Range Creek Staff

Field Station Director, Dr. Duncan Metcalfe

The Director of the Range Creek Field Station is Dr. Duncan Metcalfe, U of U Associate Professor of Anthropology and Chief Curator at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Duncan has worked tirelessly to foster an multi-diciplinary and inclusive approach to the research effort in Range Creek.  Already research teams from a number of universities, colleges, consulting firms, and community groups have joined the collaboration.

Duncan's research interests include archaeological method and theory, evolutionary ecology, and prehistoric cultures of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau. In his spare time Duncan enjoys working - gardening, remodeling, and fixing cars.  He particularly enjoys long car trips with Sarah, the one-eyed wonder dog.

Field Station Manager & Resident Archaeologist, Corrine Springer

Corinne's interest in archaeology was sparked by elementary school lessons of ancient Greece, Italy, and Egypt.  Years later this early interest surfaced with a visit to Utah's Fremont Indian State Park and a sign in the window asking for volunteer trail guides.  From that point on she was hooked and often jokes that her archaeological career is the result of a midlife crisis - a Masters Degree in Anthropology from the University of Utah is her equivalent to the infamous little red Ferrari.

Corinne Springer is currently employed by the Nautural History Museum of Utah as Manager and Resident Archaeologist for the Range Creek Field Station.  She lives at the ranch from April to November, weather permitting, and engages in a host of activities.  As site manager she assists in scheduling, tours, public relations and a host of tasks that don't immediately come to mind when someone says archaeologist- hostess, cook, farrier, wrangler, gardener, mechanic, farmer, plumber, roofer, painter, ditch digger, fire fighter... She also finds time to pursue her research interests: prehistory of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, ethnobotany, and prehistoric land use and settlement patterns.

Assistant Field School Director & NHMU Archaeology Lab Manager, Shannon Arnold Boomgarden, Ph.D.

Shannon began her career at NHMU in 1999 as an intern in Anthropology Collections and has held several positions at the museum since. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Anthropology, University of Utah in 2015 (dissertation title: Experimental Maize Farming in Range Creek Canyon, Utah). Shannon is currently the Assistant Director for the Range Creek Field School, held yearly at the Range Creek Field Station. Shannon manages the Archaeology Lab at the NHMU organizing and researching the archaeological data from the Range Creek Field Station and instructing students in laboratory methods. Shannon’s research interests include Fremont subsistence and settlement patterns, Experimental Archaeology, Paleoecology, Behavioral Ecology, and prehistory of Utah and Western North America.

Archaeological Teaching Assistant, Rick Chapoose

Rick Chapoose brings a unique perspective to the field school.  Rick was born and raised in Utah and spent many years living and working in rural Unitah County.  He owned and operated a river rafting company and for many years his parents operated guest lodgings at Florence Creek on the Green River.  Rick is a member of the Ute Tribe and his interest and knowledge of traditional practices, ranging from the use of medicinal plants to constructing teepees, adds dimension and scope to the Range Creek experience.  Having been raised on a farm Rick also has a wide variety of skills and life experiences that greatly benefit daily ranch operations including fencing, irrigating, welding and horsemanship.  Outside of Range Rick is currently focusing his efforts on recording prehistoric sites on the Ute Reservation.  He is also interested fostering an education program for tribal youth to build an appreciation and understanding of their cultural heritage.