AWA Field Technician Training Program
The AWA Field Technician Training Program aims to provide students, Tribal members, recent graduates, early career professionals, and those seeking accessible training with opportunities to develop and enhance their professional skills. In 2021, the first Program organizers recognized that many factors combine to limit diversity in the field of archaeology. Access to field training opportunities is a hurdle for many students and early career archaeologists when preparing for a job in the CRM industry, and limited access to field schools disparately impacts economically disadvantaged people and People of Color. This Program aims to provide free, flexible field training opportunities that are closer to home to increase field experience accessibility. This is why AWA individual members, institutional members, cultural resources management (CRM) companies, local Tribal Nations, agencies, and university staff come together to offer free training opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing careers as archaeological field technicians. AWA understands this Program will not remedy the diversity and inclusivity problems that exist in archaeology today, but it is one step towards increasing equity and growing our community.
The training sessions are led by volunteer CRM professionals each spring and summer online and in-person across various locations in Washington. These trainings provide some experience with skills needed for entry-level CRM work, such as historical and pre-contact artifact identification, Pacific Northwest culture history, pedestrian survey, shovel probing, archaeological monitoring, test unit excavation, human and faunal bone identification, soils and sediments, remote sensing, general introductions to CRM, networking opportunities, guidance on seeking employment, and resume assistance. Some virtual presentations were recorded and are posted below. Efforts are made to offer both virtual and in-person training sessions at night, during various weekdays, and on the weekends.
The professional archaeologists leading the trainings are responsible for creating each training’s content; providing a physical location for in-person trainings; creating and sending links to virtual trainings; providing any required equipment or readings; staffing the training sessions as appropriate; and communicating details to the students and early career archaeologists who signed up to take the trainings. Students and early career archaeologists sign up for whichever sessions they are interested in attending, and trainees are responsible for getting themselves to/from the sessions unless specific assistance or other direction is provided by the professional volunteer leader. AWA does not provide the trainings directly, nor does AWA endorse, recommend, vet, or assume responsibility for the trainings. AWA does require that all sessions comply with all applicable cultural resources regulations and laws. In Washington, these include (but is not limited to) RCW 27.53, RCW 27.44, and RCW 42.56.300. Any sessions outside of Washington must also comply with the applicable local, state, and federal law.
The technician trainings are intended to help attendees build their basic understanding of CRM practices in Washington and instill confidence in participants when applying for jobs. Training sessions are not meant to replace formal field school education. Instead, these training sessions may help attendees fill a gap in their education or get a jump start on getting a job in CRM. These trainings are supported by professional CRM staff volunteers to meet their personnel needs. Attendees can list the specific training sessions they attended on their resumes when applying for archaeological positions. Although the AWA trainings do not meet minimum qualifications for all jobs, such as federal positions that require attending a field school to adhere to Secretary of Interior Professional Qualification Standards, some firms may be willing to hire on new staff with training experiences through this Program, and then provide those field technicians with further guided, on-the-job supplemental training.
For more information, reach out to awafieldtraining@gmail.com and CC awadiversity@gmail.com.
The 2026 AWA Field Technician Training Program schedule is live!
Sign up for as many sessions as you can attend by typing in your email underneath the training you are interested in but remember there are a limited number of spots for in person sessions. Once signed up, the session host will reach out with details closer to the training. Make sure to keep an eye out for new trainings that will be added to the 2026 schedule throughout the spring and summer.
2026 Schedule - Attendee Sign UpThe program makes an impact in for future CRM archaeologists. If you or another professional is interested in hosting a field technician training session, submit your proposal through the link below or email the program email. Thank you for your time and support of this program!
Upcoming Training Sessions
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May 28, 2026 7:00 PMSeattle, WA
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June 04, 2026 9:00 AMNear Mount Vernon, WA
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June 11, 2026 6:00 PMOnline
Thank you to Equinox Research and Consulting International Inc, Environmental Science Associates, Psomas, and Willamette Cultural Resources for sponsoring this year's training sessions!!!
