Summer 2024 Internship Information

Summer 2024 Internship Information

Introduction:

Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section in conjunction with The Lost Towns Project is offering two internship positions in Archaeology with a focus on laboratory methods and collections management. The internship will be based in Edgewater, MD with some travel required.

This internship is designed to be educational in nature and is best for undergraduate students seeking hands-on experience in a wide variety of archaeological topics in a local government/non-profit setting. Graduate students may still apply but are invited to contact the internship coordinator in advance. 

Internship Description:

Interns will learn the basics of archaeological labwork and collections management by participating alongside professional archaeologists and volunteers in the lab and at curation facilities. There may be limited opportunities for fieldwork, but there is no definite fieldwork planned at this time.

With training, the intern will be required to:

  • Participate in artifact processing (washing, labeling, cataloging, and curation preparation) at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Laboratory at 839 Londontown Road in  Edgewater, MD (60% of time);
  • Conduct collections assessment of existing archaeological collections in Edgewater and Glen Burnie, MD, and record them in a collections management database (30% of time);
  • Attend field trips to regional archaeological sites, labs, and curation facilities (10% of time);
  • (Optional) Assist with public programs on weekends;
  • (Dependant on availability) Participate in Phase I and Phase II excavations at one or more archaeological sites across Anne Arundel County;
  • Work with other interns and volunteers as needed;
  • Contribute to blog, social media, and/or webpage posts; and
  • Write a final report on their activities. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the internship, the intern should be able to:

1. Conduct laboratory processing of artifacts (washing, labeling, cataloging, and curation preparation) to Maryland State Archaeological Standards;
2. Assess curated archaeological collections (artifacts and paper/digital records) as part of a management plan; and
3. (Dependant on availability) Perform archaeological fieldwork techniques, including excavation, artifact identification, and record keeping.

Qualifications:

  • Students who can pursue academic credit through their institution are strongly preferred. Students unable to pursue credit or recent graduates will be considered.
  • Students who are pursuing a major or minor in Anthropology, Archaeology, Historic Preservation, or Museum Studies are preferred.  
  • Applicants should have some familiarity with archaeology and/or local history, either through coursework or extracurricular activities. 
  • Interns should be self-motivated and able to work both independently and in small teams with intermittent supervision.
  • Interns should possess basic computer skills, organization skills, record keeping, and attention to detail. They should be comfortable working in office, laboratory, and outdoor environments.
  • Interns will need independent transportation; work sites are not accessible via public transit.

Duration:

Interns will be expected to work three days a week for a total of 150 hours. A schedule will be coordinated between the student and internship coordinator. Lab days are generally 6 hours long; field days can be 7 hours long. Most interns complete the internship in 9-10 weeks. The internship will start in late May or early June and must be completed by August 31, 2024.

Compensation:

College interns will receive a stipend of $1,000 upon completion of 150 hours.

For More Information or To Apply:

To apply, email a cover letter and a resume or CV to Drew Webster at [email protected]. Applications are due April 21, 2024. Candidates will be chosen and notified by May 3.

Maryland Archaeology Month 2024

April is Maryland Archaeology Month! Here is how we are getting involved. Find more archaeology events across the state at marylandarcheologymonth.org.


Archaeology Lab Open House (Maryland Day Weekend)

Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater, MD

Dig into local history at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab! View a wide variety of artifacts from recent excavations across Anne Arundel County, from 19th-century African-American tenant farms to 13,000-year-old Native American camps.

Kids and adults can try their hand at sorting artifacts, discover educational resources about local history, and learn how to get involved in archaeological digs and labwork, right here in Anne Arundel County.

No registration is required; drop in any time between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Find more Maryland Day Weekend Events at marylandday.org



Sites of Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Anne Arundel County

Tuesday, April 9th
7:00 pm

Online Lecture
Hosted by Historic Annapolis
$15 – Register here

Lisa Robbins will be presenting the findings of an 18-month study on the housing of enslaved and free-Black tenants in Anne Arundel County during the 19th century. The study will also cover the notable architectural changes that occurred during the transition period immediately after emancipation. Lisa will use several case studies from the county to demonstrate the significance of documenting and preserving these cultural resources that are disappearing.


