FROM BEACH SAND TO TABBY CONSTRUCTION: TEACHING PROCESS SEDIMENTOLOGY AND CULTURAL HISTORY IN AN INTRODUCTORY FIELD METHODS COURSE IN THE BAHAMAS

The small carbonate island of San Salvador, located on the windward side of the Bahamian platform in the path of Atlantic hurricanes, is a dynamic environment to study coastal processes. Since 2007, we have taught a hands-on, field methods course at the Gerace Research Centre on San Salvador in late March that focuses on environmental change. Our urban Kansas City environmental science students mostly arrive with little geologic knowledge and minimal experience with coastal settings. Our interdisciplinary approach includes investigating the geological, biological, and cultural components of the environment and providing opportunities for students to contribute to long-term coastal change research. Our course begins with a beach characterization project that includes the creation of beach profiles using the Emery Method, identification of vegetation, and grain-size analyses of sand from different coastal sites around the island. Students also record wave height, wind speed and direction, and subtidal conditions from snorkeling observations. Together these data show how the present-day environments they see provide the basis for understanding the environment of deposition of rock formations on the island. As nearshore depositional environments only occur during sea level highstands, we explore caves and describe karst and pedogenic processes that modify the landscape of the island over the long, sea level lowstand intervals. Pace-and-compass mapping of an historical archaeological site along with discussions on historical and modern land use practices demonstrate the fragility of the soil and environment. Furthermore, over the years we have taught the class, we have introduced new technologies including advanced methods of aerial photography from kites to drones, real-time kinematic GNSS surveys, and digital mapping with cellphones and iPads, all while keeping a grounding in traditional methods of data collection and recording. Research projects have grown from this class, from a multi-year coring project involving many students and several of the ponds to documenting the wrackline, boulder movement, and coastal damage from hurricanes. In addition to reinforcing the necessity of quality field notes, the integration of real research questions into the class stimulates motivation and interest in the fields of geosciences and archaeology.