Category: Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey (Page 1 of 4)

Spring into Surveyor Updates!

April 3, 2024 / Elizabeth Shultz / 0 Comments

Spring is around the corner, and long-requested updates to Surveyor Manager functionality are the among the first new blooms of the season!

One woman stands on a ladder against a brick wall while another woman holds the ladder.

How Women Shaped Preservation in Pennsylvania

March 27, 2024 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 3 Comments

Several years ago, my colleagues and I at the PA SHPO compiled a history of preservation achievements in Pennsylvania. This interesting trek through the preservation timeline was published in the Winter 2016 issue of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine and was added as a chapter in the current statewide historic preservation plan, #PreservationHappensHere. This week in honor of Women’s History Month, I’m taking a deeper dive into the role of women in Pennsylvania’s preservation accomplishments.

Aerial view of archaeology dig with excavation squares, exposed stones, plywood borders, and people and tools. — Field school excavations in progress around one of the stone hearth foundations uncovered at Fort Halifax (36DA0008).

A Trip Through the PASS: The 2023 Annual PASS Report

February 21, 2024 / Taylor Napoleon / 1 Comment

Now that 2023 is officially in the PASS, let’s look back on another successful year of archaeological site recording and survey efforts throughout Pennsylvania.

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.

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.

PA SHPO’s Keystone Internships for Summer 2023

December 5, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Are you exploring the field of historic preservation and looking for some real-world experience? The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Keystone Internship Program provides opportunities to pursue your professional growth and contribute to sharing Pennsylvania’s rich heritage with the public.

Group of nine people standing in a cemetery. — Meeting at Midland Cemetery, August 2022. From left to right (Dr. Steve Burg (PAHG, Shippensburg University), Erin Emerick (Shippensburg University), Sarah Hoffeditz (Shippensburg University), Ira Beckerman (PAC), Dr. Ben Ford (Indiana University of PA), Barbara Barksdale, Janet Johnson (State Museum), Kim Sebestyen (State Museum), Taylor Napoleon (PA SHPO).

Community Archaeology at Midland Cemetery

October 19, 2022 / Casey Hanson / 2 Comments

Last fall the State Museum of Pennsylvania hosted their annual workshop in archaeology entitled Hidden Stories: Uncovering African American History through Archaeology and Community Engagement. The theme was born out of the acknowledgement that African Americans are vastly underrepresented in the historic record and the representations that are present are typically unfairly biased.

View looing across the Susquehanna River showing river and bordering woods. — PARW017 (36DA0283) as seen from a bridge over the Susquehanna River during an October sunrise. Three Mile Island is visible in the background. Photograph by Frederick Mayhew, 2021.

A Look at the PASS Year: The 2021 Annual PASS Report

February 9, 2022 / Taylor Napoleon / 0 Comments

It’s that time of the year again! Time to report and reflect on another successful year of archaeological site recording efforts throughout Pennsylvania. In 2021, over 300 new archaeological sites were recorded by cultural resource management (CRM) projects, independent and university research projects, Society of Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) members, and long-time avocational archaeologist.