An open farm field of green overlooking portions of Lake Champlain was home to the South Champlain Historical Ecology Project (SCHEP) project this summer.

Each morning Castleton faculty, staff, and volunteers gathered at the Helen W. Buckner Preserve at Bald Mountain with buckets, shovels and other field materials in hand to partake in the hands-on, non-profit, academic endeavor designed to examine long-term patterns in human-environment interactions within the southern Lake Champlain Basin.

“We hope that the project can help provide a more comprehensive and inclusive history for this important part of Vermont,” said Castleton Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year and Project Director, Matt Moriarty.

During the summer field season the group excavated test pits to identify site boundaries of a Native American campsite, date its occupation, and identify potential activity areas. Participating members of the dig included Castleton professors Matt Moriarty and Paul Derby, along with several other local archeologists, as well as a team of Castleton students and local volunteers of all ages.

“SCHEP provides students the opportunity to participate in an ongoing research project,” explained Moriarty. “Along the way, they will learn many of the skills associated with archaeological fieldwork, as well as have the opportunity to help analyze artifacts from these investigations as independent studies.”

Castleton sophomore Sociology major Rosy Kirk was one of several students involved in the project. While working in the field, she spent her days sifting through layers of dirt and clay at carefully mapped out locations, collecting and labeling long ago discarded artifacts.

“My favorite part about being involved has been getting to meet so many fascinating people, while at the same time learning so much about archaeological field work,” said Kirk.

The team recovered many artifacts from past activities at the site, including numerous chert flakes, informal tools, and ancient and historical pottery fragments. One of the more significant finds was made by Castleton senior Zach Ransom who discovered a spear point likely made more than 4,500 years ago.

“I loved every second of it,” said Ransom, “The people I worked with were amazing, what we found was amazing, and everything about it was just so much fun. I am so glad I had the opportunity to assist in documenting a tiny part of such a long history.”

While archaeology constitutes a component of the project, SCHEP is intended to grow into a multidisciplinary collaboration among a wide range of specialists and interested parties. It is hoped that these collaborations will help generate a more comprehensive and inclusive history for the biologically diverse and naturally beautiful Vermont location.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to assist in documenting a tiny part of such a long history.

Results of the dig will be rigorously recorded with appropriate agencies and organizations and studied for conservation and future protection of cultural resources.

“We are incorporating local volunteers and students in all phases of research and plan to conduct outreach events at local schools and organizations following each field season,” said Moriarty. “Going forward, we hope to partner with other local researchers and organizations as part of a multidisciplinary research effort.”

Castleton partnered with the Vermont Archaeological Society, the Natural Conservancy, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation for this archeological dig project.