Archaeology Month is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council. Its purpose is to increase awareness of the important historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in the Commonwealth. These sites are part of the heritage of all Pennsylvanians. Everyday, archaeological sites are destroyed. We hope that through the Archaeology Month events, more Pennsylvanians become aware of this part of our history and work to protect our endangered resources.

Note: the following event listings are organized by region.

        Northeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Forks of the Delaware Chapter 14
Event:  Chapter Monthly Meeting.
Date:  Thursday, 4 October.
Time:  7:30 PM
Contact:  Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-402-7330, Email: kittarch@sunlink.net.
Description:
 Program of archaeological interest. Details and directions can be found at Chapter 14's web page at the Siftings web site - www.siftings.com.

Event:  A trip to the City Island excavation in Harrisburg will be organized.
Date:  Saturday, 29 September.
Time:  All day. Departure time 8:30 AM.
Contact:  Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-402-7330, Email: kittarch@sunlink.net.
Description:
 A trip by rented van and/or carpool will be organized to visit the Archaeology Month excavations at City Island (see PHMC announcement, below). Assembly point will be the Palmer Township Municipal Complex (see Chapter 14's web page at www.siftings.com for directions.

Event:  Excavation at the Brodhead Site.
Date:  Selected Saturdays during September and October
Time:  9 AM - 3 PM
Contact:  Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-402-7330, Email: kittarch@sunlink.net or
  John Wright, Phone: 570-588-2432, Email: John_R_Wright@nps.gov
Description:
 The public is invited to visit ongoing excavations at the prehistoric Brodhead Site, in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The work is being conducted under the auspices of the National Park Service by Kutztown University and volunteers from Chapter 14. Please check with contacts listed above for exact dates and directions.

        Southeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - John Shrader Chapter 21
Event:  Hay Creek Valley Historical Association’s (HCVHA) Apple Festival
Location: Joanna Furnace, Route 10 near Morgantown, Berks County
Date:  Saturday, October 13, 2001
Time:  7 AM-4 PM
Contacts: Cathy Spohn – Phone # (610) 678-1274 (home) or (610) 205-6711; Email: cspohn@grove.iup.edu
  Charles Jacob – Phone # (610) 469-9530
Description:
 John Shrader Chapter 21 will have an information stand at HCVHA’s annual Apple Festival at Joanna Furnace. Chapter members have been actively engaged in the archaeological investigations and restoration of Joanna Furnace over many years. SPA members will provide information on archaeology, the role of the SPA, and the various projects Chapter 21 members have been involved with in addition to our work at Joanna. We will have an exhibit of the archaeological research and field schools held at Joanna Furnace. The current excavations at the hot blast engine area and casting house will be open for visitors to see. Admission is free.

 SPA Chapter 21 will also have an information stand at HCVHA’s annual Fall Festival that runs from Friday, September 7 through Sunday, September 9, also at Joanna Furnace. Admission is $5 per person over age 12 on Friday and $7 per person on Saturday and Sunday. Passes for $10 for two are available through the contacts listed above. Besides the archaeological exhibits, there will be nineteenth century crafts, antique cars and agricultural machinery, a Civil War encampment, music and other attractions.

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Conejohela Chapter 28, SPA, Inc.
Event:  Exhibit - “The People Before We Were Here”
Location: Conestoga Area Historical Society Museum,  49 Kendig Rd., Conestoga (Lancaster County), PA.
Date:  All month (Through Dec 16, 2001) Open Saturdays and Sundays only, 1 PM - 4 PM
Contact:  Phone (717) 872-1699 for more details
Description:
 Guest curated by Conestoga Chapter 28, S.P.A., this exhibit takes a look at the native people of the area surrounding Washington Boro, often referred to as the “Heart of Archaeology” in Pennsylvania. Along with many artifacts are displays of the area’s rock art, information about local Indian paths and Indian Treaties signed at Conestoga Indian Town, a door from the infamous Lancaster County Jail—site of the Conestoga Indian Massacre, a simulated archaeological “dig”, and a replica dug-out canoe. This is the most comprehensive display of Lancaster County’s original people to date.

Event:  Safe Harbor Petroglyph Day, Safe Harbor Petroglyph sites
Location: Safe Harbor (Lancaster County), PA
Date:  Saturday, October 6, 2001 (Rain date October 13), Noon to 6 PM
Contact:  For more information call (717) 252-4177, email Susquekal@aol.com, or visit the Friends of the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs Website at: http://members.aol.com/SusqueKal/SusquehannaRiverRockArt.htm
Description:
 Members of  Conestoga Chapter 28, S.P.A. will be on hand at the Safe Harbor Petroglyphs to guide visitors to the what may be the largest existing concentration of Native American rock art in the northeast United States.  Access to the rocks is by canoe, kayak, or small boat only.

Event:  Artifact Identification Day at Conestoga Area Historical Society Museum
Location:  49 Kendig Rd., Conestoga (Lancaster County), PA
Date:  Saturday, October 20, 2001, 10 AM - 4 PM
Contact:  Phone (717) 872-1699 for more details.
Description:
 Members of  Conestoga Chapter 28, S.P.A. will be on hand with their own artifact collections and will be able to help identify artifacts brought by the public (Just like a prehistoric “Antiques Roadshow”!)

