Archaeology Field School

Triple-tier waterfall in the middle of a lush green forest with large stone pillars on the left side

Built in the early-19th century, remains of John Stoddart's gristmill still stand alongside the Great Falls of the Lehigh River in northeast Pennsylvania.

Kutztown University regularly offers an archaeology field school in the summer, providing opportunities for students to get their hands dirty as they uncover traces of the lives of those who lived in eastern Pennsylvania hundreds or thousands of years ago. Previous field seasons have focused on the site of Stoddartsville, best known as the site of an early-19th century milling village in northeast Pennsylvania. Fieldwork conducted by the Kutztown University Archaeology Field School has included mapping a historic cemetery, pedestrian survey, geophysical survey (with Dr. Laura Sherrod), and excavations in the general store, workers' cabins, and Stoddart's mansion. Analysis of the artifacts recovered from Stoddartsville is ongoing. Students have presented the results of their fieldwork and artifact analyses at local, regional, and national conferences.

This time around, the field school will focus on the KU Site, a prehistoric site on the campus of Kutztown University. The field school will be offered as 2 two-week sessions run back-to-back in August 2021. Students can enroll in one or both sessions: ANT 263 (August 2-13) and/or ANT 264 (August 16-27). Students will either commute to the site or stay in housing on campus and have access to the dining halls. Room and board will be paid for by the project. If you are interested in participating in the archaeology field school, please complete the KUAFS (2021) Student Form and return it to Dr. Khori Newlander (newlander@kutztown.edu) by Friday, July 16, 2021. 

Student collecting soil from a taped-off area and depositing it in a bright yellow bucket

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Uncovering evidence of the Stoddartsville General Store

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Looking for evidence of the millhands who worked at Stoddartsville

Group of students digging in a taped-off area.

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Excavating in the Stoddart Mansion

Two female students gather specimen from a dig site while two male students take notes on the ground above

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Excavating in the Stoddart Mansion

Student in the foreground takes pictures of three other students who are examining stones in the background

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Mapping grave markers in the Stoddartsville Cemetery

Student pushing a cart with a scanning computer through a field

Archaeological Fieldwork at Stoddartsville

Conducting geophysical survey in the Stoddartsville Cemetery

Student collecting soil from a taped-off area and depositing it in a bright yellow bucket
Group of students digging in a taped-off area.
Two female students gather specimen from a dig site while two male students take notes on the ground above
Student in the foreground takes pictures of three other students who are examining stones in the background
Student pushing a cart with a scanning computer through a field

For more information about the field school, contact Dr. Khori Newlander (newlander@kutztown.edu, Old Main Room 459) in the Department of Anthropology & Sociology.