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Public Archaeology

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Gloucester County Archaeology Day For Veterans | June 18, 2023

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The Gloucester County Chapter of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey in concert with Gloucester County Parks and Recreation Department continued with their fourth scheduled public dig at the Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, N.J. on Sunday, June 18, 2023. The Public Dig program is headed by Rowan’s Public History Professor and curator of the Red Bank Battlefield, Dr. Jennifer Janofsky and lead archaeologist Wade Catts, President of South River Heritage Consulting.

The Gloucester County Chapter posted this update on their Facebook page:

What beautiful weather to close out 4 amazing “Public Dig Days” hosted by the Gloucester County Department of Parks & Recreation. Members of the (Gloucester County) Chapter of ASNJ had another productive day unearthing artifacts from historic Fort Mercer in National Park, N.J. In addition to our club members, we are thankful to the many local Archeologists who volunteered their time and knowledge to assist in this public history event! A special thanks to Dr. Jennifer Janofsky - Rowan Professor of Public History and Curator of Red Bank Battlefield along with Wade Catts, Archeologist and President of South River Heritage Consulting who have coordinated this popular public participation event for a second year!

Be sure to follow the Gloucester County Chapter on Facebook!

See the update of the first week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday1

See the update of the second week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday2

See the update of the third week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday3

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Gloucester County Archaeology Day For Veterans | June 10, 2023

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The Gloucester County Chapter of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey in concert with Gloucester County Parks and Recreation Department continued with their third scheduled public dig at the Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, N.J. on Saturday, June 10, 2023. The Public Dig program is headed by Rowan’s Public History Professor and curator of the Red Bank Battlefield, Dr. Jennifer Janofsky and lead archaeologist Wade Catts, President of South River Heritage Consulting.

The Gloucester County Chapter posted this update on their Facebook page:

Welcome to Week #3 as we continue digging into the past at the Red Bank Battlefield… Today’s dig was called “ARCHAEOLOGY DAY FOR VETERANS”. It was an honor to invite and dig with the many Veterans who proudly served our nation. Members of the ASNJ assisted with digging and identifying the many artifacts that were screened by out guests. This is the third installment of four public archaeological digs created by the Gloucester County Department of Parks and Recreation under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Janofsky and Lead Archaeologist, Wade Catts. We are continuing to find many amazing Revolutionary War artifacts from the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, along with an array of Native American artifacts too!

Be sure to follow the Gloucester County Chapter on Facebook!

See the update of the first week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday1

See the update of the second week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday2

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Gloucester County Archaeology Day For Veterans | June 4, 2023

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The Gloucester County Chapter of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey in concert with Gloucester County Parks and Recreation Department continued with their second scheduled public dig at the Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, N.J. on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The Public Dig program is headed by Rowan’s Public History Professor and curator of the Red Bank Battlefield, Dr. Jennifer Janofsky and lead archaeologist Wade Catts, President of South River Heritage Consulting.

The Gloucester County Chapter posted this update on their Facebook page:

Another great Sunday digging into the past at the Red Bank Battlefield. The members of ASNJ (Gloucester County Chapter) assisted in the second installment of four public archeological digs created by the Gloucester County Parks and Recreation Department under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Janofsky. Many revolutionary war artifacts were discovered such as musket balls, buckles, cannon ball fragments and an array of Native American artifacts.

Be sure to follow the Gloucester County Chapter on Facebook!

See the update of the first week of digging here: www.asnj.org/asnj-news-archive/gccarchaeologyday1

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Gloucester County Archaeology Day | May 21, 2023

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The Gloucester County Chapter of the Archaeological Society of New Jersey in concert with Gloucester County Parks and Recreation Department and Rowan University students, assisted with the first of several scheduled public digs at the Red Bank Battlefield in National Park, N.J. on Sunday, May 21, 2023. A great time was had by all as the members helped many first time guests screen and identify various Native American and Revolutionary War artifacts. Members also took part in educating the public with some artifacts displayed from previous digs as well as a “Indiana Jones” obstacle course for the children! The Public Dig program is headed by Rowan’s Public History Professor and curator of the Red Bank Battlefield, Dr. Jennifer Janofsky and lead archaeologist Wade Catts, President of South River Heritage Consulting. Several more dates are scheduled this spring and summer for this very popular event!

Be sure to follow the Gloucester County Chapter on Facebook!

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St. James Episcopal Church Edison Public Archaeology (Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13, 2022)

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St. James Episcopal Church in Edison, NJ

UPDATE

Photos from the public archaeology weekend

The ASNJ is holding a two-day volunteer dig on the weekend of November 12-13 next to the St. James Episcopal Church in Edison Township, Middlesex County. The Church is located at 2136 Woodbridge Avenue and parking is available behind the church on Germantown Avenue, next to a public park. The society is conducting a research study in two areas of town land to look for the remains of a mid-19th-century school house and a 17th-century town house. We have been graciously allowed to do archaeology on the property by Edison Township. Funding has been provided by the Edison Greenways Group and the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History, both of which have been engaged in a multi-year study of the property surrounding the church, which was created as a town green in the late 17th century, to look for evidence of municipal buildings, such as a town house, an ammunition magazine, a jail, and a school house. The ASNJ has been involved in prior studies of the property that yielded evidence of early 19th-century and pre-Contact period Native American land use.

