This is the place to find out the latest developments in the AVP. Find out what new archaeological discoveries have been made, and find out how to volunteer for an archaeological investigation.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

2016 Field School Information

The 2016 Jamestown Community College/AVP Archaeological Field School will run from July 6 to August 16, Monday through Saturday 8am-5pm. This is a full 6-credit field school, with a discounted college tuition rate. JCC's tuition is only $378 plus fees ($70.50) for New York State residents and $756 plus fees for those residing elsewhere. This does not include transportation to and from Allegany NY, nor does it include room and board. Lodging options include local motels (most expensive), local camping areas (less expensive), and limited space in rental units shared with AVP volunteers (least expensive, but first-come basis). Email Steve at avp.archaeology@gmail.com for more complete details and expense estimates for out-of-state students.


Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Fall Newsletter

The Fall 2015 newsletter is being emailed and mailed early next week. If you would like to receive the newsletter, either electronically or in the mail, send a request to avp.archaeology@gmail.com.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Thanks

Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers, students, institutional partners and donors, Field Season 2015 was an overwhelming success. We exceeded all of our goals for the season, and successfully implemented two new programs: our educational outreach program and our international volunteer program. Don't miss our fall newsletter for all of the details. It will be issued at the beginning of October. If you're not on the mailing list, be sure to get on it. Simply send your request to avp.archaeology@gmail.com, or AVP, 900 S. Lamar Blvd. #213, Austin TX 78704. Until then, keep checking back here for updates, or check out the Facebook page.
A large section of "Pot O" prior to removal. This is the interior 
of a portion of the neck and shoulder, with the rim to the north.

Friday, August 14, 2015

A Busy Last Few Days

While our students and crew worked to finish up the excavations on schedule, we had a few group tours and many casual visitors to the site over the last week. It has been a wonderful season here in Allegany. One of the groups was a busload of visitors from the Seneca Nation Summer Rec program, seen here learning about the longhouses of their ancestors. (Yes, the bus made it down to the site and back.)


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Still Going

Matt's pottery section just keeps getting bigger as he excavates around it. Hopefully, we'll be able to remove it before the end of the season...


Monday, August 10, 2015

Winding Down

As things are winding down, excitement is picking up. In the last few days, in addition to the recent projectile point, we've had a number of nice pottery fragments and charcoal samples turn up. Matt and Shawn found this large section of pot working in Feature 13-05 today. It appears to be a neck and rim, but it will take a few days to fully excavate, as it extends beyond the current unit level. Come on out to the site to watch as it's uncovered. Hurry though, by Thursday all of the units will be back-filled.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Jay's Levanna

Heading into the last days of the season, the site still has a few surprises in store. Jay and Destiny found this nice little Levanna point in their 1 by 1 unit today.


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Youth Program

Here are just a few of the great kids that participated in our Archaeology and Atlatls program at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum on Tuesday. We performed a functional analysis on some stone tools (we guessed what they were used for based on observations), and we provided lessons in the proper technique for launching projectiles with a lever mechanism (we threw darts with atlatls).


Sunday, August 2, 2015

Some CAD Highlights

We had a beautiful day and a wonderful turnout at our second annual Community Archaeology Day. Here are a few highlights.
Jay was busy with his flint knapping demonstrations all day. His family stopped by to say 'hi' as well.


Destiny and Clare taught the little ones (and a few big ones) how to make and decorate ceramic pots.


New this year, we installed interpretive signs along the path from the market building to the site, offering a self-guided tour with 12 stations altogether.


Shawn and Matt give advice as a guest tries his hand at dart throwing with the atlatl, while others visit the dig site in the distance.

We all had a great time visiting and building our archaeological community.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Community Archaeology Day 2015






















On Saturday, August 1, we will once again host Community Archaeology Day, a chance for the local community to get to know how archaeology works, and to experience tools and technologies from a bygone age. We have an artifact identification station, where you can bring in your artifact collections to learn more about the people who made them. We also have atlatl dart throwing lessons, flint knapping demonstrations, and a pottery station where you can learn how ceramic pots for cooking and storage were made and decorated. The excavations will be open as well, with educational tours. Come on down to Canticle Farm Market at 3809 Old State Road in Allegany, NY to participate. We'll be there from 10am to 5pm Saturday. See you then!

Friday, July 24, 2015

4th Annual Overlook Photo

Some of our volunteers and students are keeping the tradition alive!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Working Hard

Our volunteers and students have been hard at work uncovering new data at the ancient village.

Cynthia and Mark break ground on a new unit, while Clare finishes a Base of Level plan map using a Regency Grid.

