Category: Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology (Page 1 of 3)

Mitigation Spotlight: Section 106 Agreements, July – December 2024

January 29, 2025 / Barbara Frederick / 2 Comments

This is part of a biannual blog series highlighting the agreement documents executed by PA SHPO in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations.

Two people kneeling in large square hole in a wooded area.

Pennsylvania Archaeology Month is Here

October 2, 2024 / 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.

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.

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 / 1 Comment

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.