abidingcitizensinto
criminals.Interestingly,13yearslatertheamendmentwasrepealedbyratificationofthe21st
Amendment,theonlyinstancethataconstitutionalamendmenthasbeenrepealedintheUnitedStates.
AftertherepealofProhibitionin1932,heavyregulationscoupledwithsuccessfulpropagandaonthe
1|P a g e dangersoflocallyproducedwhiskeykeptmoonshinersintheshadows.Recentlytherehasbeenasurge
ofpublicinterestinmoonshineproductionandanappreciationofthearea’svibrantandeclecticculture
history.
Formorethan150yearsthevastmajorityoflocalwhiskeyproductionhasbeenunregulated,illegal,and
anymanyregards–illicit.Theproductionanddistributionofthisillegalliquortakesplaceinatight-knit
communitywhereknowledgeisusuallypasseddownwithinafamily.Theeconomicimpactofthiscraft
productionisdifficulttomeasure.TobetterunderstandthisintimateeconomytheMoonshine
ArchaeologyProject(MAP)isattemptingtoquantifywhiskeyproductioninwesternNorthCarolina.
MAPwillempiricallyestimatethequantityofliquorproducedintheCataloocheeareaofHaywood
County,NorthCarolinabefore,during,andafterProhibition.Understandingthequantityofalcohol
producedwillbeusefulinregardstotheimpactsonthelocaleconomy,organizedcrime,volumeof
consumption,successratesofrevenueagentsseizingstills,aswellasanappreciationandprotectionof
ourculturalheritage.
TheCataloocheeValleyislocatedwithintheboundariesoftheGreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark
andhasalonghistoryofEuropeansettlement–startingin1808.Beingthatmostoftheseearlysettlers
wereofScotch-Irishdescent,theybroughtwiththemtheirknowledgeofwhiskeyproductionfrom
Ireland.Thisexpertise,coupledwiththehighmineralcontentofthewaterflowingthroughthe
mountains,madethisareaidealforqualitywhiskeyproduction.
ThefirstseasonofMAPhasseveralgoals.Thefirstistodeterminethedensityofwhiskeyproduction
sitesalongthesouthernsectionoftheCaldwellForkintheCataloocheeValleythroughpedestrian
survey.Thesecondistoestablishachronologyoftheknownstillsitesthroughexcavationandartifact
analysis.Third,establishaworkingrelationshipwiththelocalresidentsthatwillleadtoparticipationin
therecordingoforalhistories.Andlastly,beginamassinghistoricalinformationgleanedfromthe
archivalresearchfromthecountycourthouse.
ACADEMICCREDITUNITS&TRANSCRIPTS
CreditUnits:Attendingstudentswillbeawarded12quartercreditunits(equivalentto8semester
units)throughouracademicpartner,UCLAExtension.UCLAisatoprankedresearchuniversityandits
archaeologyprogramisrankedamongstthebestinthecountry.AllIFRfieldschoolsinstructorsand
curriculaareapprovedbothbythecorrespondingacademicdepartmentandtheAcademicSenateat
UCLA.Thisfieldschoolprovidesaminimumof192directinstructionalhours.
Transcripts:TranscriptsareavailablethroughUCLAUnEXandinstructionsfororderingtranscriptsmay
befoundathttp://bit.ly/2bD0Z3E.Gradeswillbepostedandtranscriptavailableusuallywithinsix
weeksaftertheendofthisfieldschool.AllIFRfieldschoolsaredesignatedXLclasses–coursesthat
areequivalenttoundergraduatecoursesofferedbytheUCLAregularsession.AllXLcoursesare
transferableforunitandsubjectcredittowardtheBachelor'sDegreeatallcampusesoftheUCand
CSUsystems.Classesnumbered100to199areconsideredupperdivision(junior/senior).Formore
information,gotohttp://bit.ly/2bjAqmy.
UCLAstudents:StudentscantakeclassesthroughUCLAExtensiontocompleterequirements.However
certainconsiderationsmustbetakenintoaccount.Formoreinformation,gotohttp://bit.ly/2bJWeHK.
CreditUnitsTransfer:MostuniversitiesacceptUCLAcreditunits–thereareveryfewexceptions.
Studentsarestronglyencouragedtodiscussthetransferabilityofthecreditunitswithschoolofficials
BEFOREattendingthefieldschool.
