Category: Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (Page 1 of 2)

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.

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.

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.

PA SHPO Special Announcement: We’re Hiring a Review Archaeologist!

April 30, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a Historic Preservation Specialist to serve as a Review Archaeologist to work between disciplines and advance SHPO priorities. This position is ideal for a detail oriented and flexible preservation professional with a knowledge of state historic preservation programs.

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.

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.

Forest with large boulders — Alpenglow Rockshelter with opening at western end. Photo by Dave Gutkowski.

A Rockshelter Awakens

April 29, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 12 Comments

Four years of background research and two years of carefully documented shovel test pits finally came to fruition on August 1, 2019.

March Marker Mania 2020

March 25, 2020 / Karen Galle / 2 Comments

Soon there will be some new markers out there for you to brake for!

Earlier this month, PHMC approved twenty-four new historical markers for an amazing range of subjects that highlight even more interesting Pennsylvania facts and figures.

The Society at 90: Celebrating the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s 90th Year with a Look at the Present and the Future!

October 9, 2019 / Guest Contributor / 0 Comments

This Archaeology Month, we are celebrating the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s 90^th year. As part of that celebration, we are taking over the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office’s Blog for two weeks. Last week we looked at how the society was founded, and this week we are going to see what the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) looks like today. For those of you who are curious about archaeology, want to learn more, and would love the opportunity to get involved with the SPA, this blog post is for you!

The Society at 90: Celebrating the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s 90th Year with a Look Back at our Beginnings

October 2, 2019 / Guest Contributor / 0 Comments

In 1929, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (SPA) was formed to promote the study of archaeology within the Commonwealth. Throughout the history of the SPA, up to and including today, the SPA has provided a forum for amateur and professional archaeologists to work together, share their findings, and piece together the archaeology of Pennsylvania.