Hello all! My name is Meghan Williams and I was a part of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project from the Summer of 2017 till the Spring of 2019. I played a few roles in the Project (field student, public outreach coordinator, and museum intern), and I deeply enjoyed my overall experience with the Project. In July 2017, I was a student during the 42nd Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Field School. That is when I fell in love with archaeology and knew I would want to pursue it as a career. I graduated from Western Michigan University in December of 2017, and that following summer I was one of the public outreach coordinators for the 2018 field season. Afterwards I decided to stay with the Project a bit longer as the museum intern until the spring of 2019. My time with the Project has exposed me to so many different experiences, and has taught me so much about archaeological techniques, public engagement, disseminating information, and curation work.
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| Meghan Williams excavating during the at Fort St. Joseph in 2017. Photo by Emily Fletcher. |
During my time with the Project I had the opportunity to meet incredible archaeologists and many others who shared a passion for history. I have made lifelong friends, and those I know I can rely on to help me with my research and future career, because they are always available to answer my questions or proofread my work. One of those individuals is Emily Fletcher, who was my pit partner in the 2017 Archaeological Field School. She has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and even recommended her study abroad university when I was applying for my master’s programs. One of my fondest memories of field school was with her. We were incredible pit partners because we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses and used that to our advantage. For example, she was much better at drawing the level maps than me, so when we had to map a level I would measure and plot, and she would draw. We were a very efficient team, in that sense. I enjoyed excavating and swapping stories with her. She told me about the University of Aberdeen and her adventures in Scotland. It was both inspiring and encouraging to hear about archaeology in other parts of the world and how it is done. We are now both pursuing a master’s degrees under the large dome of archaeology. She is currently at Purdue University studying Digital Archaeology, whereas I am at the University of Aberdeen studying Osteoarchaeology.
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Meghan Williams and Emily Fletcher during the 2017 Archaeological Field School. It had been a long hot day! Photo by Meghan Williams.
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Before I move onto my current studies, I have one more memory I would like to share. Ele Hein and I were the public outreach coordinators for the 2018 Archaeological Field School. We got on like two peas in a pod, and I am forever thankful for her patience and hard work. FSJAP is a wonderful project and it is not always the glamour of the field, or invigorating discussions at the lecture series, but sometimes it is the mundane more behind-the-scenes work. We spent many hours working side by side at the Stables, library or museum and I am very fond of those memories. We spent many hours working on banners, flyers, pamphlets, and it was during that time that my work ethic and time management really blossomed. It is interesting to look back now and be proud of those stressful times; however, we beat those hurdles and I have a killer work ethic now.
I am currently completing my MSc in Osteoarchaeology at the University of Aberdeen. Right now, I am working on my master’s dissertation and I am set to graduate in November. I love living in Scotland and learning about their history through archaeology. Archaeology has this wonderful aspect in its ability to tell unknown stories. I have learned so much here and I am excited to continue learning about the world through archaeology. The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project has given me many opportunities and I am thankful for all of the skills I have learned. My time as public outreach coordinator and museum intern greatly assisted in my ability to communicate and disseminate archaeology to the public. To me archaeology is ultimately for the public, and one needs to have the skills in communicating our knowledge in a way that the public can understand. Fort St Joseph has taught me how to hone these skills, as well as fuelling my interest in public archaeology.
I hope everyone is staying safe during these uncertain times.
Best,
Meghan
