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.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.

Note: the following event listings are organized by region.
 

• Northeast
• Southeast
• Central
• West
• Northwest
• Sponsors

Northeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Forks of the Delaware Chapter 14

Event: How To Register Archaeological Sites
Date & Time: Thursday, 5 October, 8 PM
Location: Palmer Township Library, Northampton County. Directions can be found at Chapter 14's web page at the Siftings web site - www.siftings.com.
Contact: James Wosochlo, Phone: 610-442-5622, Email: jimwosochlo@yahoo.com
Description: This will be a working session to demonstrate how to prepare archaeological site registration forms for sites in Pennsylvania, including working with topographic maps, county soil surveys, determination of UTM coordinates, and other information needed to complete the form. Participants are encouraged to bring information about sites they have discovered.

Southeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - John Shrader Chapter 21

Event: Hay Creek Valley Historical Association’s (HCVHA) Apple Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, 14 October, 7 AM-4 PM
Location: Joanna Furnace, Route 10 near Morgantown, Berks County
Contacts: Cathy Spohn, President, Chapter 21 Phone  610-678-1274 (home) or 610-205-6711; Email cspohn@state.pa.us;  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 wheelwright shop will be open for visitors to see.  Admission is free and parking is on site.

SPA Chapter 21 will also have an information stand at HCVHA’s annual Fall Festival that runs from Friday, September 8 through Sunday, September 12, 2005, 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 an archaeology for kids program, living history presentations, antique cars and agricultural machinery, a Civil War encampment, music and other attractions.  The funds raised go to sponsor archaeology and restoration at Joanna Furnace. Besides a new exhibit in the Charcoal Barn, our dig site at the Wheelwright Shop will be in operation.

Central

Bureau for Historic Preservation / Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

Event: Fort Hunter Excavation.
Date & Time: Monday, 11 September - Sunday 1 October, Open to the public during weekdays from 9:30 to 3:30.
Location: Fort Hunter, 5 miles north of Harrisburg
Description: The Bureau for Historic Preservation will be involved in an archaeological investigation of Fort Hunter, the site of a French and Indian War supply fort.  A remote sensing investigation has been conducted and our project will include test excavations in hopes of locating remains of the fort.   On 9/17, the park will sponsor Fort Hunter Days which will attract 5000 visitors and on 10/1, the park will sponsor Pennsylvania Indians Festival Day which will attract 1500 visitors. For both of these annual events, there will be a wide variety of other exhibits available to the public. 

State Museum of Pennsylvania

Event: " Exploring Pennsylvania's Native American Heritage "
Date & Time: 14 October, 9 AM - 5 PM; Reception 5 - 6:30 PM
Location: The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Fee: To be determined, pending outcome of grant application.
Contact: For more information, call Steve Warfel, Senior Curator, Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania at 717-783-2887 or email at swarfel@state.pa.us .
Description: This day-long program will explore Pennsylvania's Native American heritage through the eyes of Native American speakers, archaeologists, and historians.  Informative discussion sessions will examine Native American Origins, ExplorePAhistory.com, Caring for Native American Collections, Cultures in Contact, The Carlisle Indian School, and Teaching Native American History.  Daniel Richter, historian and author of Native American's Pennsylvania, will present a keynote address. Throughout the day members of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. will exhibit private artifact collections and various films will be shown featuring Native American culture and archaeology.  Other activities include a demonstration of Native American tool manufacture and tours of The State Museum's Anthropology and Archaeology Gallery and the museum's archaeology lab and storage facility.  A reception and book-signing by numerous program presenters will close the day.

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Bald Eagle Archaeological Society, SPA Chapter 24

Event: Spring Creek Day, hosted by the ClearWater Conservancy.
Date & Time: Sunday September 17, Noon - 5:00 PM
Location: Milbrook Marsh Nature Center, 614 Puddintown Road, State College, PA.
Contact: For more information on the archaeological activities contact Mary Alice Graetzer 814-238-5239 or Meli Diamanti diamanti@ahcinc.biz . For more information on Spring Creek Day or the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, see www.clearwaterconservancy.org/springcreekday.htm
Description: The Bald Eagle Archaeological Society will host a table with information on artifact identification and chapter activities. We will also hold a popular demonstration of artifact excavation, processing, and analysis.

