On Sunday, May 1, 2011, students from the “Introduction to Archaeological Field Methods” course spoke with New Castle city residents and visitors. On the Water Lot in front of the George Read House the students opened test pits, set up soil screens and wash stations. Display of historical research documents and a survey transit were available to our visitors.
Visitors were invited to help dig a test pit excavation and screen the dirt. Young children especially enjoyed these two activities. Copies of documents, some from the 17th century, showed the visitors who owned the two lots where the archaeology students have been working this semester. People were interested in how ground penetrating radar (GPR) and survey transits helped with archaeology site surveying.
Artifacts from test pits, and the test pits themselves, showed people what has been found by the students in their Friday classes over the past three months. Pieces of broken brick, window glass, pipe stem, ceramic, coal and vessel glass have been removed from the 18-inch diameter test pits. Some of the test pits are over three feet deep where cultural materials are still being found. Many of the day’s visitors were excited to see the artifacts from past centuries.
This Archaeology and the Public event was part of the New Castle Courthouse Museum “First Sunday” activity. We thank the Courthouse State Museum, the George Read Museum and Garden, and Professor Lu Ann DeCunzo for this opportunity to share our archaeological knowledge with more people.
We will be at the New Castle site for the next two Fridays and welcome others to view our work.
University of Delaware anthropology students
Chelsea Cox
Darcy DePetris
Christine Hermann
Leah Sachs
Clay Strickland
Mike Wilson