Lycoming College: North American Archaeology

LYCOMING
COLLEGE
Williamsport, PA
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North American Archaeology

Introduction to Canfield Island

Investigated by the chapter for several decades, Canfield Island is considered an archaeological site of great value, for in successive layers of village sites prehistoric cultures left their record in bone, stone, charcoal, and ceramics, which reveal a story of human development. In May 2003, students of Lycoming College participated in the dig and subsequent laboratory work. Their research is being incorporated into a report on the site.

Lycoming College students (North American Archaeology) and Professor Robin Van Auken conducted a May 2003 field school on Canfield Island assisting the Lycoming County Historical Society and the Archaeological Chapter in excavating a series of 12 excavation units.

If you like learning about archaeology, American Indians and their tools, then the North Central Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology would like to hear from you. The chapter, which meets monthly at the Thomas T. Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society, seeks new members to help with its mission to discover and preserve the region's American Indian heritage.

The chapter provides archaeological excavation training sessions for new members and teachers them how to identify artifacts. This season's archaeological dig, which is tentatively slated to begin in May and continue through August, will return to Canfield Island in the Loyalsock Township.

Chapter meetings take place at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the museum, 858 W. Fourth St. More information is available by calling 326-3326.

Above, Jimmy Scott of Little League Baseball Inc. volunteers on a Saturday to help clear the brush from the Canfield Island site (May 3, 2003)

The site, cleared of brush, is raked free of loose roots and signs are posted to inform visitors of the archaeological excavation (May 3, 2003)

Lycoming College students Lee Z., Katy G. and Rebecca J. lay out the grid for their excavation units (May 10, 2003)

Religion Professor Robin Knauth of Lycoming College visits the dig and can't resist picking up a shovel and joining the fun (May 10, 2003)

Lycoming College archaeology students meet for class for a lecture before heading out to Canfield Island (May 11, 2003).

Lycoming College students and historical society volunteers
dig on a rainy Tuesday evening (May 13, 2003).

Andy L. takes soil samples from CISE02 while Lyco students
work in their excavation units (May 23, 2003).

One of the few days it didn't rain (May 23, 2003).

Lee Z., Robin K. and Sean R. check the depth
of an artifact in CISE16(May 23, 2003).

Lee Z. keeps up with the paper work (May 23, 2003).

Jim Bressler begins a new unit and at 56" below datum finds
a dark stain (feature) in the corner (May 27, 2003).