COURSEOBJECTIVES
2|P a g e Thiscoursehasthreegoals;1)tointroducestudentstofieldmethodsinarchaeology,2)tofamiliarize
themwithcollectingoralhistoriesandperformingbasicarchivalresearch,and3)toappreciatethe
preservationandmanagementoftheculturalandenvironmentalresourcesoftheGreatSmoky
MountainsNationalPark.Thecourse’sprimarydirectiveistoenablestudentstobetterunderstandhow
aholisticapproachtoanthropologicalarchaeologyispracticedinthefield.
Excavation:Studentswillparticipateinexcavations,sieving,andtotalstationmapping,atseveral
whiskeystillsitesinthenationalpark.
Documentation:Studentswillparticipateinfillingoutspecificexcavation/featureforms,section/plan
drawings,andjournals,andmappingartifacts.
Cataloging:Studentswillparticipateinfieldsortingandcatalogingofartifacts.
Laboratory:Scheduledlabtaskswillincludewashing,sorting,artifactanalysis,photography,and
cataloging/archivingofartifacts.
CollectingOralHistories:Studentswillcollectoralhistoriesandperformbasicinterviewswithresidents
ofthearea.
ArchivalResearch:Studentswillspendafewdaysinthecountyarchivesgatheringinformationthat
couldrelatetowhiskeyproduction(landholdings,arrestrecords,taxdocuments,sugarsales,etc.).
DISCLAIMER–PLEASEREADCAREFULLY
Archaeologicalfieldworkinvolvesphysicalworkintheoutdoors.Youshouldbeawarethatconditionsin
thefieldaredifferentthanthoseyouexperienceinyourhome,dormsorcollegetown.Thisprogram
operatesatatypicalsouthernAppalachianenvironment.Temperaturesinthemountainvalleysare
typicallyinthemid800F's,onlyoccasionallyreaching900Forabove,andscatteredafternoon
thunderstormsarelikely.Thecoolforests,coldstreams,andhighmountainelevationsofferrespite
fromtheheatonrareoccasionswhenitgetstoohottohikeinthevalleys.Thisisawetseason,and
whencoldfrontsdomovethrough,widespreadheavyraincanoccur,andinfluencefromtropical
systems-heavyrainandwind-ispossiblemainlytowardlatesummer.Bewareofnagginginsectsduring
summer.Inordertobeprotectedfrominsectsandstingingnettleyouwillnotwanttoworkinshortsor
tanktopsatthesite.
Ifyouhaveanymedicalconcerns,pleaseconsultwithyourdoctor.Forallotherconcerns,please
consultwiththeprojectdirector–asappropriate.
PREREQUISITES
Therearenoprerequisitesforparticipationinthisfieldschool.Thisishands-on,experientiallearning
andstudentswillstudyon-sitehowtoconductarchaeologicalresearch.Archaeologyinvolvesphysical
workandexposuretotheelementsandthus,requiresameasureofacceptancethatthiswillnotbethe
typicaluniversitylearningenvironment.Youwillgetsweaty,tiredandhavetoworkintheoutdoors.
Studentsarerequiredtocomeequippedwithsufficientexcitementandadequateunderstandingthat
thearchaeologicalendeavorrequiresreal,hardwork–inthesun,onyourfeet,andwithyourtrowel.
LEARNINGOUTCOMES
Onsuccessfulcompletionofthefieldschool,studentswillbeableto:
• Understandthedifferentelementsofanarchaeologicalfieldprojectandtherelationshipsbetween
theseelements
• Applystandardexcavationmethodstoarchaeologicalcontexts
3|P a g e •
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Usestandardrecordingtechniquestodocumentexcavationresults
Undertakepreliminaryprocessingofarchaeologicalartifactsandecofacts
Undertakepreliminaryanalysisofarchaeologicalartifactsandecofacts
Undertakebasicarchivalresearch
Performbasicethnographicinterviews
GRADINGMATRIX
50%-Attendingandparticipatingineachscheduledactivity(discussiongroups,fieldandlabwork,etc.).
30%-Keepingafieldnotebookthatwillbecollectedandevaluatedattheendofthecourse.The
notebookwillalsobelookedatonceattheendofweek2,justtomakesurethestudentisontheright
track.
10%-Anexamtakenattheendofthefirstweekoffieldschool,testingstudentsonrequiredreadings
andinitialformallectures.
10%-Maintainingapositiveoutlook,beingateamplayer,andcompletingcampduties.
TRAVEL&MEETINGPOINT
TheprojecthouseislocatedinMaggieValley,NorthCarolina–about40mileswestofAsheville.
StudentsarrivingbyairwillbemetattheAshvilleRegionalAirport(AVL)byaprojectstaffmemberon
June18at5:00pmatthebaggageclaimarea.Ifyoumissedyourconnectionoryourflightisdelayed,
pleasecall,textoremailprojectdirectorimmediately.Thedirector’scellphonenumberwillbe
providedtoallenrolledstudents.
