Fin. The end.

A letter to all the Fort Followers,

August 11th marked the final day of the WMU field school excavation work at Fort St. Joseph. Everyone has worked extremely hard through insane heat, long days, and the occasional downpour. We shoveled and troweled our way from 21st century Niles, Michigan to 18th century New France. We cleaned and sorted every artifact recovered from the site; each expanding our knowledge of the day-to-day activities of those once lived there. And along the way, we have made friends while hopefully gaining some insight into fort occupants. 

Over the course of the last month, we learned the importance of public archaeology and the impact that has on the Project. The public is the driving factor, and without the public, the story of Fort St. Joseph may never have been told. We strive to inform the community of the work we have done, and continue to do, to promote an understanding of the fort and its residents as well as to increase public interest. These public outreach opportunities not only help inform the local community but also help reinforce the knowledge gained by the students. It is through these interactions that Fort St. Joseph will be remembered as we strive to expand public knowledge of not only the fort, but of the processes that archaeologists use to uncover the past. 

The importance of the field school cannot be overstated. Through the field school, students learn the methods necessary to paint such pictures. We also learn that careful preservation and historical research that can help us do our part to save the past for future generations. We are now able to employ our skills  as we transition from students to professionals in the field of anthropology and archaeology. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the field school and I am overwhelmed by the support and interest that the city of Niles and the public have shown in our findings, it really makes everything worthwhile. I will look back on this experience with fondness and pride because of how my work played a small part in telling the story of Fort St. Joseph.

While the dig season may have closed, the lab season is just beginning. 

John