GENERAL INFORMATION
Over the past few years, the Association for Washington Archaeology (AWA) members and affiliated cultural resource management (CRM) companies in Washington have partnered with local tribes, agencies, and universities to offer FREE TRAINING SESSIONS for individuals interested in pursuing careers as archaeological technicians. 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.
The training sessions are led by volunteer CRM professionals each spring and summer across various locations in Washington. They provide some experience with skills needed for entry-level CRM work, such as pedestrian survey, shovel probes, test excavation, artifact identification, archaeological monitoring, and more. Past sessions have also included introductions to CRM, networking opportunities, guidance on seeking employment, and resume assistance. Efforts are made to offer both virtual and in-person trainings at night, during various weekdays, and on the weekends.
Disclaimer: These technician trainings are intended to help the attendees build their basic understanding of CRM practices in Washington, and instill confidence in participants when applying for jobs. The training sessions are not supposed to replace formal field school. Rather, attending these trainings may help a student, tribal member, recent graduate, early career professional, or someone seeking training fill a gap in their education or get a jump start on a job in CRM. These trainings are offered by professional volunteers to meet their staffing needs. Attendees can list the specific AWA Technician Trainings they attended on their resumes when applying for archaeological positions. Although the AWA Technician 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 this training experience and provide them with guided, on-the-job supplemental training.
A list of past AWA Field Technician Training Program Sessions is under "Training" on the Field Technician Resources page.
The training sessions are led by volunteer CRM professionals each spring and summer across various locations in Washington. They provide some experience with skills needed for entry-level CRM work, such as pedestrian survey, shovel probes, test excavation, artifact identification, archaeological monitoring, and more. Past sessions have also included introductions to CRM, networking opportunities, guidance on seeking employment, and resume assistance. Efforts are made to offer both virtual and in-person trainings at night, during various weekdays, and on the weekends.
Disclaimer: These technician trainings are intended to help the attendees build their basic understanding of CRM practices in Washington, and instill confidence in participants when applying for jobs. The training sessions are not supposed to replace formal field school. Rather, attending these trainings may help a student, tribal member, recent graduate, early career professional, or someone seeking training fill a gap in their education or get a jump start on a job in CRM. These trainings are offered by professional volunteers to meet their staffing needs. Attendees can list the specific AWA Technician Trainings they attended on their resumes when applying for archaeological positions. Although the AWA Technician 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 this training experience and provide them with guided, on-the-job supplemental training.
A list of past AWA Field Technician Training Program Sessions is under "Training" on the Field Technician Resources page.
Contact [email protected] with general questions (March - August each year). We look forward to hearing from you!
NOTE: Noone is checking [email protected] if the sessions are closed, but the Tech Training Coordinator will get back to you once they are hired each year.
NOTE: Noone is checking [email protected] if the sessions are closed, but the Tech Training Coordinator will get back to you once they are hired each year.
REGISTRATION
Training Sessions for 2025 are complete.
Sessions for 2026 will open for Registration in late Spring!
Join AWA to receive emails letting you know about upcoming events and information like registration opportunities.
Sessions for 2026 will open for Registration in late Spring!
Join AWA to receive emails letting you know about upcoming events and information like registration opportunities.
ONCE REGISTRATION RE-OPENS IN 2026....
Please read through the full schedule of sessions before making selections in the registration sign-up sheet.
Training sessions are listed on the registration sign-up sheet in order of the date offered. Scroll to the right to view more training sessions.
Please enter your email under the column of each training session that you would like to attend. You are allowed (and encouraged) to enter as many training sessions as you would like. Please enter your email under the last entered email in a column.
If there are no more available spaces (the green spaces) for the training you would like to attend, please enter your name in the white space. White spaces are treated as "standby" for slots to open up.
The various session leads will contact you with important information once you have signed up for your desired training(s). Information about the specific site access instructions or virtual meeting invitation links will come to you directly from the session lead closer to the day of your training/s.
Check back regularly because more sessions are likely to be added throughout the months of May, June, and July.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
Please read through the full schedule of sessions before making selections in the registration sign-up sheet.
Training sessions are listed on the registration sign-up sheet in order of the date offered. Scroll to the right to view more training sessions.
Please enter your email under the column of each training session that you would like to attend. You are allowed (and encouraged) to enter as many training sessions as you would like. Please enter your email under the last entered email in a column.
If there are no more available spaces (the green spaces) for the training you would like to attend, please enter your name in the white space. White spaces are treated as "standby" for slots to open up.
