Category: Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey (Page 2 of 4)

Antol’s Drive In, Montrose, Susquehanna County. Photo by Markosky Engineering Group, October 2021.

Baseline Survey: An Essential Ingredient in Our Preservation Pantry

December 22, 2021 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 0 Comments

There are some time-honored recipes in the historic preservation cookbook. The most successful, and dare I say scrumptious, preservation medleys include an essential ingredient – survey. Survey in the historic preservation profession is like the flour in your favorite holiday desserts.

Without survey, many preservation projects are challenged to rise to a superior outcome, just like a cake. My mind just might be overflowing with visions of sugar plums and cookies this holiday season, so I’ll do my best to refrain from too many more baking similes while I share initial Year 1 outcomes from the PA SHPO’s Baseline Survey effort. I think you’ll be as excited about the results as we are!

Two adults standing next to tall metal marker as third adult claps hands. — Sue Yenchko celebrates the unveiling of the marker with other Lemoyne Borough Council members, June 2021.

Uncovering the Susquehannock Village at Lemoyne

November 3, 2021 / Andrea L. MacDonald / 4 Comments

November is Native American Heritage Month. The month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.

One way we can learn about indigenous peoples is through archaeology. Archaeology can help expand the Native American voice beyond what’s written in history textbooks and grow our respect for the people who came before us.

Archaeology Month in Pennsylvania – 2021 Version

October 6, 2021 / Casey Hanson / 0 Comments

October is Pennsylvania Archaeology Month! Every October, events and programs are held across Pennsylvania to celebrate the commonwealth’s deep past.

Artifacts recovered from (36FO0367) including biface (l), phallic object (c), and Meadowood point (r).

The 2020 PASS Report

March 10, 2021 / Noël Strattan / 0 Comments

For the past several years, PA SHPO archaeologists have issued an annual report – known as the PASS Report – detailing the ongoing efforts to record Pennsylvania’s archaeological sites.

Despite 2020’s many challenges, over 280 new archaeological sites were recorded thanks to cultural resource management (CRM) projects and continued contributions from independent research projects, members of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA), and long-time avocational archaeologists.

PA-SHARE logo

PA-SHARE Basics: Wizards, Submissions and Projects

February 9, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Today’s PA-SHARE Basics topic focuses on the process of sending information to PA SHPO through the PA-SHARE system. This process is governed largely through Wizards, Submissions and Projects.

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PA-SHARE Basics: The Glossary

February 2, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

PA-SHARE is scheduled to be released to external users later this month! In preparation, our weekly posts will begin to cover some basic, what-you-need-to-know information.

Today’s post will cover some important key terms that will be helpful to understand when using PA-SHARE.

Kicking Off PA SHPO’s Baseline Survey Effort

January 13, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 3 Comments

PA SHPO is kicking off a three-year effort to collect baseline survey information about thousands of older and historic places across a huge part of Pennsylvania.

People sitting and standing around table with laptop computer. — PA SHPO archaeologist Noel Strattan (seated) and Casey Hanson (standing at back) talking about site recording at the 2019 Workshops in Archaeology at the State Museum in Harrisburg. Photo by Don Giles, PHMC.

From SPA to PHMC and Back Again – One Archaeologist’s Journey

October 21, 2020 / Noël Strattan / 2 Comments

I grew up in Western Pennsylvania – mostly Somerset County. Everywhere around me there was evidence that we were not the first people to inhabit this land.