Location: Rollinsford, New Hampshire
Season: June 2, 2025 to June 27, 2025
Session Dates: Field Session: June 3 – June 14; Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 4pm in Rollinsford, NH Lab Session: June 16 – June 27; Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm at the Carter Collections Center, at Strawbery Banke Museum
Deadline Type: Rolling
Website: https://www.strawberybanke.org/archaeology
Program Type:
Field School
RPA Certified:
No
Affiliation:
Strawbery Banke Museum
Project Director:
Dr. Alexandra Martin
Project Description:
We are pleased to be working with the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History and Dr. Tad Baker. Research will focus on recovering archaeological resources at the site of the c. 1701 Col. Paul Wentworth in Rollinsford, NH. Historic documents indicate a building attached to the main house labelled “Slaves’ Quarters” and this area will be a focus of the investigation.
Field trips, tours by experts, and required readings on historical archaeology will introduce students to various areas of historic specialization. This summer the museum offers a field session as well as a lab session. Students may choose either or both (the field session is not a pre-requisite for the lab session).
During the Field Session, students are trained in archaeological field techniques and learn to identify historic artifacts. This field school places a special emphasis on public archaeology and interpretation. Students will lead tours for visitors daily, and are expected to offer interpretation of the site and the excavation activity.
During the Lab Session, students work in the Carter Collections Center laboratory at Strawbery Banke Museum to gain experience in processing, identifying, and cataloging artifacts recovered from the Wenthworth House site. Students are expected to prepare a blog post or interpretive panel to describe artifacts to museum visitors.
Period(s) of Occupation: Historic
Project Size: 1-24 participants
Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 2 weeks
Minimum Age: 18
Experience Required: Requirements: This field school does not require previous archaeological experience, though coursework in anthropology, archaeology, or history might be helpful. Students should be able to work well as part of a team. For the Field Session: Archaeological fieldwork can be demanding. Students should be able to tolerate physical activity in the summer weather. Students should also be comfortable kneeling, bent, or standing for long periods of time; and be able to lift heavy loads, climb in and out of deep trenches, and work on uneven terrain. If you are concerned about these requirements, please contact the instructor so that we can make accommodations for your involvement in the fieldwork without risk of injury to yourself or others, or damage to the integrity of the site.
Room and Board Arrangements:
Room and Board: Students are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation.
Academic Credit:
Available Credits: Students may arrange to receive academic credit through their university. Please contact museum archaeologist Alix Martin for more details at amartin@sbmuseum.org.
