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

Shannon's interest in archaeology really took hold when she attended the U of U Archaeological Field School in 1999.  She excelled as a student and was asked to serve in the position of Field School Teaching Assistant in 2001 shortly after completing her Bachelors Degree in Anthropology.  2009 will be Shannon's sixth field season in Range Creek and during that time she has completed a Masters Degree in Anthropology and entered the PhD program. Her research interests include ethnoarchaeology, prehistory of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, food storage behavior, site structure, and spatial analysis of archaeological data using geographic information systems (GIS).

Shannon Arnold Boomgarden is currently employed by the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Department of Anthropology at the University of Utah where she divides her time between two complimentary positions-Assistant Director of the Field School and Manager of the Archaeological Center.  In her spare time she enjoys playing banjo, guitar, and piano, and throwing Frisbees for Annie the ¼ Australian shepherd, ¼ blue heeler, ¼ fox, and ¼ Egyptian princess. 

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.