Discovering Archaeology Day

Saturday, April 13th
11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
10515 Mackall Road
St. Leonard, MD

A day of interactive learning and fun with archaeologists from across Maryland and Virginia, including hands-on activities for kids, tours, exhibits, games, giveaways, and cool crafts. Free & open to the public!


The Archaeology of Jug Bay: A Hike through History

Sunday, April 14th
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
1361 Wrighton Road
Lothian, MD

Join archaeologist Drew Webster, from the Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section, to celebrate Archaeology Month with a hike from the Jug Bay Visitor’s Center to the Jug Bay River Farm. Along the hike (approximately 2.5-3 miles) you will learn about the many archaeological findings and research sites ranging in occupations from 13,000 years ago to the historic period. Drew will share how these archaeological sites inform us about past ways of life for people occupying the landscape of Jug Bay. The hike will include an artifact show-and-tell.

Ages: 12 years old and up. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Fee: $10 per person, entrance fee included. More information and registration here.


Walk for the Woods

Saturday, April 27th
7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bacon Ridge Natural Area
Farm Road Entrance
Crownsville, MD

Hosted by Scenic Rivers Land Trust.

Enjoy a day of guided hikes exploring the heart of the conserved Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville. Experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, history, archaeology, and more will be on-site and available to attendees. Plus, self-guided hike options will be offered, complete with trail maps and educational signage posted along the trails, as well as other fun educational activities.

Registration for guided hikes will open in early April. The hike schedule and link to registration will be announced on www.SRLT.org.

Resiliency Through Change Workshop: 13,000 Years of History Along the Patuxent River

Register Here

Join Mario Harley of the Piscataway Indian Tribe and archaeologists from the Lost Towns Project to learn about 13,000+ years of history.

Register here.

What to expect:

  • Indigenous History
  • Hands-On Artifact Analysis
  • Storytelling
  • Family Friendly!

Mario Harley, a citizen of the Piscataway Indian tribe and a member of the Wild Turkey Clan will speak about the culture and history of the Piscataway People through modern times.

The Lost Towns Project will discuss the numerous archaeological sites along the Patuxent River at Jug Bay and what archaeology can tell us about the people who lived at these sites.

Location: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary — Wetlands Center
1361 Wrighton Road
Lothian, MD

This project has been financed in part by the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s Thomas V. “Mike” Miller History Fund. However, Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Center for History and Culture.

Lost Towns and AA County Honored at Heritage Awards

The Lost Towns Project and Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section were among the awardees honored at the twentieth annual Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Awards, held on November 2nd at historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville. Honorees included:

  • The Archaeology of Jug Bay for the Heritage Partnership of the Year
  • Anne Arundel County’s Historic Markers Program for the Public/Private Initiative
  • C. Jane Cox for the Patricia Barland Leadership Award
  • View the full list of honorees here

Heritage Partnership of the Year

The Archaeology of Jug Bay initiative won the Heritage Partnership of the Year Award. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary has partnered with archaeologists from Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section and the Lost Towns Project since 2015 to research the area’s 13,000+ year-old human history and to share these discoveries with the public. The Jug Bay area is home to some of the most important archaeological sites in the state; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary alone has 24 registered archaeological sites between the three properties they manage. Citizen science projects at these sites have brought hundreds of volunteers and grade school students to participate in discovering their community’s heritage through archaeology.

Over the past year, these three organizations have worked together to host three archaeology paddle tours, one archaeology hike, and one homeschool program. They also debuted the Native American Heritage Toolbox an online resource that shares the discoveries of Jug Bay archaeology with the general public.


Public/Private Initiative Award

Anne Arundel County’s Historic Markers Program, run by its Cultural Resources Section, won the Public/Private Initiative Award. The program began in 2021 and is a collaboration between public agencies, heritage organizations, and local historians which highlights and celebrates local history.

The program seeks to recognize often under-represented history and places that may not be recognized by the conventional historic preservation mechanisms. Some important sites lack an aboveground presence (as in archaeological resources, or the location of historic houses that have been demolished). In other cases, surviving physical resources are on private property, not necessarily visible from the public way, and thus are not publicly accessible. This makes applying conventional heritage tourism tools and methods challenging, and results in limitations to the public’s understanding of the full range of resources and historic landscapes that tell the whole story of the County’s historic development.

