Celebrate Archaeology Month!

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About ‘Explore Philly’s Buried Past’

EACH OCTOBER, the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum (PAF) co-sponsors the Explore Philly’s Buried Past event with Independence National Historical Park. October is Pennsylvania Archaeology Month and National Archaeology Day also falls during October.

This annual Explore event brings forth to the public the latest archaeological artifacts and site discoveries from the tri-state area. Archaeologists and archaeological enthusiasts–including student archaeology club members, avocationalists, teachers and historians–present these latest research findings pro bono joining PAF’s effort to encourage interest in, and support for, the area’s archaeological heritage.

The National Constitution Center has hosted the event since 2010, with the Independence Seaport Museum hosting a portion of the 2012 program. Independence Park kindly hosted the event from 2007-2009. AECOM Corporation donates the production of the publicity materials and Independence National Historical Park assists with the postal mailing of these materials.

See the program schedules from past year’s events, 2008-Present, below and plan to join us this October!

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Click on the artifacts to view one of the ‘Explore Philly’s Buried Past’ 30-second Public Service Announcement!
psa2Click on the car or artifacts in the picture or click here to activate another of our Public Service Announcements!

These 30-second-long public service announcements (PSAs) were created by digital media researchers from Drexel University in Philadelphia. They are designed to be broadcast on the 40 foot high, ‘Crown Lights’ marque set atop the 27th floor of the PECO building in downtown Philadelphia where it runs for several days each October. The PSA features four artifacts excavated from historical archaeology sites located in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. This PSA is a joint project of the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, Independence National Historical Park, and Drexel University’s Department of Media Arts. Learn more about the development of these PSA’s  here and about our first PSA here… and here…

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PAST PROGRAM SCHEDULES


2021

In October of 2021, PAF hosted the annual ‘Explore Philly’s Buried Past!’ event virtually Online in a series of video presentations. These four short videos share the recent work of researchers with the public. They can be seen here or at our YouTube Channel:

Groundhog Archaeology: A Tale of Bioturbation in South Philly  (D. Kelleher)
Founding Monsters: Franklin’s Mastodon Tooth and America’s Founding (B. Means)
Trials and Tribulations of Digging the Trail to Pottstown (K. Basalik)
Community-Oriented Digital Archaeology: a Multi-Course Curriculum (J. Herriman)


2020

In order to keep everyone safe we couldn’t be together in 2020 for our annual “Explore Philadelphia’s Buried Past” event. But we celebrated Philadelphia-area archaeology as part of Pennsylvania Archaeology Month and International Archaeology Day with the release of this new mug at our cafepress shop, Philadelphia Archaeology Gifts. All proceeds go to support the educational and outreach missions of the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum.

The artifact selected for the 2020 Archaeology Month mug is a calendar coin excavated at the site of the National Constitution Center in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

Learn more about this artifact here:  Calendars, Coins & Comets!

Order your Mug here…. 


See the 2019 Program Schedule


See the 2018 Program Schedule


See the 2017 Program Schedule


See the 2016 Program Schedule


See the 2015 program Schedule


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See The 2014 Program Schedule


2013 Program Information… click here…


2012 Program
Pt. 1 – Sat. Oct. 13th — Life in the City and Beyond, click here…
Pt. 2 — Life Along the River, click here…


2011 Explore Philly’s Hidden Past!


2010 Explore Philly’s Hidden Past! Celebrate Pennsylvania Archaeology Month.


2009 Explore Philadelphia’s Hidden Past! An Archaeology Month Celebration.


2008 Explore Philadelphia’s Hidden Past! An Archaeology Month Celebration.


2007 Explore Philadelphia’s Hidden Past! New Discoveries in our Town.


“OCTOBER IS PENNSYLVANIA ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH”

Learn more…

 

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Archaeology Month is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council. Its purpose is to increase awareness of the important historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in the Commonwealth. These sites are part of the heritage of all Pennsylvanians. Everyday, archaeological sites are destroyed. We hope that through the Archaeology Month events, more Pennsylvanians become aware of this part of our history and work to protect our endangered resources. Learn more here…

Archaeology Month is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council. Its purpose is to increase awareness of the important historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in the Commonwealth. These sites are part of the heritage of all Pennsylvanians. Everyday, archaeological sites are destroyed. We hope that through the Archaeology Month events, more Pennsylvanians become aware of this part of our history and work to protect our endangered resources.


International Archaeology Day


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Every October the Archaeological Institute of American (AIA) and archaeological organizations across the United States, Canada, and abroad — including the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum — present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests as part of International Archaeology Day. International Archaeology Day is held each year on the third Saturday of October. Learn more here…


For More Go to…

Independence National Historical Park Archaeology
Philadelphia Archaeological Forum
Philadelphia Archaeological Forum Gifts available at CafePress
Pennsylvania Archaeology Month
International Archaeology Day


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