Ames Plantation Field School: Digging Deep

a diverse group of students participating in an archeological dig
The Field School students

The Field School (technically known as the Rhodes College Maymester in Environmental Archaeology) is located at Ames Plantation, just 50 miles from Memphis. Encompassing 20,000 acres and at least 250 known historical sites, the plantation is the perfect spot for archaeological, biological, and environmental research. With no previous experience necessary, the study offers students the chance to get their hands dirty—literally, as a major component is an actual dig. Lead faculty member Dr. Kimberly Kasper, department of anthropology and sociology, says the course allows students to get the best of both worlds in academic and physical experience. “We are in the field digging every morning, and in the afternoons the students catalog their finds and learn from guest lecturers sharing their expertise.”