I am excited to announce this year’s lineup for the virtual Learn at Lunchtime series during October for Archaeology Month. Sign up now for the four free presentations scheduled for Fridays this October.
WYKNT:
- Free, virtual programs on the first four Fridays of October: October 3, 10, 17, and 24.
- Each presentation will begin at 12:15 PM.
- Presentations will last approximately 20 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session.
- Presentations will be held over Zoom and recorded and made available on PHMC’s YouTube Channel.
- Registration is required.
Speakers & Topics:
Here are the informative learning opportunities we have during Archaeology Month this year:
Register for Melanie’s presentation!
Historically, rock art has been only a footnote to Pennsylvania’s below ground archaeology. As a result, more enigmatic aspects of the cultural landscape, including cave art and stone landscapes, were either overlooked, not looked for at all, or dismissed because they did not fit into the accepted concept of how rock art “should” look. This presentation will discuss the approaches used to identify sites, gain insight into known sites, and foster an appreciation of the indigenous communities that shaped their landscape.
Melanie is an Curator at State Historic Preservation Office, Archaeology Curation Section where she assists in the care of collections representing over 16,000 years of Pennsylvania’s past. Her professional interests include increasing awareness, understanding, and interest in Pennsylvania’s past, and its role as a cultural crossroads.
Register for Kelley’s presentation!
For the past 45 years The Archaeological Conservancy has been the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to the permanent preservation of archaeological sites across the country. The sites contained in these preserves range in diversity from the some of the earliest known Paleoindian sites to 20th-century industrial complexes. This talk will highlight the Conservancy’s efforts in Pennsylvania and some of the sites they have protected.
Kelley Berliner began working with The Archaeological Conservancy in 2013 and currently serves as the Eastern Regional Director, managing over 90 properties from Maine south through North Carolina while working to preserve additional sites. Previously she worked as a field archaeologist in the CRM Industry, educator, and museum interpreter in the Eastern United States, Michigan, and Canada. She has a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Historical Archaeology from The College of William and Mary. Her interests include public archaeology, community engagement, preservation, and archaeology of the northeastern United States and Canada.
Register for Steven’s presentation!
Following the Civil War, roads and trails were developed on Little Round Top at Gettysburg National Military Park to support monument construction and visitor access. A recent rehabilitation project aimed to improve this area by adding parking, curbing, and drainage systems; removing and restoring informal trails; installing interpretive signage; and restacking deteriorated Civil War breastworks. Archaeological monitoring was conducted by Stantec throughout the project to document and protect historic features and deposits. Notably, efforts were made to record and preserve the 1890s Telford-type road base, a significant historic feature. Prior to ground disturbance, metal detecting recovered 2,923 artifacts—including Civil War battle items and Commemorative Era objects—with detailed location data recorded for each find.
Steven Brann is a Principal Investigator and Field Director at Stantec, with over 20 years of experience in cultural resource management. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and received his M.A. from Penn State. Mr. Brann has conducted archaeological investigations throughout the United States. He has been using metal detectors in archaeology for 10 years and has worked on several sites related to the Civil War.
Register for Brian’s presentation!
When archaeologists dig into the ground, they often find layers of soil that tell a story about how the landscape has changed over time. One of the most important of these layers is called a buried soil horizon—a former land surface that got covered by later flooding or sediment. These ancient surfaces can show where people once lived, hunted, or traveled. In this talk, we’ll explore how these buried soils form, especially along rivers and streams where flooding and erosion shape the land. This presentation is perfect for anyone curious about how the land preserves clues to ancient human activity—and how soil can be one of archaeology’s best storytellers.
Brian L. Fritz is the Owner and Principal Archaeological Investigator for Quemahoning, LLC, a cultural resources consulting business specializing in geoarchaeology, soil geomorphology, and GIS solutions for complex archaeological projects. He holds a B.S. in geology and a B.A. in Anthropology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Geology from the University of Akron. He is a registered professional archaeologist (RPA) with twenty years of experience in conducting archaeological excavations. As the inventor of the PaleoDigger machine and founder of the ArchaeologyX YouTube Channel, he brings a unique blend of expertise and innovation to the field of First American studies.
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