Milford Archaeological Research Institute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Background

 

Founded in 2000, the Milford Archaeological Research Institute (M.A.R.I.) is a non-profit organization that was formed to study the past cultures and life ways of the Desert Southwest.  Mari A. Pritchard Parker (M.S., R.P.A.) is the president of M.A.R.I. and purchased the original 31-acre parcel of land in 2001.

 

Mariville, as the site is nicknamed, is situated south of Milford in Beaver County, Utah.  With the acquisition of an additional parcel, the property now encompasses approximately 46 acres bisected by the Beaver River and surrounded by farmland in the beautiful Milford Valley. Here is more information about nearby Milford, UT. 

​

The remains of a Fremont habitation mound (Utah Site 42BE2400), are present on the west side of the property. The mound area is about 1.8 meters high and extends about 100 meters north/south and 60 meters east/west, however, it has been graded during historic times.  Ceramics have been recorded in two main areas on the top of the mound and may be associated with pithouse locations near the mound’s tip (Earth Touch, Inc., 2003). The ceramic areas range between 15 and 30 meters in size and include both gray and black on gray sherds.

 

Lithic materials consisting mostly of obsidian debitage and projectile points are scattered across the site, although chert debitage and projectile points have also been collected.

Personnel involved with M.A.R.I. have decades of combined archaeological and historical research experience that has focused on regulatory compliance support to federal, commercial and private clients. Our experience encompasses the Desert Southwest, including California, Nevada, and Utah; areas within the Pacific Rim (Hawaii, the Marshall Islands), and the southeastern United States (Alabama and Mississippi).

 

The M.A.R.I. team of archaeologists and historians has experience with a variety of cultural resources project types and methods.

 

The M.A.R.I. project is guided by a research design that encompasses standard archaeological techniques and promising new lines of inquiry.  Project goals involve investigation of both the Fremont village (42BE2400) and a historic dairy located on the property. To carry out these goals, M.A.R.I. offers a variety of research and field methods and theoretical perspectives.

Lectures

Lectures are provided to all students prior to field survey and excavation. These introductory procedures include, but are not limited to, explanations of excavation procedures and hazards, descriptive note taking, interpretation of excavation and feature cross sections and sites, survey methods, and general cultural resources management. Films, text books, slides, models, dioramas, and other materials are used as appropriate.

 

Field Methods

Students are trained in excavation and screening techniques using standard archaeological procedures, including photographic techniques and  how to prepare field forms.

 

Students are assembled into small groups and given instruction in surveying and mapping, and how to point provienence artifacts.

Laboratory Methods

Students are trained in various laboratory techniques including the appropriate cleaning, labeling, and sorting of artifacts. The team works together in the identification of artifacts, limited flotation exercises, and cataloging.