The Lost Towns Project offers internships year-round to interested and qualified high school, college, and graduate students. Interns work closely with professional archaeologists and are exposed to a broad range of experiences. We offer general introductory internships in historical archaeology, including field and lab experiences. For more advanced students looking at career options,  we also offer more directed, research-oriented internships, designed to explore specific historic, academic, or methodological interests in-depth and in a real-world work environment.  In coordination with your academic advisor from your home instution, we will develop and supervise your internship.  For an exceptionally qualified intern, a stipend may be awarded. We offer flexible scheduling throughout the year, including summer and winter break internships. There are no due dates for applications, as admissions are rolling. All interns will work at the Lost Towns Project offices and lab near Annapolis or at archaeological sites in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Interns must be able to provide their own transportation to these sites, though carpooling is encouraged.

We consider students from all academic disciplines, and have hosted students from the fields of:
Anthropology • History • American Studies • Museum Studies • Historic Preservation • Ancient Studies • Computer Science

The Lost Towns Project offers several types of internships, described below. We will tailor the experience to fit your interests and level of experience in any of these internships. Check out the Internship Brochure for more details.

Archaeological Field Work
Fieldwork allows students to engage in hands-on archaeology.  In the field, students will learn basic excavation procedures, archaeological documentation, and  artifact identification.  Interns will also get a chance to assist the Lost Towns Project with our public archaeology program working with school groups.

Laboratory Methods
In the lab, interns will learn the numerous tasks required to process and identify artifacts.  In addition, interns will learn about collections management and the basics of artifact analysis and conservation.    

Historical Research
Students learn the basics of historical research with visits to the Maryland State Archives and other facilities.  Assignments may include document transcription or database work with primary materials from the historic period such as newspapers, maps, manuscripts, land and probate records, and court documents.

Want to know what it's like to intern with the Lost Towns Project? Read about former intern Sally Gordon's (Summer 2007) internship experience and reflections here. We prepare interns for future work - both academic and professional. After interning with the LTP, Tom Glantz landed a spot in a competitive and prestigious field school funded by the National Science Foundation! You can read about his experience and how Lost Towns helped prepare him here.

If you're in high school and want some tips on how to be a successful intern, read this article, written by former Lost Towns high school intern and current internship coordinator! Or, check out the entire November/December 2010 issue of Imagine Magazine, which is all about archaeology. The magazine is published by The Johns Hopkins University's Center for Gifted and Talented Youth.

To apply for an internship, please send a letter of intent, a resume, and a short (3-5 page) writing sample to Stephanie Sperling, Intern Coordinator, at losttownsintern@gmail.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact her at 410-222-7440 or by email.