2026 • TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Lubbock Lake Landmark

12-week regional field research program • Museum of Texas Tech University

A hands-on introduction to professional paleontological and archaeological fieldwork, with experience spanning excavation, survey, documentation, laboratory processing, fossil preparation, and public interpretation.

Field & research work

  • Conducted Quaternary/Pleistocene paleontological and archaeological fieldwork across multiple localities.
  • Excavated and processed vertebrate and microfaunal material, including mammoth, bison, horse, camel, peccary, and turtle remains, alongside archaeological materials.
  • Maintained detailed provenience, context, stratigraphic, sediment, specimen, and treatment records.
  • Set up and operated Trimble GNSS and total-station equipment to record coordinates and elevations.

Laboratory & preparation

  • Processed matrix through washing, drying, sorting, identification, and cataloging.
  • Constructed and documented plaster-and-burlap fossil jackets and progressed to independently completing jackets.
  • Used PVAC at varying concentrations for specimen stabilization and recorded treatments.
  • Assisted with sublevel-by-sublevel laboratory excavation of a large mammoth jacket containing a tooth and tusk.

FIELD DOCUMENTATION

Fieldwork in motion.

Two short clips from the 2026 field season showing surveying setup, fossil excavation, and jacket preparation.

SURVEYING

Total Station + Trimble GNSS

Timelapse showing setup of field surveying equipment used to document specimen and excavation-unit coordinates and elevations.

EXCAVATION & PREPARATION

Fossil Excavation + Jacketing

Timelapse combining hands-on fossil excavation with plaster-and-burlap jacket preparation.

Ayon Wickramasinghe excavating fossil material in the field
Plaster-and-burlap fossil jacket being prepared during fieldwork
Fossil specimen work during the field season
Lubbock Lake Landmark field crew

TEAM & OUTREACH

Growing from learner to trusted crew member.

I trained newer volunteers in surveying equipment, field documentation, excavation procedures, and site practices; assisted with crew operations; and explained field methods and the research program to visitors.

I also documented the season through photography and video, with a longer personal project planned around the experience.