On Saturday the 19th, a small group from the Fort St. Joseph community drove to Lansing for Michigan archaeology day at the history center. This was my first time here and I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I do know that it exceeded my expectations! This was a family friendly, fun, and informative gathering for all the Michigan archaeologists to show off their work.
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| In order from left to right, Shailee, Cece, and Lucy. Photo by Cameron Youngs |
We had our own table for Fort St. Joseph where we got to inform people about our project, and all the exciting artifacts we had discovered this year. I talked to people who had never heard about Fort St. Joseph and told them all about all the amazing archaeology we do at the Fort. We had an artifact case for people to see some of the things we had found, and I noticed that the kids really enjoyed being able to see this display. There was a scavenger hunt where kids were encouraged to explore all the tables to find the ones that had keychains, and if they asked a question, they would get an archaeology-themed keychain. Our table was one of the stops for the scavenger hunt, and we had plenty of kids and adults come by and ask questions about Fort St. Joseph. It made the whole experience more fun because people asked questions they might not have said otherwise, and we got to talk about all different aspects of the project. Many people were excited to hear about our annual open house and all the different activities we have!
Not only did I get to teach people about Fort St. Joseph, but I also got to learn about other projects in Michigan. I found out there is a small project right near my hometown that I didn’t even know about! I got to see all the different universities in Michigan and their field schools. Central had a pretty interesting field school, and some really cool artifacts being shown at their table.
Overall, I had a great time, and this archaeological convention is an amazing time for all types of people and families who are looking for something fun to do on a Saturday! You get to learn about the archaeology in your own state! I know I will be attending again next year, and you should too.
Until next time,
Lucie
