From Classroom to Field

        The 2023 excavation season at the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project has begun and marks 25 years of WMU excavations at the site. Ten students and one student leader started the field school with two days of introduction materials at Western Michigan University. I joined the field school to further my knowledge in archaeology and to get hands-on experience using excavation techniques. During the first two days, we were introduced to the history and excavation of Fort St. Joseph. We also practiced laying out our units and mapping so we were prepared when we visited the site. Erika Hartley, the director of the Project, took the time to present the material and methods in a way that provided the students with the skills needed to set up our dig units and lay the groundwork for our expanding knowledge of the site. Our goal is to be able to interpret and discuss our findings in the unit. 

The first day on site proved to be very challenging. The site had to be prepared for all the operations we would use to search for knowledge. We do not just dig holes in the dirt; we have to methodically measure and lay out units in such a way that future researchers can look at our paperwork and artifacts and be able to make inferences using that data. It requires careful planning and set up. 

       We do actually dig in the dirt, which we began shortly after setting up. The excitement has been palpable as each unit has found artifacts which makes for a promising season. In addition to troweling and gathering artifacts by hand, we also get to wet screen the material. Wet screening is a process where we take material from the unit and sift it through screens using water. The water breaks up the soil, allowing us to pick out small items that we would otherwise miss. Wet screening is essential at Fort St. Joseph because there are a lot of little artifacts. So far, we have found small bone fragments, seed beads, animal teeth, lead shots, and more. It is important for us to find these things so that we can try to piece together what life was like during the Fort’s occupational period. The students are striving hard to make their mark on the legacy at Fort St. Joseph and answer important questions about the site and the activities of those who used the fort. 

See you all at the Archaeology Open House on August 5 and 6!

- John Simmons