|
Vermont Agency of Transportation Archaeological and Historic Resources |
|
Vermont Agency of Transportation Archaeological and Historic Resources |
[ ABOUT US ]
[ CURRENT EVENTS ]
[ ARCHIVES ]
[ CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO SECTION 106 REVIEW ]
[ ARCHAEOLOGY LINKS ] [ HISTORIC LINKS
]
[
ENVIRONMENTAL HOME PAGE]
Archaeology and Public Outreach |
Click on photos for
larger image.
|
A long term public outreach effort was included as part of a 1.5 million dollar packet to mitigate the impact of the planned Chittendon County Circumferential Highway (CCCH) project on archaeological resources in its path.
Beginning in 1984, the University of Vermont's (UVM) Consulting Archaeology Program (CAP) began work identifying, recording, and then mitigating 79 archaeological sites identified during preliminary surveys of the planned highway corridor.
Site VT-CH-201, located in Colchester, Vermont, was one of the sites identified and later chosen for this public outreach effort. Archaeologists working at the site believe Native Americans used it as a temporary camp, perhaps while transporting their canoes between Mallets Bay, on Lake Champlain, and the Winooski River. Its location midway between these two bodies of water would have made the site a perfect resting spot along the way. Artifacts recovered from the site include lithic debitage, ceramic sherds, and calcined bone. Research at the site is ongoing, however identification and analysis of the artifacts, and radiocarbon dating have bracketed the site's occupation between 2,500 B.C. to A.D. 1000 or between the Late Archaic and Woodland periods. CAP coordinated the outreach effort over a 2-week period in June, 2001 in conjunction with the University of Vermont's Field School in Archaeology, a 6 credit course for undergraduates. The site was ideal for public outreach as it remains today pretty much as it would have looked 1,000 or more years ago. The area is wooded and surrounded with many natural landmarks including a small stream. The year 2002 marked the second year in a row for public outreach at this site. CAP organized a more broad and inclusive program. Included were two, one week long Archaeology Field Camps for 8-12 year olds, public visitation days, and opportunities for adult volunteers to excavate at the site. All told, the outreach program was a huge success. Over the two-week period there were 57 volunteers, 150 visitors, and 39 children enrolled in the weeklong day camps. Public announcements in local newspapers, and television stations helped to advertise the event and interest a wide range of individuals in the program. The summer field school programs were developed in coordination with the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VAOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), UVM CAP, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (VDHP); FHWA and VAOT provided the funding. According to John Crock, UVM Field School Instructor and Director of the UVM Consulting Archaeology Program (CAP), public outreach efforts such as this one are extremely important. "So much archaeological work gets done here in Vermont and across the country that never reaches the public and much of the research is public sponsored. We need to get the younger generation supportive of archaeology and educate them about the past, which is a shared heritage of Vermont." This public outreach effort has allowed students, parents and visitors to understand the importance of this kind of research prior to road construction. The Circumferential Highway is badly needed in order to reduce traffic congestion and many archaeological sites in its path will be destroyed. But thanks to generous funding and support from VAOT and FHWA, the information contained within these sites will be saved for posterity and the memory of Site VH-CH-201 will remain forever lodged in the minds of those who visited, studied and worked there. Article and photos by Catherine Glidden, Archaeologist, Federal Highway Administration. Return to Archaeology and Historic Resources Home Page |
