I’m a environmental archaeologist, so I read the soils. Please, of you ever find something that you can’t plunk off the surface, note the location and call someone. Digging it up contaminates so much information it would make your mind boggle. We peel it back and sample to get the record over time. The soil records what happened which tell the history of the object. It’s where we get the most information.
We all have GPS units in our pockets these days, so noting the location should not be a problem. Sadly, where I live, the archaeology has pretty much all been plowed out long ago. Someday I will find a way to take part in a dig that allows amateurs like me. I would love it so much. Even if it was just a 1x1 test pit, I’d be over the moon.
You’re in the US, yes? Look for your local AIA chapter. Their events are generally open to the public and are great for hobbiests. https://www.archaeological.org/programs/societies/find/ Most do an annual project in the summer including weekends. There’s also a field school search on that site that shows more established public digs, but these can sometimes be expensive. Many are free.
Sadly, this is the one relatively near me. As you can see, they have done almost nothing. I don’t know what there is left to dig in Indiana at this point unless you’re talking urban archaeology.
You’d be surprised!!! Email them and ask how to get involved. The groups usually do pretty regional stuff and will know what’s going on. The digs usually aren’t listed on that site, just talks. Indiana likely has quite a lot. Plowing doesn’t make a huge difference, there’s still a lot deeper than they’d hit as far as occupation records go. Soil accumulation can be surprisingly fast.
That’s a search but definitely doesn’t include everything. There’s much more than these. Local museums, probably whoever is in collections are also places to ask. Ohio has a ton of mounds too which may have volunteer work.
I’m a environmental archaeologist, so I read the soils. Please, of you ever find something that you can’t plunk off the surface, note the location and call someone. Digging it up contaminates so much information it would make your mind boggle. We peel it back and sample to get the record over time. The soil records what happened which tell the history of the object. It’s where we get the most information.
Even if it is right on the surface, note the location and call someone. Don’t move it unless it’s at risk.
We all have GPS units in our pockets these days, so noting the location should not be a problem. Sadly, where I live, the archaeology has pretty much all been plowed out long ago. Someday I will find a way to take part in a dig that allows amateurs like me. I would love it so much. Even if it was just a 1x1 test pit, I’d be over the moon.
You’re in the US, yes? Look for your local AIA chapter. Their events are generally open to the public and are great for hobbiests. https://www.archaeological.org/programs/societies/find/ Most do an annual project in the summer including weekends. There’s also a field school search on that site that shows more established public digs, but these can sometimes be expensive. Many are free.
Sadly, this is the one relatively near me. As you can see, they have done almost nothing. I don’t know what there is left to dig in Indiana at this point unless you’re talking urban archaeology.
You’d be surprised!!! Email them and ask how to get involved. The groups usually do pretty regional stuff and will know what’s going on. The digs usually aren’t listed on that site, just talks. Indiana likely has quite a lot. Plowing doesn’t make a huge difference, there’s still a lot deeper than they’d hit as far as occupation records go. Soil accumulation can be surprisingly fast.
https://www.archaeological.org/fieldwork/caa-summer-adult-field-school/
There’s an event a few hours away that have a few probably weekend stints if you care for a mini get away
https://www.archaeological.org/programs/professionals/fieldwork/afob/
That’s a search but definitely doesn’t include everything. There’s much more than these. Local museums, probably whoever is in collections are also places to ask. Ohio has a ton of mounds too which may have volunteer work.
That is way too far a drive for a weekend trip. A good 5 hours from me. But I’ll look around and see what else is going on. Thanks.
(Edited my comment.)