Project
The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training announces three internships for a period of six months to work on the Mississippi River Delta Archaeological Mitigation project. This project is a collaboration between NCPTT, the Cane River Creole National Historical Park, the Louisiana Public Archaeology Lab at UL Lafayette and the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development, Division of Archaeology.
Project objectives include working with the principal investigators to:
(1) consult with Louisiana Division of Archaeology (LDA) to identify interested parties and prepare consultation documents explaining the purpose of the study. Seek and share information with Native American tribes, culturally-affiliated groups and coastal communities concerning sites and traditional cultural places within the Mississippi River Delta Archaeological Mitigation (MRDAM) study area;
(2) develop a GIS database on endangered coastal sites, historic properties and traditional cultural places drawing upon the Louisiana Division of Archaeology (LDA) GIS and site records, reports of previous investigations, digital versions of projected land loss maps, and historical maps of coastal areas;
(3) identify and georectify the locations of previously-unrecorded sites based on historical maps, including sites that may have been destroyed by coastal erosion;
(4) characterize archaeological sites, historic properties and traditional cultural places based on input from the interested parties, archaeological integrity, historical significance, components, cultural affiliation, landform, function, research potential, and projected land loss;
(5) prepare consultation report documents and share the LDA GIS information with Native American tribes, culturally-affiliated groups and coastal communities concerning sites in the database, including which sites they regard as most culturally significant, and what they would like to see done (or not done) in terms of data collection and conservation practices; and,
(6) use the resulting GIS database and predictive model to produce a prioritized list of sites and traditional cultural places for proposed alternative mitigation based on archaeological integrity, historical significance, and projected land loss due to coastal erosion, subsidence and sea level rise.
Qualifications
Candidates should be anthropology graduates or undergraduates or a related field who have experience with digital media, ethnographic research, and/or GIS modeling.
We encourage applicants to contact Tad Britt (email: Tad_Britt@nps.gov, phone: 318-521-5641) at NCPTT to discuss the details of this internship.
How long are the internships?
These internships last six months, beginning in November of 2017 and ending in May of 2018.
Will I get paid?
Yes. Our interns are short-term employees of Northwestern State University. Compensation is based on experience, including academic experience. Depending on your personal spending habits, the compensation provided is typically more than sufficient to cover living expenses during your stay in Natchitoches.
Is housing provided?
Housing is not provided.
However, Natchitoches is a college town and there are usually plenty of sublets and short-term rentals available.
Foreign Nationals
We do accept applications from foreign nationals (non-US citizens). However, these individuals are responsible for obtaining their own visa. Please ensure that your application materials are in English.
How to Apply
Please read and follow the notes below before you submit the following:
1. Letter of interest,
2. Resume with three reference contacts,
3. Current official or unofficial transcript.
Mail to:
NCPTT
Attention: Tad Britt
645 University Parkway
Natchitoches, LA 71457
Or via email to Tad Britt@nps.gov.
NOTE:
• When submitting your application via email, please keep the size and number of file attachments to a minimum (i.e. combine documents or PDFs into one file).
• Include the letter of interest in your file attachment, not in the body of your email.
• Please do not submit a hyperlink to your transcript. Include the transcript in your email attachment.
• Ensure that all attached files can be opened in common software packages such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader.
• You do not need to submit reference letters. We will contact the references you provide if we select your application for further review.
Applications will be accepted through October 31, 2017.
The National Park Service and Northwestern State University are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
