Archaeology

Humans have lived in North America for more than 10,000 years, but the written history of the continent goes back fewer than 500.

What were people doing during those prehistoric years? How and where did they live? What parts of their environments did they use?

Artifacts and features (stains in the soil) are all that remain of these first inhabitants. Archaeologists systematically recover these materials and describe and analyze them.

Using these physical clues, archaeologists can re-create the lifeways of these vanished societies.

The Museum’s archaeologists focus their research primarily on the Native American societies of the Ohio region prior to A.D. 1650.

Read more about the 2009 Field School at the Heckleman site in Blogging Archaeology. This blog also contains information on the 2008 work at the Burrell Orchard site, and the 2007 work at the Danbury site. It will also continue to cover current lab work and other archaeology projects that are developing.

The Department of Archaeology offers programs giving an opportunity for a more in-depth look at the discipline.  The Archaeology in Action program allows museum members to participate in an actual archaeological dig.  Undergraduate students interested in a paid summer internship in this discipline are encouraged to investigate the Adopt-A-Student program.