Community Archchaeology

News

4.28.08 KIDS Program Announcement!
July 14-18 and July 21-25.

This summer you can learn more about archaeology, and how archaeologists study the human past, though our Kids Program, held at Binghamton University.

4.16.08 CAP 2008 Adult Program Announcement!
Dates: July 14-18.

The CAP program will be held at another exciting new location this year! While the details are being ironed out, we know it will be a prehistoric site in the local Susquehanna River Valley. As soon as we have more details about the program you will see them right here.

2.05.07 The CAP program worked on a new site in 2007! It was a great success and a lot of fun! The corn was tall and the units were deep! NEW PHOTOS have been added. Click here to learn about the new location...

1.25.07 The image archive open to the public! Browse our modest (but growing!) catalog of photos from our CAP Program, the Kids Program, Field School, and some pictures from our excavations.

1.10.07 Currently, the Kids Archaeology Program is not being offered by Continuing Education for the Summer of 2007. Check back for updates.

1.05.07 The CAP site is being redesigned! Tell us what you think!

1.05.07 Teachers!

Check out our activities and lesson plans for primary and secondary school students. New activities from SUMMER 2006 will be added soon.

Random Image
from the PAF archives

Looking through the screen.

taken: July 2005

Community Archaeology: CAP Members at Castle Gardens. "Public Archaeology" is emphasized by PAF. It's in our name! Participation in a broad array of community outreach projects provides extensive interaction between archaeologists and lay audiences. PAF has an active role in the New York State's Archaeology Week, as well as routine talks at service clubs, schools, and other organizations on the results of our research. Exhibits and hands-on demonstrationshave been provided to community field day organizers, libraries, and municipal buildings. Currently, an eight-panel travelling exhibiton curated by PAF is available to regional schools and libraries.

   PAF is also a resource for Southern Tier schools. Students make annual field trips to campus to participate in lab tours and hands-on activities with artifacts. We receive frequent invitations to speak at Career Days and Children-to Work-Days, and have prepared a colorful handout for these children's activities.

Projectile Point found at Castle Gardens.    Due to the strong presence of PAF in the local community, there is great interest in visiting, participating in, and volunteering for archaeological investigations. In 1996, PAF founded the Community Archaeology Program (CAP) , which is directed by advanced graduate students. This project provides non- archaeologists (ages 15 to 75) with supervised experience on a real archaeological excavation. Lectures and lab time supplement the field experience. Concurrently each summer, CAP provides a program for students, ages 9-14. Daily sessions include lessons about prehistoric cultures, historic archaeology, instruction on excavation techniques, practice excavations, hands-on activities with real artifacts, and participation in the excavations of a real site.

CAP at the Evans Site.    Due to the continued study of local prehistoric native cultures, outreach to the Native American community is of great importance to PAF. As part of the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), PAF staff and students have assisted Native American tribal representatives with protection of sacred areas, and have assisted with the ceremonial reburial of human remains inadvertently discovered during construction projects and excavations.

   PAF is also an open community resource for information on new discoveries. Each year, staff and students respond to numerous calls from the public asking for assistance in the identification of artifacts found on their properties and elsewhere.