In the three years that the program has been in operation, the County and dozens of non-profit and private community partners have developed, produced, and installed 24 wayside interpretive signs, 24 roadside markers, and 18 signs for small family cemeteries. These markers, which commemorate historic structures, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes, provide a powerful means of communicating with the public on important historic places that matter across the Heritage Area.

County offices and community partners include:

With contributions from Stacy Poulos


Patricia Barland Leadership Award – C. Jane Cox

C. Jane Cox was honored with the Patricia Barland Leadership Award, awarded for the highest level of achievement over a career with long-lasting contributions to local history and heritage. Jane currently serves as the Administrator of the Cultural Resources Section of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Planning & Zoning and is a founding board member of the Lost Towns Project.

Over decades of public service, Jane has participated and then overseen archaeological and historic preservation research and compliance projects at dozens of sites across Anne Arundel County. She has also developed public programs, museum exhibits, websites, and more for training and education. A short sampling of projects she has worked with support from with the Heritage Area includes “Paddle Through History” kayak tours, archaeology displays for the public, a cemetery symposium, and the much-lauded Story Map project, “African American Voices, Memories and Places: A Four Rivers Heritage Trail.”

She thrives on bringing the rediscovery of the past to the citizens who live in and visit the County. Her extensive knowledge of the heritage assets of the County has made her a sought-after expert on matters of local archaeology, history, and heritage, and her efforts have had a long-lasting effect on historic preservation and interpretation.

Congratulations, Jane!

With contributions from Heather Ersts and Dr. Carol Benson


Photos courtesy of Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area

Join Us for Native American Heritage Month in Anne Arundel County

The American continent is vast and has a variety of cultures that date back thousands of years. Indigenous peoples’ histories, cultures, and heritage are evident in all areas of Anne Arundel County. Each November during Native American Heritage Month and throughout the year, Anne Arundel County, the State of Maryland, and the National Park Service (among many others) take time to honor the history and culture of America’s indigenous peoples.

Anne Arundel County has created a list of resources about the area’s Native American Heritage, which can be viewed here. In addition, County archaeologists are highlighting Native history and archaeology at the following events this November:


Archaeology Lab Tour

In Partnership with AA County Office of Equity and Human Rights

Saturday, November 4th. Four tour times:
11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, & 2:30 pm
Sign up here.

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater, MD

Cost: Free


Join Anne Arundel County archaeologists for a free tour of the County archaeology lab to learn how we research county history and the lives of those who came before us.  View artifacts from recent excavations, discover new educational resources, and learn how you can get involved in preserving our shared heritage. There will be a special focus on the 13,000+ years of Native American history in the area.


Online Lecture: Native American Archaeology in Anne Arundel County

Hosted by the Natural History Society of Maryland

Wednesday, November 15th
7:00-8:30 pm
Cost: $0-$5
More info and registration


Did you know that Anne Arundel County has over 1,700 registered archaeological sites? Maryland has a deep Native American history which spans at least 13,000 years. Join Drew Webster from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section to learn what archaeology has revealed about the region’s deep Native American past and how archaeologists study it.


River Farm at Jug Bay Tour

In Partnership with AA County Office of Equity and Human Rights

Friday, November 17th. Two tour times:
10:00 – 11:30 am & 1:00-2:30 pm.
Sign up here.

Address: River Farm Road, Lothian, MD. Note: this event is not located at the Jug Bay Visitors Center. Click here for detailed directions (please read!)

Cost: Free


The Jug Bay Area of southwest Anne Arundel and southeast Prince George’s Counties is home to over 75 archaeological sites, many of which speak to the area’s 13,000+ years of Native American history. The River Farm site is located in Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, an Anne Arundel County park and nature preserve. Join county archaeologists at the River Farm Site to learn about how Native Americans have adapted to the changing environment over millennia, and what archaeology can tell us about their lives. 

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Participants may not arrive late or depart early–access to the site is through a locked gate and we will need to all enter and exit together. This event is best suited for adults and teens, but all are welcome. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.


Hike into History at Beverly Triton Nature Park

Saturday, November 18th
3:00 pm
Register here.

Beverly Triton Nature Park
1202 Triton Beach Road
Mayo, MD

Cost: Free.


Join archaeologist Drew Webster from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section for a journey back in time! Explore the history and archaeology of Beverly Triton Park, from 3,000-year-old Native American sites through 19th-century home sites and 20th-century beach resorts.