The various session leads will contact you with important information once you have signed up for your desired training(s). Information about the specific site access instructions or virtual meeting invitation links will come to you directly from the session lead closer to the day of your training/s.
Check back regularly because more sessions are likely to be added throughout the months of May, June, and July.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
SESSIONS
The 2025 Tech Training is done. Check back here in Spring 2026 for future training opportunities!
Professionals interested in giving trainings should message [email protected] to express interest in February/March of 2026.
Professionals interested in giving trainings should message [email protected] to express interest in February/March of 2026.
May 29th 5:30PM-7:00PM- Session Closed
Section, Township, and Range - Online Tips to Unlock Land Use Histories of Your Project's APE
Online Training
Jason Cooper, WSDOT, [email protected]
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 @ 9AM-3PM- Session Closed
Screening and Artifact Identification with Perteet at the Muckleshoot Tribe
In-Person Training
Emily Peterson, Perteet, [email protected]
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 @ 5PM-6:30PM- Session Closed
How to Describe Soils and Sediments
Online Training
Brandy Rinck, Geoarchaeologist, King County Parks, [email protected]
Description: A guide to describe soils and sediments encountered during excavation with a focus on the most common deposits found in western Washington.
August 8 – 10, 2025 and August 22 – 24, 2025- Session Closed
Site 45FE71 Excavation and Artifact Identification, 2025 at Site 45FE71, Julian Cabin. Northeast of Republic at Curlew Lake, northern Ferry County
In-Person Training
Chris Noll, Cordilleran Archaeological Research, [email protected]
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 @ 7:30-8:30 PM- Session Closed
In-Person Training
Amanda Taylor, WCRA, [email protected]
Stone Artifact Identification in the Field
Description: Practical in-person training on stone artifacts for new field technicians in Georgetown, Seattle, WA.
June 30th @ 7:30PM-8:30PM- Session Closed
Online Training
Amanda Taylor, WRCA, [email protected]
Crash Course on NW Coast Archaeology
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- Session Closed
Online Training
Alicia Valentino, PSOMAS, [email protected]
Historic Artifacts Training and Bottle ID
Description: A training and overview of historic artifacts, in addition, trainees will receive training on how to determine identification of historic bottles.
August 2nd @ 11AM- Session Closed
Online Training
Kelina Victor, ASM Affiliates, [email protected]
Field Safety for Field Techs
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- Session Closed
Online Training
Tom Ostrander, ESA, [email protected]
Practical Tips for Recognizing Human Remains VS Faunal in the Field
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 comunicate with a trained osteologist. Finally there is an excerise to apply these skills on real world examples.
Section, Township, and Range - Online Tips to Unlock Land Use Histories of Your Project's APE
Online Training
Jason Cooper, WSDOT, [email protected]
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 @ 9AM-3PM- Session Closed
Screening and Artifact Identification with Perteet at the Muckleshoot Tribe
In-Person Training
Emily Peterson, Perteet, [email protected]
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 @ 5PM-6:30PM- Session Closed
How to Describe Soils and Sediments
Online Training
Brandy Rinck, Geoarchaeologist, King County Parks, [email protected]
Description: A guide to describe soils and sediments encountered during excavation with a focus on the most common deposits found in western Washington.
August 8 – 10, 2025 and August 22 – 24, 2025- Session Closed
Site 45FE71 Excavation and Artifact Identification, 2025 at Site 45FE71, Julian Cabin. Northeast of Republic at Curlew Lake, northern Ferry County
In-Person Training
Chris Noll, Cordilleran Archaeological Research, [email protected]
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 @ 7:30-8:30 PM- Session Closed
In-Person Training
Amanda Taylor, WCRA, [email protected]
Stone Artifact Identification in the Field
Description: Practical in-person training on stone artifacts for new field technicians in Georgetown, Seattle, WA.
June 30th @ 7:30PM-8:30PM- Session Closed
Online Training
Amanda Taylor, WRCA, [email protected]
Crash Course on NW Coast Archaeology
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- Session Closed
Online Training
Alicia Valentino, PSOMAS, [email protected]
Historic Artifacts Training and Bottle ID
Description: A training and overview of historic artifacts, in addition, trainees will receive training on how to determine identification of historic bottles.
August 2nd @ 11AM- Session Closed
Online Training
Kelina Victor, ASM Affiliates, [email protected]
Field Safety for Field Techs
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- Session Closed
Online Training
Tom Ostrander, ESA, [email protected]
Practical Tips for Recognizing Human Remains VS Faunal in the Field
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 comunicate with a trained osteologist. Finally there is an excerise to apply these skills on real world examples.