Program Experience
“I am so grateful for each of these opportunities, and I not only learned a wealth of information, but I enjoyed the experiences. At the excavation, I was able to meet many likeminded people with similar interests in archaeology, and it was one of the highlights of my year.”
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“The online sessions were essential for attendance availability on my end, a highlight of the program for accessibility. For the schedule, having them after the traditional 9-5pm work schedule was great. I appreciated the opportunity to attend what I could, and I gained a lot of field time tips and tricks for archaeology in the PNW.”
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“Thank you for organizing these sessions for free and open to anyone interested in the field (even without any background). I don’t think there are many other training sessions out there in this format. The sessions I attended were interesting, and allowed for active participation. The archaeologists providing the trainings were passionate about their work, insightful, and helpful.”
New Technician HandbookAWA prepared this great Handbook to help guide new archaeological technicians. Please check it out!!! |
Presentations & Training Videos Archive
Our video archive of past presentations and training sessions is under construction!
This is a list of currently available recordings. We are actively working to expand our recording archive and will post past trainings that used to be available on the old website very soon!
Addressing Issues of Equity in Washington State Archaeology through the AWA
A virtual presentation by David Carlson, Pat McCutcheon, Tiffany Fulkerson, and Susan Larsen. Presented on May 12, 2021 by Members of the AWA's Diversity Committee at the Cultural Resources Protection Summit's Annual (Virtual) Meeting.
The Art of Applying for Federal Archaeological Positions
A virtual presentation by Jamie Litzkow (Bureau of Land Management), Ayme Swartz (US Forest Service), and Carla Burnside (US Fish and Wildlife Service). Presented on July 30, 2020 for the AWA Spokane Group "Brews and Dues" Meeting.
Past Training Archive
2025
May 29th @ 5:30PM-7:00PM
Section, Township, and Range - Online Tips to Unlock Land Use Histories of Your Project's APE (Online Training)
Jason Cooper, WSDOT
Description: Web based tutorial focused on historic maps and aerial imagery of Washington State. This session will explore several hypothetical project locations and work with online resources to assist in identifying previous land use activities that may have contributed to a project area's archaeological record.
May 31st @ 9:00AM-3:00PM
Screening and Artifact Identification with Perteet at the Muckleshoot Tribe (In-Person Training)
Emily Peterson, Perteet
Description: In this session, you will assist with an ongoing project to screen spoils from previous construction projects on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation for artifacts. You will screen sediments from an archaeological site and sort through matrix to identify and collect lithic artifacts. You will gain experience with dry screening, wet screening, and field identification of lithic artifacts. This is an in-person event in south King County. We will do our best to work with registrants to coordinate carpooling for those without transportation. Note: Wet screening is messy, muddy business so participants will need to wear waterproof boots or shoes and raingear is strongly recommended.
July 21st @ 5:00PM-6:30PM
How to Describe Soils and Sediments (Online Training)
Brandy Rinck, King County Parks
Description: A guide to describe soils and sediments encountered during excavation with a focus on the most common deposits found in western Washington.
Recording Available!
August 8-10, 2025 and August 22-24, 2025 (All Day)
Site 45FE71 Excavation and Artifact Identification, 2025 at Site 45FE71, Julian Cabin (In-Person Training)
Chris Noll, Cordilleran Archaeological Research
Description: The training will involve the permitted data recovery excavation of site 45FE71. This project is being conducted to recover archaeological information about this significant site because of the need to provide a new stable foundation for the historic Julian Cabin. The site includes a late Holocene-age pre-contact component and a cabin constructed around 1905 with a later addition. During the summer of 2025, training participants will learn how to lay out an excavation unit, measure and maintain stratigraphic control of an excavation, describe soils, screen excavation spoils, identify artifacts, create a field artifact and sample catalog, and complete excavation records. This experience will directly apply to work in archaeology/cultural resource management. Students may participate in one or both of the training weekends.
June 26th @ 7:30PM-8:30PM
Stone Artifact Identification in the Field (In-Person Training)
Amanda Taylor, WCRA
Description: Practical in-person training on stone artifacts for new field technicians in Georgetown, Seattle, WA.
