Southern Connecticut State University students are getting their hands dirty this summer — in the name of history.
In partnership with the Henry Whitfield State Museum in Guilford, Conn., the university’s Archaeology Field School is giving students and community members a rare opportunity to explore one of New England’s oldest homes through active excavation and research. Running July 8 through August 11, the program offers six academic credits and a chance to uncover artifacts spanning thousands of years — from early Native American settlement to the Revolutionary War and beyond.
This summer’s dig includes a few firsts: for the first time, graduate students are joining the team as researchers and mentors, helping shape the season’s goals and supporting undergraduate participants.
Among the mysteries being explored? A centuries-old palisade wall, believed to have been built sometime between the home’s 1639 construction and the 1670s. Students will also investigate items potentially linked to Connecticut’s role in the Revolution, as the state and country prepare to mark its 250th anniversary.
This hands-on experience complements a new M.S. degree in Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management, the only program of its kind in the state, and offers a deeper dive into preservation and cultural stewardship. Click here to learn more: New M.S. Program in Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management is Unique in the State.
More on this story via the Hartford Courant: CT state university students offer hands-on archaeology experience to community
