The PA State Historic Preservation Office will celebrate Archaeology Month with series with five webinars throughout October. Speakers Kimberly Max Brown, PhD, Emily Briggs, Debbie Miller, Dr. Ben Ford, and Dr. Matthew A. Kalos will highlight projects which explore Pennsylvania’s role in the American Revolution, life in the newly established commonwealth, and how current communities are engaging with their local history.
Archaeology combines scientific methods, research, and careful observation to understand the past through the objects and materials that are left behind, ranging from Native American stone tools and cooking hearths to ceramic plates and 19th century privies. This series will provide the public with a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives on Pennsylvania’s diverse past and the importance of safeguarding its cultural heritage.
Virtual Learn at Lunchtime: Archaeology is presented by the PA State Historic Preservation Office. These Archaeology Month sessions are a way to learn about current preservation efforts and the field of archaeology.
Registration is required to attend each free virtual program. Programs will begin at 12:15 p.m. and last approximate 20 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer session.
For more information or to register, visit the 2026 Archaeology Month website.
Presentation Schedule
Friday, October 2 | Kimberly Max Brown, PhD
Community Engaged Archaeology at Fort Mifflin: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Philadelphia’s Past
Described as “one of the nation’s most neglected, unknown and unvisited historic sites,” Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia has yet to experience a systematic plan of archaeological investigation, warranted by the importance of its history. Over the course of 2 years, the Archaeology at Fort Mifflin project explored and documented the Fort with geophysics, investigated with excavation and archaeobotany the food system of the fort, identified critical historic preservation needs, and built on existing public programming
Friday, October 9 | Emily Briggs
Locating Fort Wallace: Public Memory, Avocational Knowledge, and Archaeological Research in Western Pennsylvania
Fort Wallace, traditionally associated with Wallace’s Mill and McGee Run in Westmoreland County, is a Revolutionary-era frontier site that remains important to local memory, avocational researchers, and public history. This presentation will discuss an emerging thesis project that uses documentary research, historic maps, GIS, oral history, and community-sourced information to better understand the Fort Wallace landscape. Special attention will be given to how archaeologists can responsibly work with local residents, collectors, and interested members of the public while protecting sensitive archaeological site information.
Friday, October 16 | Debbie Miller
In the Shadow of Independence: The Archaeology of Old Philadelphia
Since its establishment in 1948, archaeology has played a central role in the research and interpretation of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More than eighty archaeological sites have uncovered the stories of the people who lived and worked here, from Benjamin Franklin and George Washington to the diverse communities whose daily lives and contributions shaped the nation’s founding. This presentation highlights the park’s archaeological resources and explores how decades of excavation and research have transformed our understanding of eighteenth-century Philadelphia. By uncovering the stories preserved beneath our feet, archaeology provides new perspectives on the people, places, and events that defined America’s early history while enriching how the National Park Service interprets and shares these stories with the public.
Friday, October 23 | Ben Ford
The American Revolution in Western Pennsylvania: Archaeology at Historic Hanna’s Town
“The American Revolution in Western Pennsylvania: Archaeology at Historic Hanna’s Town” uses the site of Historic Hanna’s Town in Westmoreland County to explore life before, during, and after the American Revolution in western Pennsylvania. The wide range of artifacts from the site illustrate how the town was connected to local and international economies, and why the residents were early proponents of revolution. When the Revolution came home and Hanna’s Town was burned in 1782, the archaeological record also indicates how the townspeople rebuilt. This talk draws on decades of archaeological investigations by volunteers, professionals, and students.
Friday, October 30 | Dr. Matthew A. Kalos
The Archaeology and Memory of Paoli Battlefield
This research explores the archaeology at Paoli Battlefield. Rather than examining just, the battle, Dr. Kalos applies and landscape approach that examines the cultural history, the battle, and the mnemonic legacy of the landscape. The aim of the presentation is to introduce the discipline of conflict archaeology and use Paoli Battlefield as a case study illustrating the role of conflict archaeology in examining the Revolutionary War era.