June 30th @ 7:30PM-8:30PM
Crash Course on NW Coast Archaeology (Online Training)
Amanda Taylor, WRCA
Description: An overview of the human history of the Northwest Coast and practical guide to corresponding artifacts, features, and other remnants on the landscape that correspond with that history.
July 28th @ 6:00PM-7:00PM
Historic Artifacts Training and Bottle ID (Online Training)
Alicia Valentino, PSOMAS
Description: A training and overview of historic artifacts, in addition, trainees will receive training on how to determine identification of historic bottles.
Recording Available!
August 2nd @ 11:00AM
Field Safety for Field Techs (Online Training)
Kelina Victor, ASM Affiliates
Description: An overview of field safety for field techs. This will include common hazards from various climates and terrains and ways to combat them. I will cover personal and group safety practices and state regulations regarding breaks and sick leave.
August 7th @ 5:30PM-7:00PM
Practical Tips for Recognizing Human Remains VS Faunal in the Field (Online Training)
Tom Ostrander, ESA
Description: Presentation which introduces skeletal anatomy and bone physiology with a focus on developing a basic lexicon. The session also teaches basic photography best practices in order to allow field staff to communicate with a trained osteologist. Finally there is an exercise to apply these skills on real world examples.
Recording Available!
September 11th @ 9:00AM
Field Tech Training Day (In-Person Training)
Equinox Research and Consulting International (Teamwork)
Description: Shovel Probe Testing training at Horseshoe Cove in Mount Baker National Park.
2024
April 24th @ 8:30PM-9:30PM
Crash Course on Context: Archaeology in the Pacific Northwest (Online Training)
Amanda Taylor, Willamette CRA
Description: A crash course introduction to the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest designed to help new technicians start getting oriented to the story of this region and the kinds of cultural materials that they will encounter on projects.
May 1st @ 5:00PM-6:00PM, May 31st @ 12:30PM-2:30PM, July 1st @ 6:00PM-7:30PM
How to Describe Soils and Sediments (3 Sessions) (2 Online Trainings and 1 In-Person Training)
Brandy Rinck, KC Parks
Description: A guide to describe soils and sediments encountered during shovel probe excavation with a focus on the most common deposits found in Western Washington.
May 3rd @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
An Introduction to the Analysis of Marine Shell (Online Training)
Gary Wessen, Wessen and Associates
Description: This session considered 1) how the remains of marine invertebrates from shell midden deposits can be used to interpret cultural behaviors, and 2) dietary reconstructions, seasonality, collecting and processing activities, and social space within the site area.
May 4th @ 10:00AM-3:30PM
Shovel Probes in Marymoor Park (In-Person Training)
Jack Johnson and Emily Peterson, Perteet
Description: Participants received training in how to describe sediments and soils in CRM archaeology, learned tips and tricks for digging shovel probes through a demonstration, and then had an opportunity to dig a shovel probe and complete paperwork.
May 8th @ 7:00PM-8:00PM
Lithic Identification and Analysis (In-Person Training)
Amanda Taylor, Willamette Cultural Resource Associates & Pacific Lutheran University
Description: An introduction to identifying stone artifacts in the field and the basics of lithic analysis.
May 9th @ 5:00PM-6:00PM
The Basics of Human and Faunal Bone Identification (Online Training)
Tom Ostrander, Environmental Science Associates
Description: This information session provided the basics of anatomy and description of both human and animal bones. As well as information on how best to describe and photograph materials in a way that an osteologist can best provide an identification.
May 15th @ 5:00PM-6:00PM
Virtual Desktop Review of Research Materials for Use in CRM Technical Reports (Online Training)
Jason Cooper, Washington State Department of Transportation & Association of Washington Archaeology
Description: Presented a virtual desktop review of research materials available online for use in the development of CRM technical reports. This online workshop was geared towards identifying accessible web-based historic maps, aerial photographs, and other land use historical documents for use in research, technical reports, and/or dark memes.
May 16th @ 9:00AM-4:00PM
Shovel Probes in Skagit County (In-Person Training)
Kelly Bush, Equinox Research and Consulting International Inc.
