An archaeological field school in the piney woods of east Texas is giving Wichita State students a rare opportunity to bring history to light — and their futures into focus.
Led by Dr. Crystal Dozier, assistant professor of anthropology, students spent several months during summer 2024 excavating the Boxed Springs site in east Texas, thanks to the generosity and vision of Wichita State alumnus Marc Rowland. Boxed Springs is known for its ties to the early Caddo peoples, an Indigenous group who developed complex agricultural societies, constructed elaborate ceremonial centers, and thrived in the region for centuries. The site became the focus of extensive geophysical surveys, excavation and artifact analysis, with students contributing both in the field and back on campus.