Studentstravelingbybusorcarwillneedtomakespecialarrangementswiththeprojectdirector.
ThecoursebeginsonMonday,June18andwillmeeteveryweekdayuntilFriday,July21.Studentsneed
toarriveonSunday,June18.TheofficialenddateofthisfieldschoolisSaturday,July22whenstudents
cantravelbackhome.Introductorylectures,sitetours,andwildernesstrainingduringtheinitialthree
daysoftheprojectwillprovidethecultural,archaeological,andsafetybackgroundnecessarytosucceed
inthefield.Aseriesoflectures,weekendfieldtrips,andrequiredreadingswillallowdetailedlearning
concerningtheregion.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Thestudentswillbestayingintheirowntents.Thecampingareaisawellmaintainedspaceintheyard
surroundingthecentralcabinandlab.Therewillbetwotoilets(thecurrentouthouseandanadditional
portabletoilet).Onespring-fedoutdoorshowerwillbeconstructedroughly50metersfromthemain
cabin.Hotwaterisunavailable.Thespringwaterissufficientforbathing,butnotconsumption,so
additionaldrinkingwaterwillbeprovided.
Thestudentswillalternatewithcampduties,suchastakingouttrashandkeepingtheareatidy.
Acampcook/managerwillbehiredtopurchaseandpreparefoodforthestudentsandstaff.Breakfast
willconsistofitemssuchasscrambledeggs,tortillas,toast,coldcereal,andfruit.Sandwichlunchesfor
thefieldwillbemadebythestudentsthatmorning.Dinnerswillbethebigmealofthedayand
preparedbythecampcook.Specialdietaryneedswillbeaccommodated.Breakfastanddinnerwillbe
servedonalongtablebeneatharusticcarportthatisattachedtothecentralcabin.
COURSESCHEDULE
BasicSchedule(Monday–Friday):
7:30am–Breakfast
8:15am–Leaveforthesiteorbeginlabwork
4|P a g e Noon–Lunchinthefield
4pm–Leavethefield
4:30pm–Unpackartifactsandequipment
5pm–Showers
6:30pm–GroupDinner
7:15pm–Lecture,GroupDiscussion,GuestSpeaker,etc.
BasicSchedule(Saturday):
8am–Breakfast
8:45am–Leaveforthesiteorbeginlabwork
Noon–Lunchinthefield
2pm–Leavethefield
2:30pm–Unpackartifactsandequipment
3pm–ShowersandRelax
6pm–GroupDinner
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday,July18
StudentsarriveatthecampsiteinMaggieValley,NorthCarolina.ThosearrivingattheAshevilleRegional
AirportwillbedriventoMaggieValleybyastaffmember.
5:00pm:Preliminaryintroductions,courseoverview
6:30pm:Groupdinner
Week1(June19–24)–Orientation,SiteVisit,CommunityIntroduction,PedestrianSurvey
Monday,June19
Set-upcamp,Orientation
-Lecture,“HistoryoftheCataloocheeValley”
Tuesday,June20
Wildernessskills,basicfirstaidlectures/workshopsprovidedbytheNational
ParkService.
Wednesday,June21
IntroductiontothetownofMaggieValleyandkeycommunitymembers
-Lecture,“HistoryofWhiskeyProductioninAppalachia”
Thursday,June22
SiteVisit
-Lecture,“IntroductiontoHistoricalArchaeology”
Friday,June23 Everyone–PedestrianSurvey
Saturday,June24
Everyone–PedestrianSurvey
Week2(June26–July1)–PedestrianSurveyandExcavations
Monday,June26
Groups1&2–PedestrianSurvey
-
GuestLecturer,DanielPierce
o
Chair,HistoryDepartmentatUniversityofNorthCarolina,
Asheville
o
AuthorofCornfromaJar:MoonshiningintheGreatSmoky
Mountains
5|P a g e Tuesday,June27
Groups1&2–PedestrianSurvey
-Lecture,“BasicExcavationMethods–LABELLING!”
