IUP will offer an Archaeological Field School this summer from May 20 to June 28, 2024, at the National Register listed site of Squirrel Hill (36Wm0035), located in New Florence, Pennsylvania.
The 2016 and 2022 archaeological field schools confirmed the presence of a Johnston-phase occupation (ca. 1590 A.D.), revealed at least two earlier potential cultural components (ca. 1300 A.D. and 400 A.D.), and demonstrated that the actual site boundaries extend beyond the current Archaeological Conservancy’s landholdings. Excavations also indicated that occupation of the site was more complex than initially believed.
Of particular interest, ground penetrating radar identified a large rectangular structure significantly different in both size and shape from typical Monongahela domestic structures.
This summer’s field school will focus on clarifying the nature of the pre-Johnston Phase occupations, determining how large the site was, finding the central plaza and/or site stockade; and ground-truthing the rectangular structure identified in 2016.
The field school will combine traditional excavation techniques with geophysical survey, shovel testing, and soil coring. Three courses are offered: 1) ANTH 320 (6 cr.), designed for undergraduates; 2) ANTH 520 (6 cr.), designed for graduate students with minimal or no previous experience; and 3) ANTH 740 (4 cr.), designed for advanced graduate students seeking supervisory experience. ANTH 740 students will design an independent research objective and supervise a small crew of undergraduate students to address their research question.
Class will run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. Transportation to and from the site will be provided by IUP, with rides leaving from McElhaney Hall. Housing is available through the IUP Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining or can be obtained individually in town.
A Public Archaeology Day is being planned for those who wish to see the site (and get their hands dirty!) but not register for the entire course. For more information or an application, please contact Lara Homsey-Messer (lmesser@iup.edu) or Bill Chadwick (wchadwic@iup.edu) or call the IUP Department of Anthropology at 724-357-2841. Additional information on previous Squirrel Hill excavations can be found on the project website.
Photograph: Students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (left) and California University of Pennsylvania (right) smile from their unit at the 2016 IUP archaeological field school.