Hello Fort Followers,
My name is James Dunnigan. For those of you that don’t know me, I was an intern for the Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Project during the summer of 2013. That same fall I began my Master’s in Anthropology/Archaeology at Western Michigan University under the advisement of the Project’s own Dr. Michael Nassaney. My thesis focused on the external community of French, English, and métis that formed outside of Fort Michilimackinac after 1760.
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| James excavating at a Phase II Archaic site in 2019. Photo Credit: Unknown. |
From 2014 to 2018, I was an archaeology crew member for Mackinac State Historic Parks at Fort Michilimackinac. I also led a field school in Jamaica in 2016, which focused on the enslaved community of a large sugarcane plantation. In 2019, I started my career in cultural resource management. I spent that spring working across the southeast for HDR Inc. and was very fortunate to have been hired as a full-time permanent archaeology crew chief with them that same summer. Since then, I have worked on Caddo sites in Texas, to 20th century CCC camps in Minnesota, and everything in between.
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| James excavating at Fort Michilimackinac, while he worked for Mackinac State Historic Parks. Photo Credit: Unknown. |
My interest in archaeology stems from an overexposure to historic forts and archaeological sites as a kid. I was lucky to grow up playing in Fort Niagara and Fort Mackinac, probably annoying the archaeologists with all my questions. I have always been interested in the history of the Great Lakes and have loved that archaeology makes history tangible. Sadly, my undergraduate college didn’t have anyone like Dr. Nassaney and the FSJAP to educate emerging archaeologists, so I pursued my interest of colonial history throughout my studies. Eventually, I was able to begin working in the Caribbean and Virginia before joining the FSJAP. During my graduate studies at WMU, I was able to really pursue my passion for colonial archaeology and from there it has been a rollercoaster of archaeology adventures.
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| James working with field students at the Fort St. Joseph site back in 2013. Photo Credit: Unknown. |
Being a part of the FSJAP gave me vital skills that allowed me to prepare for my career – from hands on teaching and supervising of students at the wet-screening station to dealing with all kinds of weather and environments (as I write this I’m deep in the bayous of Louisiana… in July ha ha). Working with a diverse group of people and living in the communal learning environment of the Project really helped me for a career where I am constantly working in close quarters with a rotating staff. The diversity of artifacts at Fort St. Joseph also prepared me for my work with colonial period artifacts. I’m very thankful for my time with the Project, and I have really enjoyed watching the Project grow and produce some great archaeologists over the years – including FSJAP alum Reagan Delmonico who was able to come tech for me this spring!
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| James working with a total station during a Phase II excavation in Texas. Photo Credit: Unknown. |
Things have been a have been a little uncertain this year, but life in CRM is always hectic. I have been fortunate enough to have continued doing field work throughout the pandemic as well as writing reports when “office bound” at home. A lot of the social aspect of archaeology is gone as we adopt new safety measures. I have spent most of the spring and summer on the road running small projects in Oklahoma, Texas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Louisiana. Flying to a project during the height of the pandemic was an experience I never thought I’d have, to say the least (there were only 10 passengers on a 747). Covid-19 has added some new dimensions to how and where we do archaeology, but it is still happening, and that’s what matters. We are beginning to approach archaeology from a lot of different and innovative angles, and on some level that’s exciting. Every day is an adventure, after all!
Stay safe and stay healthy!
James Dunnigan