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Conejohela Chapter, SPA Chapter 28 (Lancaster & York County)

Event: Safe Harbor Petroglyph Day
Date & Time: Saturday, October 8, 10 AM - 4 PM (Rain Date: October 9)
Location: Safe Harbor Dam, Powerhouse Road, Conestoga (Lancaster County), PA
Contact: For more information contact Paul Nevin, 717 252-4177 or Chapter28SPA@aol.com
Description: This one day celebration of the rich rock art tradition on the lower Susquehanna River features large format photos, an 8 x 20 foot rendering of the Little Indian Rock Petroglyphs, lectures, demonstrations, and local Indian artifacts. Visitors can also bring their own artifacts to be identified.

 

West

Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation

Event: Apple Butter Day at the Vicary House with an Archaeology Display and Excavation
Location: Vicary Mansion, Feedom, Pa.
Date & Time: October 21, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Amanda Valko, AVALKO@mbakercorp.com or Brenda Applegate, rbappleg1@comcast.net
Description: Tour the stone mansion built by Capt. William Vicary circa 1826.  Learn how apple butter is made the old fashion way over an open wood fire.  There will be archaeology displays including artifacts excavated from within the house.  Watch archaeologists uncover the buried mysteries of the Vicary House.

Northwest

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - North Fork Chapter, SPA Chapter 29

Event: Annual Archaeology Show
Date & Time: Saturday, September 30th from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Location: Clarion Holiday Inn (Exit 62 - Interstate 80)
Fee: The event is open to the public with admission set at $3.00 for all attendees age 12 and older.
Description: Exhibitors from Pennsylvania and New York will display some of the finest privately held large groupings of prehistoric and historic Native American relics from this region.  Exhibits include flint tools and points, ground stone items, pipes, beadwork and pottery.  In addition to exhibiting, these individuals will be available throughout the day to answer questions about their hobby and provide free identification of artifacts brought in by the public.

Other daylong activities will include a series of short educational slide and lecture programs on various topics of local fieldwork excavations and artifacts presented by regional archaeologists, demonstrations by craftsman skilled in working with flint to make stone tools and points.

A sanctioned atlatl (spearthrower) competition for will be held outdoors along with demonstrations and hands on practice for beginners wishing to learn the use of spears thrown with this handheld device used for thousands of years prior to the invention of the bow and arrow. The Pennsylvania game commission is currently considering a policy which would permit the use of this weapon as a legal hunting device.

Books and other educational items about  local Native American culture will be available for sale by the sponsoring organizations and some of the event participants.  An afternoon drawing for door prizes will also be held.  

Department of History and Anthropology, Edinboro University of PA

Event: Open House, Fort LeBoeuf Museum
Location: Waterford, PA
Date & Time: Every Saturday and Sunday in October, Noon to 4 PM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814) 732-2570 or wolynec@edinboro.edu
Description: Archaeological displays at the museum include remains from the beaver trade, WPA excavations in the late 1930s, 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, Archaeological Excavations - The Search for the Original Footprint of Academy Hall
Location: Edinboro University of PA, in front of Cole Auditorium
Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Thursday, October 3 - 19, 10:00 AM to Noon
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814) 732-2570 or wolynec@edinboro.edu
Description: As part of the sesquicentennial celebration of the founding of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, students enrolled in the Archaeological Field Studies Program will be searching for evidence of the first location of Academy Hall, the earliest building on campus.  Members of the general public are welcome to observe students as they conduct archaeological excavations.  Groups are requested to make reservations in advance.  There is no admission charge.

Event: Lecture -  "The Archaeological Past in Jeopardy"
Location: Hendricks Hall 126, Main Campus, Edinboro University of PA, Edinboro, PA
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 4, 6 PM to 7:15 PM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, 814-732-2570 or wolynec@edinboro.edu
Description: The discussion and activities will center on videos which show the destruction of archaeological sites.  There is no admission charge.

Archaeology Month Sponsors

Many organizations and businesses have made financial contributions to the Archaeology Month Fund. Their assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

There are numerous websites where you can find further information about archaeology in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Archaeological Council            
Bureau for Historic Preservation
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission  / PennsylvaniaArchaeology.com
PennArchaeologyMonth.org