Excavation, Fieldwork and Volunteer Opportunities
Each year, the Archeological Society of Virginia sponsors, participates in or has information about several field events, including excavations, site survey, site testing, certification programs and other means of hands-on archaeology.. These opportunities are usually conducted by another organization, such as the United States Forest Service or a College or University, such as Longwood College. They are a great opportunity to learn more about excavation, artifact identification and processing, as well as the historic or prehistoric time period during which the archeological site was occupied.
In addition, several chapters have on-going training digs, surveys, artifact processing and analytical projects that need participants. Contact the Chapters nearest your area for details.
Click here for scenes from past year's ASV/PIT field school.
2011 FIELD SCHOOL AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
2011 Kittiewan Excavation Opportunities
The ASV 2011 archeological season at Kittiewan began in early March. Attention initially focused on areas south and west of the manor house where proposed landscaping activities would disturb possible archeological features or deposits. An initial round of shovel testing, completed in April, revealed two areas of interest: a concentration of early 19th century artifacts southwest of the manor house, and a brick feature (foundation or walkway) about 100 ft west of the manor house. Archeological work, including additional shovel testing and excavation of test units, will continue through the summer to investigate these areas further.
ALL interested ASV members are invited to participate in this work. Members currently enrolled in the certification program are particularly encouraged to attend; they can earn both excavation and laboratory credits.
Excavation dates planned through mid-summer are (weather permitting):
May 14 and May 28 (Saturdays)
June 11 (Saturday)
July 9 (Saturday)
CERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITY
Huntsberry Farmstead, Frederick County, Virginia:
Test Excavation 2011
******
Thursday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 28, 2011
(Meets Requirements for Historic Excavation)
Background
By the 19th century, the Huntsberrys were well-established along Red Bud Run and made up a segment of the agrarian landscape of Frederick County, Virginia. The property was first ceded to the Jacob Huntsberry from Lord Fairfax in 1762. The Huntsberry farmstead unwillingly became a part of a different landscape on September 19, 1864, when it became ensconced in the Middle Field, a site along with First Woods and Second Woods, where 1500 men were killed or wounded in one battle of Third Winchester Civil War Campaign. The Confederate General Jubal Early occupied Winchester but Union General Phillip Sheridan's troops were marching on the city from Berryville to the west. Slowed by the Berryville Canyon, the wagon train bogged down and the element of surprise was lost. Early moved his troops south to meet the Union attack and Sheridan countered by sending a portion of his troops north to meet the Confederates. The armies met along Red Bud Run with fierce hand-to-hand combat ensuing. It has been suggested that Huntsberry House acted as a Union hospital after the military engagement which is likely true as most standing structures which survived were used as such. Click here to get the Word flyer and application.
Contacts:
Mike Barber(540 857-6341)
Department of Historic Resources
2801 Kensington Ave., Richmond 23221.
Passport In Time:
Mike Madden (540 265-5212)
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
5162 Valleypointe Parkway
Roanoke, Virginia 24019
Certification Program:
Carole Nash (540 568-6805)
Geographic Science Program
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Bruce Baker (804-339-1864)
10290 Reed Rock Road
Amelia, VA 23002
DHR ROANOKE REGIONAL OFFICE
Volunteers are accepted for a variety of projects. Will work with certification participants. Contact Tom Klatka at 540/857-6047
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Certification students and volunteers needed to work in the archaeology department cataloguing, rehousing, labeling and photographing artifact collections and working in the department library. Volunteers interested in zooarchaeology can assist with ongoing research projects and learn the basics of faunal identification and analysis. Contact Elizabeth Moore at 276/666-8634 or the VMNH and follow links to the archaeology lab blog.