Description: Archaeologists from Equinox Research and Consulting International Inc. taught attendees how to dig shovel probes in a rural landscape. Trainees learned techniques of digging and describing matrices, as well as how to photograph holes. Trainees left the training with a booklet about soils and geology for the area, pictures of themselves working, and a link to the consultants list.
May 19th @ 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Basics of Lithic Analysis in the Field (In-Person Training)
Amanda Taylor, Willamette Cultural Resource Associates
Description: A hands-on, practical workshop on how to identify flakes from rocks, different material types from one another, fire-modified rock, tools, and the kinds of information to record about stone artifacts while on a project. Photography for field documentation was also covered.
June 17th @ 4:30PM-6:00PM
How to Draw a Good Profile (Online Training)
Brandy Rinck, King County Parks and Recreation
Description: This training reviewed how to draw a test unit or excavation unit profile. Although not as good as doing it in the field, real life profile examples were used virtually to look at the soils and sediments and discuss what to draw, the right notes to take, as well as other things to add.
June 6th @ 9:00AM-11:00AM
Monitoring Training (In-Person Training)
Jack Johnson, Perteet
Description: This training provided instruction on how to observe heavy equipment in-person, and the type of documentation that is needed to be a good monitor doing CRM work.
June 23rd-29th all day
Site 45FE71 Excavation (In-Person Training)
Chris Noll, Cordilleran Archaeological Research
Description: This training focused on training in archaeological excavation methods and the identification of pre-contact and historical artifacts.
June 26th @ 6:00PM-8:00PM
What You Need to Know About ARPA and NAGPRA (Online Training)
Carla Burnside, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Description: If you're conducting archaeological work on federal or Indian lands you need to have a basic understanding of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act. This session reviewed each act as it applies to field or agency archaeologists; provided an overview of an ARPA investigation; and outlined what you should do if you find a looted archaeological site.
2023
April 26th
Archaeology in the Pacific Northwest
Amanda Taylor, Willamette Cultural Resource Associates
April 26th
Intro to Fieldwork/Pedestrian Survey
Amanda Taylor, Willamette Cultural Resource Associates
May 3rd
Dirt
Brandy Rink, King County Parks and Recreation
May 5th
Dirt
Brandy Rink, King County Parks and Recreation
May 9th
Bones
Tom Ostrander, Environmental Science Associates
May 17th
Intro to Fieldwork/Pedestrian Survey/Artifact ID
Amanda Taylor, Willamette Cultural Resource Associates
May 19th
Shovel Probes/One Test Unit/Artifact Cataloging
Phil LeTourneau (KCHPP), Brandy Rinck (KC Parks), and Tom Ostrander (ESA)
May 20th
Historic Artifact ID
Patrick McCutcheon (CWU) and Josh Allen (RLR)
May 20th
Lithic Artifact ID
Patrick McCutcheon (CWU) and Josh Allen (RLR)
May 20th
Ground Penetrating Radar Demonstration
Patrick McCutcheon (CWU) and Josh Allen (RLR)
May 20th
Distinguishing Human Bone from Animal Bone, No Human Bone will be Used
Patrick McCutcheon (CWU) and Josh Allen (RLR)
June 27th-July 1st
Excavation of a Multi-Component Site and Artifact ID
Chris Noll and Madeline Perry, Cordillera Archaeological Research
2022
In 2022, training sessions took place in Redmond, Seattle, Renton, and Ellensburg, Washington. Sessions included trainings on excavation techniques, historic and pre-contact artifact identification, pedestrian survey and shovel probing, faunal identification, project planning and management, and archaeological construction monitoring. Staff from Willamette CRA, Perteet, RLR Cultural Resources, ESA, and ERCI CRM companies teamed with professors and volunteers from the Stillaguamish Tribe, Central Washington University, the Burke Museum, and King County to offer training sessions.
Technician Training Program and Sponsors
These companies and organizations have supported the Program by allowing staff to provide trainings, but providing locations for trainings, and in other ways. AWA would like to thank these companies and organizations for their continued support and participation in this Program. Thanks!