FieldWork 2016

This page should focus only on what students and Dr. Carter did during the 2016 iteration of Field Archaeology. Content about charcoal, etc. should be on other pages.

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Purpose of the work

In 2016 during the fall semester, the Muhlenberg College Field Archaeology class conducted fieldwork on Pennsylvania State Game Lands 217 under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Carter, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Department Chair and an archaeologist at Muhlenberg. By utilizing LiDAR data, pedestrian survey, and shovel test pits, the class intended to demonstrate the presence of the charcoal industry and the colliers and the way colliers used the landscape. By initiating this research, the group wanted to address possible reuse of pits, the area of timberland needed for each charcoal pit, and the possible existence of a temporary living 3 structure for the colliers. Through this research in this area, the goal was to illuminate the role of colliers in Lehigh Valley industry and provide some insight into their lives.

Fieldwork

During our field work we utilized several different methods including the examination of LiDAR maps, pedestrian survey, shovel test pits, and even metal detecting. In order to identify charcoal pits not identified in the LiDAR, an area was chosen that was accessible and lacked LiDAR. In order to locate these pits, we performed a systematic transect survey (a survey done by walking in lines across the area of interest). The general area in which we were working with consisted of two main parts: an upper portion of the mountain characterized by steep, rocky slopes, and a lower area that was wooded with fairly dense vegetation. Two of the locations identified in the systematic pedestrian survey were chosen for further investigation, this included detailed mapping, shovel test pits and a metal detecting survey.