The society welcomes current members who are interested in volunteering. Up to six (6) volunteers can participate for each time slot. Two time slots are offered each day: the first from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and the second from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Afternoon site tours will be provided on November 13 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm to discuss the history of the town green and the Piscatawaytown Burial Ground. Volunteers can help dig 1.5-foot square test pits to expose buried foundation remains, screen soils to recover artifacts, and document deposits.

A volunteer sign up link is provided for those interested in helping and having fun.

ASNJ Dig Volunteer Sign Up (November 12-13), Saint James Episcopal Church, Edison, NJ

View the advertisement PDF here

Please direct questions to asofnj@gmail.com.

Piscatawaytown School House
Building Episodes

Piscatawaytown School 1937 MEHS 2022

1695: School or Town House Erected as a Log Building.

1800: 1st School House was Abandoned. New (2nd) School House Erected a Greater Distance from the Public Road, 30 yards from the Southern Extremity of the Present Parish House. 

6/19/1835: Tornado Destroyed the 2nd School House.

1837: 3rd School House was Erected. The School House was a Two-Story Building with Classes for Boys on the First Floor and Classes for Girls on the Second Floor.

1852: 3rd School House was Enlarged. Female Teacher Hired and a Female Department Started.

1871: Repairs Made.

1875: Extensive Repairs Made.

12/15/1892: 3rd School House was Destroyed by a Fire Set by 14-Year Old William French.

1893: 4th School House Contracted to be Built as a 25-foot by 35-foot Building.

1914: Building to be Used as a Town Hall and Abandon its Use as a School.

1923: Building also used as a Police Department.

Circa 1937: Back Shed Addition Constructed.

1940s: Building No Longer Used as a Police Department.

1969: 4th School House Damaged by Fire.

1971: Repairs Made.

1980s: Building Used as a Town Meeting Place and as the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School. 

1986: Building Used by the Edison Township Historical Society.

12/1986: Building Heavily Damaged by Fire and Razed. 

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Pomona Hall Public Archaeology Day (Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10, 2022)

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UPDATE

On April 9-10 2022, the ASNJ, in partnership with the Camden County Historical Society, conducted an archaeological open house in the garden of Pomona Hall at 1900 Park Boulevard in Camden next to Euclid Avenue. There, we were looking for the remains of a 19th-century cider house building. This video documents the archaeological open house and the results of the dig.

Video created by Alex Gonzales of AlegraphicsVideo

Photos from Initial Fieldwork on 3/19/22

Photos from Public Archaeology Weekend on 4/9 and 4/10 2022

ASNJ board members conducted the initial field work leading up to the public weekend on April 9-10 at Pomona Hall. The Courier Post wrote about the efforts in an article that you can view online here!

Pomona Hall

Pomona Hall

On April 9-10, the ASNJ, in partnership with the Camden County Historical Society, will be conducting an archaeological open house in the garden of Pomona Hall at 1900 Park Boulevard in Camden next to Euclid Avenue. There, we will be looking for the remains of a 19th-century cider house building. The open house will last between 12:00 noon and 4:00pm each day and will consist of site tours. 

Volunteer opportunities are available to current ASNJ members who would like to get their hands dirty, help dig and look for artifacts at one of the state’s earliest colonial residences. In the event of rain, we will reschedule for April 16-17. Volunteer member opportunities are limited and subject to a first come, first-serve basis. Volunteer times will be from 8:00am-4:00pm both days. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here: ASNJ Dig Volunteer Sign Up Link

Please direct questions to asofnj@gmail.com.

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Cornelius Low House ASNJ Volunteer Dig (Saturday and Sunday, September 25-26, 2021)

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The Cornelius Low House

The Cornelius Low House

The ASNJ is conducting a volunteer dig and site tour on Saturday and Sunday, September 25-26, 2021 at the 1741 Cornelius Low House at 1225 River Road in Piscataway, Middlesex County (see attached public form). The house overlooks the former 18th- and 19th-century port community of Raritan Landing. Our archaeological study is sponsored by the Middlesex County Office of Arts and History and aims to locate rear yard buildings associated with the Low family. We intend to excavate two (2) 4-foot square units. The property has a manicured lawn.

Participation in this volunteer dig is open to ASNJ members only from 8:30am to 4:00pm each day. Volunteers can sign up for desired time slots. Each time slot accommodates up to four volunteers. Participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours will be given to non-members from 12:00-4:00pm each day.

Those interested in volunteering can sign up via this link: Cornelius Low House Dig

Volunteer and visitor parking will be available on Lot 48 at the adjacent Rutgers U. Busch Campus opposite the Visitors Welcome Center on Stuphen Road (see attached parking map). A sidewalk next to the athletic fields connects the parking lot to the Cornelius Low House property. Those wishing to participate should dress appropriately and bring water, sun screen, a pair of gloves, and a snack. Out of respect for one another, participants working next to each other will need to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth. Entrance into any County-owned building also requires wearing a face covering.

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William Green House: Archaeological Volunteer Dig and Site Tour Rescheduled

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William_Green House_1.jpg

Due to rain, the volunteer archaeological dig at the William Green house on the TCNJ campus set for tomorrow (Friday, April 26), has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 30, from 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Please contact Dr. George Leader if you are interested in attending at georgemleader@gmail.com.

Read the original posting here for more details.