        Central

The PHMC Commonwealth Archaeology Program and the City of Harrisburg
Event:  Archaeology Month on City Island 2001
Date:  Wednesday, 19 September through Friday, 5 October
Time:  9:00AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Contact:  See below.
Description:
 Come join us for the Mid-State’s annual celebration of the buried past on City Island, in downtown Harrisburg.  This year’s program will be open to the public from Wednesday afternoon, September the 19th, through Friday, October the 5th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily.  Excavations will continue in the 2000 excavation block, where we will be emphasizing the archaeological investigation of this well preserved, stratified site.  This year we will be examining the buried Archaic levels, including a deep section to look at the Middle Archaic occupation zone.  Our experimental archaeology section features reconstructed Native American features, including a dwelling, a smokehouse/keyhole facility,  and a dugout canoe.  There will also be exhibitions of flint knapping, pottery-making, and other demonstrations of Native technology.  In addition, our field lab this year will feature some new high-tech imaging of artifacts.

 The project welcomes casual visitors, and formal tours for school groups can be arranged on week days.  Much of our work is done by volunteers! If you’re interested in volunteering, visiting the site, or arranging a school tour, please provide us with your name, address, phone, and email, and mail it to us at PHMC/BHP,  PO Box 1026, Harrisburg, Pa, 17108-1026. We will mail out information for the 2001 program in mid-summer.  See you on the Island!!

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Bald Eagle Chapter 24
Event:  The Bald Eagle Archaeological Society (BEAS) will be participating in the Clearwater Conservancy’s annual Spring Creek Day, to be held at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
Location: Puddintown Road, State College.
Date:  Sunday, September 16
Time:  1:00-4:00 p.m.
Contact:  For information on additional BEAS activities, contact Mary Alice Graetzer at 814-238-5239.
Description:
 BEAS will have information on archaeology and displays on several projects in the vicinity.

        Southwest

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Somerset Chapter 20.
Event:  Somerset County Archaeology Days
Location:  Stoystown Lions Park, Stoystown, Pa.
Date:  Friday Oct. 5 & Saturday Oct. 6, 2001
Contact:  Brian L. Fritz, 236 Fritz Rd. Stoystown, Pa. 15563, 814-893-0175, bfritz@shol.com
Description:
 Discover the prehistoric Indians that once lived at Stoystown Lions Park.  School groups and the general public are welcome to join members of the Somerset Archaeology Society for two days of archaeological excavation.  We will be digging several test holes hoping to find evidence of the prehistoric people who once lived in the Stony Creek Valley.  Visitors can help dig, screen for artifacts, catalog artifacts, and process soil flotation samples through our soil washing tank.  Bring your own lunch and drinks.  This is a free event, in celebration of Pennsylvania Archaeology Month, where every one, young and old, is welcome.

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Westmoreland Chapter 23
Event:  Tour of the Consol Site
Date:  October 13, 2001 from 10 am to 2 pm.
Contact:  Judy Duritsa at 724-836-0895.
Description:
 In addition to SPA members, invitations will be sent to local historical societies and university groups to help foster archaeological awareness in our region. Interested parties may contact the Quemahoning site for information and directions. Chapter members will guide the tour, answer questions, and give a brief history of the site with a display of artifacts.

Dept. of Sociology/Anthropology, Edinboro University of PA
Event:  Open House, Fort LeBoeuf Museum
Location: Waterford, PA
Date:  Every Saturday and Sunday in October
Time:  Noon- 4:00 PM
Contact:  Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814)732-2570
Description:
 Archaeological displays at the museum include remains from the beaver trade, WPA excavations in the late 1930's, and Eagle Hotel excavations conducted by Edinboro University Archaeological Field Studies from 1975 through 1987.  Of special local interest is a replica of the only known original of Celeron's lead plate and a highly detailed model of an Iroquois village. There is no admission charge.

Event:  Open House,  excavations near the Yellow House, Battles Farmstead Museums of Rural Life
Location: Girard, PA
Date:  Every Tuesday and Thursday morning in October, weather permitting
Time:  9:45 - 11:45 AM
Contact:  Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814)732-2570
Description:
 The public is invited to observe students enrolled in Archaeological Field Studies as they search for evidence for a smokehouse and granary.

Event:  Lecture - "Teaching Children About Archaeology is Not a Trivial Pursuit"
Location: AR/SCI 106, Main Campus, Edinboro University of PA, Edinboro, PA
Date:  Wednesday,  October 3
Time:  4:00 - 5:30 PM
Contact:  Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814)732-2570
Description:
 The presentation will focus on the public archaeology education movement nationally and in the commonwealth.  The audience will have an opportunity to participate in selected lesson plans from a national archaeology curriculum as well as learn about resources available for use by teachers in the commonwealth.

Event:  Lecture - "The Archaeological Past in Jeopardy"
Location: AR/SCI 106, Main Campus, Edinboro University of PA, Edinboro, PA
Date:  Wednesday, October 24
Time:  4:00 - 5:30 PM
Contact:  Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814)732-2570
Description:
 The discussion and activities will center around the video "Silent Witness: Protecting American Indian Archaeological Heritage," narrated by Robert Redford and produced by the National Park Service as part of the Parks As classrooms Project.

Christine Davis Consultants, Inc.
Event:  Archaeology in the Outfield: Exhibit at PNC Park
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Date:  Group appointments during Archaeology Month or by appointment
Time:  Schedule appointment (412-826-0443)
Contact:  Christine Davis
Description:
 CDC staff will conduct private Guided Tours of the PNC Park’s Archaeology Exhibit during Archaeology Month. This permanent exhibit in Pittsburgh’s new baseball ballpark, Home of the Pirates, showcases the excavations performed before the sports facility was constructed.  The exhibit features four sections; 1) Rags to Riches, the story of General William Robinson; 2) Twin Cities, the story of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City; 3) Wild West, the Native American story; and 4) Unearthing the Past, the archaeologist’s story.
 

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