George, Manuel and Sonja are leveling the base of their unit.

Julio Cesar presenting a potsherd he uncovered in Feature 13-05.


Jay, Shawn, Destiny and Ranny discovered a fourth hearth in the longhouse.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

AVP at the Pow Wow

This Saturday the local and international students took a break from digging to enjoy the Seneca Veteran's Pow Wow.
L-R: Clare, Julio, Ranny, Destiny, Damra, Mark, Shawn, and Manuel

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Our International Volunteers

Our International Students, participating in the Volunteers for Peace program, have been working hard this week. We've also been taking in some local recreational activities, including visiting the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, and bowling a few sets at Good Times.


Julio searching the screen for artifacts. He hails from Costa Rica.


Mark (center) is working with Destiny and Jill. Mark is from Switzerland.


Ranny, from South Korea, is screening with Shawn and Tom.


Having fun at the screen with George, Damra joins us from Turkey.


Manuel is hard at work removing plow zone. He is visiting from Germany.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Week 1 Update

The season is off to a great start. We have some familiar faces, as well as many new faces this year. The Field School students have been working hard for the whole week, and our international volunteers have arrived and will begin work on Monday.

Volunteers Mitch, Cynthia and Celia

JCC students Shawn, Clare and Destiny

Monday, July 6, 2015

Opening Day

It's finally time for Opening Day! We will be starting the Field School and organizing equipment today, and our students will be measuring out the grid and opening a few of the units from last year. Visitors and volunteers are welcome at the site from day 1, so come on out to the Canticle Farms Market to see us! We're at 3809 Old State Road in Allegany, NY. See you soon!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Spots still available

There is still space available in the JCC Summer Field School in Archaeology. Tuition is only $372 for New York residents and $744 for non-residents. This is for 6 elective credits. Email avp.archaeology@gmail.com for more information.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

2014 Field School student earns award

2014 JCC/AVP Field School student Jay recently presented his research with us at the 2015 Scholars Day at SUNY JCC, and received an award for his efforts. He was awarded second place for his poster presentation. Congrats to Jay!


                                              Photos courtesy SUNY JCC Facebook Page.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Field Season Calendar

The following is a general  activities calendar for Field Season 2015, and is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances.

July
6 – field school opens; site prep
7-11 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
11 – VFP arrivals
12 – VFP Welcome and Orientation Day
13-14 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
15 – 8am-12pm: field school, volunteer shifts; 2pm-5pm: Seneca-Iroquois National Museum
16-17 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
18 – site closed/Seneca Pow Wow
19 – site closed/Letchworth State Park
20-25 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
25 – VFP Farewell Day
26 – site closed/activity day
27-31 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts

August
1 – Community Archaeology Day
2 – site closed/Rock City Park
3-8 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
9 – site closed/activity day
10-13 – 8am-5pm: field school, volunteer shifts
14 –Site Closing; Cleanup

Calendar Notes:


-          Every Thursday is a designated lab day for field schools. Rain days will be held in the lab, in which case some Thursdays may become field days. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Tuition Update

Jamestown Community College has found it necessary to increase their discount tuition rate by around 5%. While this is still a wonderful deal, it is unfortunate that it was applied during an active enrollment period. The tuition was advertised on their website (and ours) at $354 for in-state and $708 for out-of-state. Those figures are now $372 for in-state and $744 for out-of-state. An AVP donor has agreed to reimburse all field school students the cost of the increased fees ($18 for in-state and $32 for out-of-state students). We regret any inconvenience this change may have caused. We hope to see many students and volunteers this year!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

February Update

Gearing up for Field Season 2015, we have a few new outreach programs launching this year. We have a two-week work camp set up for international volunteers through Volunteers For Peace, an organization that provides opportunities for people from across the globe to travel to foreign countries to visit and offer their time and effort for non-profit organizations. We will welcome between four and six international guests from July 11 to July 25. We will know in late March from where our guests will come, and how many there will be. We are also working with a representative from the Seneca Nation Department of Education to provide an outdoor educational experience for their summer youth program. We will also be holding our second annual Community Archaeology Day, to invite the local residents to come out and experience archaeology in their "backyard." Local residents are always welcome to volunteer with the AVP, as are interested individuals from anywhere in the world!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Winter 2014-15 Newsletter



The newsletter is on its way! Expect it in your inbox and/or mailbox very soon if you are on the mailing list. If not... get on it! Email your request to avp.archaeology@gmail.com and be sure to add your mailing address if you request a paper copy.