Wednesday,June28
Group1–Excavation@SiteA Group2–Excavation@SiteB
Thursday,June29
Group1–Excavation@SiteA Group2–Excavation@SiteB
-Lecture,“DesigningYourOwnResearchProject”
Friday,June30 Group1–Excavation@SiteA Group2–Excavation@SiteB
Saturday,July1–
DistilleryTour@ElevatedMountainDistillery
Week3(July3–July8)–Excavations,Labwork,OralHistories,andArchivalResearch
Monday,July3 Group1–Excavation@SiteA Group2–Excavation@SiteB
-
GuestLecturer,NealHutchenson
o
VideographerandSeniorResearcheratNorthCarolinaState
University
o
DocumentaryFilmmakerofTheLastOneandOneHellofa
Life
Tuesday,July4 Attendtheall-dayMaggieValley4thofJulyFestivalandFireworks
Wednesday,July5
Group1–OralHistory Group2–Archives
Group3–Lab
Thursday,July6
Group1–Archives
Group3–OralHistory
Group1–Lab Friday,July7
Saturday,July8
Group2–Lab -Lecture,“ExperimentalArchaeology”
Group2–OralHistory Group3-Archives
Everyone–Comparedatacollectedfromarchivesandoralhistories
Week4(July10–July15)–ExcavationsandLabwork
Monday,July10
Group1–Excavation@SiteC Group2–Excavation@SiteD
-Lecture,“WhiskeyandtheMusicofAppalachia”
Tuesday,July11
Group1–Excavation@SiteC Group2–Excavation@SiteD
Wednesday,July12
Group1–Excavation@SiteC Group2–Excavation@SiteD
Thursday,July13
Group1–Excavation@SiteC Group2–Excavation@SiteD
-Lecture,“MountainTalk”
Friday,July14 Group1–Excavation@SiteC Group2–Excavation@SiteD
Saturday,July15
AllGroups–Labwork
Week5(July17–July22)–PedestrianSurvey,Excavations,Labwork,wrapup.
Monday,July17
Everyone–PedestrianSurvey
-Lecture,“Prohibition–The18thAmendment”
Tuesday,July18
Everyone–PedestrianSurvey
Wednesday,July19
Everyone-ClosedownexcavationsatSitesA&B
6|P a g e Thursday,July20
Everyone-ClosedownexcavationsatSitesC&D
-Lecture,“PresentingYourResearchataProfessionalMeeting”
Friday,July21 Everyone-Labwork,clean-upandorganizelab
Saturday,July22
StudentswilleitherleaveMaggieValleyontheirownorbeshuttledtotheAshevilleRegionalAirportby
projectstaff.
EQUIPMENTLIST
Studentsmustbringtheseitemstothefield.Thesetoolswillhelpinyourresearchand
accommodations.
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Sturdyworkboots
Hat,widebrimmedhatareusuallybestforoutdoorworkingconditions
Sunscreen
Daypack/backpack
Sleepingbag
Flashlight
Tentwithwaterproofcover
Anymedicationyouneedandprescriptionmedicationtolastforthedurationofthefieldschool
Waterbottle,atleast1liter
MarshalltownPointingTrowel-5"x2”
SunglasseswithUVprotection
Insectrepellant
READINGS
Burke,Heather,ClairSmith,andLarryJ.Zimmerman
2008TheArchaeologist’sFieldHandbook:NorthAmericanEdition.AltaMiraPress,Maryland.
Davis,HattieCaldwell
1997CataloocheeValley:VanishedPeoplefromtheGreatSmokyMountains.WorldComm.
Deetz,James
1988AmericanHistoricalArchaeology:MethodsandResults,Science239(4838),362-367.
Hanington,Bruce
2003MethodsintheMaking:APerspectiveontheStateofHumanResearchinDesign.DesignIssues,
19(4),9-18.
Kutsche,Paul
1998FieldEthnography:AManualforDoingCulturalAnthropology.PrenticeHall,NewJersey.
Pierce,DanielS.
2013CornFromAJar:MoonshiningintheGreatSmokyMountains,GreatSmokyMountainAssociation,
Gatlinburg,TN.
Shackelford,Laurel
1988OurAppalachia:AnOralHistory.UniversityPressofKentucky.
7|P a g e Wigginton,Eliot
1968-1971TheFoxfireBook:HogDressing,LogCabinBuilding,MountainCraftsandFoods,Plantingby
theSigns,SnakeLore,HuntingTales,FaithHealing,Moonshining,andOtherAffairsofPlainLiving.
AnchorPress,GardenCity,NewYork.Pages301-345.
Yow,ValerieRaleigh
2014RecordingOralHistory:AGuidefortheHumanitiesandSocialSciences.Rowman&Littlefield.
RECOMMENDEDREADINGS
Kephart,Horace
1922OurSouthernHighlanders.TheMacmillanCompany,NewYork.
Sink,Alice
2011HiddenHistoryoftheWesternNorthCarolinaMountains.TheHistoryPress.
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