Squirrel Hill Archaeological Field School

Location: New Florence, PA 15944, USA

Season: May 20, 2024 to June 28, 2024

Session Dates: May 20-June 28, 2024

Application Deadline: January 12, 2024

Deadline Type: Rolling

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
This project is an RPA certified field school

Affiliation:
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Project Director:
Lara Homsey-Messer

Project Description:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) is offering ANTH 320/520 (6 cr.) and ANTH 740 (4 cr.) at the National Register listed site of Squirrel Hill, a Late Precontact Monongahela village located on the Conemaugh River near New Florence, PA. Many questions remain to be answered about this site. This summer we will focus on identifying potentially older occupations, determining how large the site is, searching for the central plaza and/or site stockade; and ground-truthing a large rectangular feature that is atypical of known Monongahela villages. Students will gain experience in feature and test unit excavation, shovel testing and compass work, ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey, bucket auguring to evaluate buried surfaces and landscapes, and basic laboratory analysis.

Period(s) of Occupation: Late Prehistoric Johnston-Phase Monongahela

Notes:
4-6 credits at current IUP tuition rate. Housing available through the IUP Office of Housing & Residence Life or can be obtained individually. Transportation provided to site daily from IUP (McElhaney Hall).

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 6 weeks

Minimum Age: 16

Experience Required: none

Room and Board Arrangements:
Housing available through the IUP Office of Housing & Residence Life or can be obtained individually. Transportation provided to site daily from IUP (McElhaney Hall).

Academic Credit:
4-6 credits at current IUP tuition rate. Registration begins March 26, 2024. See https://www.iup.edu/summer/ for instructions for: • IUP students • PASSHE Visiting Students • Non-IUP students: