Archaeology at the

Virginia Museum of Natural History

 
Current research, lab activities, volunteer opportunities, and information from the VMNH Archaeology Department, updated by Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Curator of Archaeology.
 

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Above: 2008 summer intern Joanna Caldwell from Bowdoin College with Colonial era stoneware jug she refit from many small sherds.

Interested in volunteering? Click here to go to the application or send an email. Student volunteers needing community service hours are welcome.http://www.vmnh.net/index.cfm/topic/volunteersmailto:elizabeth.moore@vmnh.virginia.gov?subject=message%20from%20archaeology%20blogmailto:elizabeth.moore@vmnh.virginia.gov?subject=message%20from%20archaeology%20blogshapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2
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Left: Identification of Waterfowl Breastbones and Avian Osteology (Sterna) of North American Anseriformes

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Upcoming Fieldwork Opportunities for ASV Members and Certification Students 1.  Golden Ball Tavern, Petersburg.  Excavations at the Golden Ball Tavern in Old Town Petersburg will occur again this summer from June 16th to July 18th with field excavation conducted each Wed. through Sun. during that period (except July 4th weekend).  Certification credits may be earned in historic period excavation and laboratory analysis.  All participants must register for available time slots during the excavation period. Please contact Dr. Christopher Stevenson to reserve a place on the excavation team (Ph: 804-732-6970; email: cmstevenson23805@gmail.com).  We prefer volunteers who wish to work for a minimum of 2-3 days or longer from 8:30am to 4pm.  This year's excavations will target the kitchen area located behind the 18th century tavern." 2.  Cemetery Workshop, VDHR, Richmond.  Staff at VDHR are developing a cemetery recordation workshop for May that will count toward historic survey hours.  It will also be a good review for the "Laws and Ethics" required course. REGISTER NOW, SEE DHR WEBSITE FOR INFO 3.  Chippokes Plantation, Surry County.  The Passport in Time-VDHR field school saga continues.  Will be held earlier this year, in the summer.  Both prehistoric and historic survey.  Mike Barber and Mike Madden, Directors.  4.  Kittiewan Plantation (ASV's Headquarters, Charles City County): Field school in historic archaeology, June 19th-27th. Will fulfill historic lab hours, historic survey hours, and historic excavation hours.  Additional required courses will be taught.  Directed by Patrick O'Neill.  There will also be a Certification Program Picnic Weekend in late spring.  5.  Mount Vernon:  Continued work on the future site of the Library through August-- sampling plowzone, digging 5 x 5 foot units in a late 18th century domestic site that is probably an unknown slave quarters. Also a Late Archaic prehistoric component.  Counts toward prehistoric and historic survey.  Lab hours also offered.  Directed by Esther White and Curt Breckenridge.  6.  Fairfield Foundation -- Thane Harpole and Dave Brown are offering two field schools (historic excavation credit): Menokin (Warsaw)  field school will be from June 16th-June 23rd and includes both weekend days.  The other field school is at Fairfield (Gloucester County)- July 13th-17th.  Both of these are focused on historic excavation hours.  7.  Wintergreen -- a week of prehistoric site survey in the Virginia Blue Ridge, probably in mid-June.  This will count toward prehistoric survey hours and prehistoric lab hours.  Additional required courses will be taught.  Possible accommodations (free) offered.  Directed by Carole Nash. mailto:cmstevenson23805@gmail.comshapeimage_9_link_0

Do you need to fulfill ASV certification hours in lab work?  You can work on either prehistoric or historic archaeology artifact processing at the VMNH archaeology lab.  Tasks include washing, labeling, and cataloging artifacts, scanning slides, photos, and documents.