Category: Archaeology (Page 2 of 16)

What PA Places are on your list?

October 25, 2023 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 2 Comments

Any Pennsylvanian at heart has a list of places in the Keystone State that captures the essence of who we are.

Arrangement of projectile points in an arrow shape. — Riker mount full of jasper Perkiomen/broadspear projectile points. Source: State Museum of Pennsylvania; Dave Burke, photographer; 2023.

Quarrying our Data for Quarry Districts

October 4, 2023 / Kristen Walczesky / 1 Comment

Happy Archaeology Month!

One of the most common objects shown to archaeologists for identification are rocks. Most of the time, these objects just end up being rocks, but sometimes people do find one that has been altered in some way by human hands. These artifacts are called lithics and they can be found all over the United States and throughout the rest of the world.

Three portraits in a row above the words "Welcome to the PA State Historic Preservation Office!"

Meet PA SHPO’s Newest Staff

September 20, 2023 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

I’m happy to introduce you to our newest PA SHPO staffers! We are very excited to have Kristen Walczesky join us as an Environmental Review archaeologist in late 2022 and Marissa Barret as a National Register reviewer and John Wood as the Preservation Incentives manager this year.

Two people crouching in a large dirt hole and surrounded by a forest. — Rhiannon Flaig and Kurt Carr looking at the stratigraphy of a wall at the Shoop Site (36DA0020).

Intern Introspect: 2023 PASS Internship

August 9, 2023 / Guest Contributor / 3 Comments

As I look back at my time here at the PA SHPO, I realized how much new knowledge and experience I have gained. Prior to this internship, I had very little experience in the world of preservation, especially when it came to the bureaucratic level. This internship allowed me to jump into the world of archaeology here at the PA State Historic Preservation Office.

Surficial Archaeology: What is it and how do we do it?

July 12, 2023 / Guest Contributor / 0 Comments

Many Pennsylvania Historic Preservation blog readers are familiar with the results of Year 1 and Year 2 of the Pennsylvania Baseline Survey but did you know that the Pennsylvania Baseline Survey is doing archaeology too? We have adapted to recording not just historic buildings, but also documenting the locations where important buildings once stood.

Two people standing in a field with a wood screen and a shovel. — PA SHPO archaeologists Justin McKeel (left) and Casey Hanson (right) surveying a site in Montgomery County. Surveyor was used to capture this site directly in the field.

Digging into the PASS Year: The 2022 Annual PASS Report

June 7, 2023 / Taylor Napoleon / 0 Comments

Earlier this year, PA SHPO issued its PA Archaeological Site Survey (PASS) report for 2022. Definitely add the PASS report to your “must read” list because it is chock full of interesting information about archaeology in Pennsylvania.

Small stone building with large chimney and arched doors. — A recent Keystone Grant helped stabilize and repair the bosh (the smelting chamber within the furnace structure), which was very deteriorated. Photo from PA SHPO files, July 2023.

Celebrating Hay Creek Valley Historical Association

May 31, 2023 / April Frantz / 0 Comments

As we wrap up National Historic Preservation Month, we are highlighting the last of our 2022 Community Initiative Award winners. In this week’s post, we talked with Mark Zerr, Executive Director of the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association (HCVHA), about their successful efforts to protect and interpret Joanna Furnace.