Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project
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WMU Field School
The 2010 field season will see the continuation of the second decade of investigations of the remains of Fort St. Joseph, a mission, garrison, and trading post complex occupied from 1691 to 1781 by the French and British in Niles, MI. Excavations at the site under the auspices of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project since 2002 have uncovered various features including structural remains in the form of fireplaces and hearths, and a midden or trash deposit, and thousands of artifacts dating to the 17th and 18th centuries that reflect the fort's religious, military, and commercial functions.
Students will receive instruction in fieldwork methods and laboratory procedures in the classroom prior to entering the field and gaining hands-on experience. In addition, they will learn about the historical context of Fort St. Joseph, the fur trade and colonialism, and the complex interactions of Europeans and Natives on the frontier. Upon entering the field, work will continue in the vicinity of previously discovered features in order to expose the remains of buildings to determine the identities of their occupants. Students will clean and sort excavated artifacts in daily laboratory sessions and create a preliminary inventory.
The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project also sponsors a public education and outreach program. Field school students will help instruct and work alongside adult, teacher, and high school student participants in week-long archaeology summer camps. The field season will also include a two-day archaeology open house in which students will interpret the archaeology and history of the fort to visitors to the site. This event has attracted close to 2000 visitors in past years and included lectures, an outdoor museum, site tours, historical reenactments, period music and food.
The 2010 field school represents a unique opportunity to participate in an award-winning community archaeology program, while gaining practical field and laboratory experience.