Calendar
Dipped, Dripped & Dug: English Industrial Slipware from Winterthur & Independence National Historical Park, Winterthur, on view through late 2011.
Photographs of the President's House Archeological Site [pdf]
In Memoriam
Richard Affleck
died September 10, 2011
In the News
Centuries of history dug up in a year [October 1, 2011, Philadelphia Inquirer]
DRWC will start archaeological study of West Shipyard [July 29, 2011, PlanPhilly]
Ben's House: Designing History at Franklin Court, Philadelphia - Archaeological Institute of America [May 11, 2011, Archaeological Institute of America]
I-95 bridge dig yields American Indian site [January 19, 2011, Philadelphia Inquirer]
Drexel professor imagines enhancing Philadelphia with cell phone tour of history, culture [January 14, 2011, Kellie Patrick Gates]
Historical Society of Frankford December Program [December 17, 2010, Frankford Gazette]
Blogs
Reports
Second to Front Streets between Gatzmer and Ionic Streets Eastern Penitentiary Escape Tunnel
22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue Federal Detention Center Project
7th and Arch Streets Fishtown Architectural and Archeological Industrial Survey Franklin Square
Race Street between 6th and 7th Streets Hertz Lot
Vine Street and N. Delaware Avenue Historic Districts In Philadelphia
Preservation plan for the City of Philadelphia Independence Visitor's Center
Block 2, Independence Mall John Cotter's UP Excavation Reports
Grad and Undergrad Reports, 1960-1970 Liberty Bell Center
Block 1, Independence Mall SugarHouse Casino Project
Fishtown/Kensington Area Washington Square
Walnut and 6th Streets
Philadelphia Archaeological Forum
The Philadelphia Archaeological Forum (PAF) is dedicated to the protection and preservation of archaeological resources in the Philadelphia region. The organization raises awareness of archaeological heritage through educational programs and advises historians, architects, government officials, tourism concerns, and others about archaeological matters. PAF also facilitates communication among Philadelphia archaeologists and provides support for the publication of information relating to the archaeology of the city. Membership in PAF is open to all.
November 2011 Artifact of the Month
Warding Off Evil with Whimsy
Simple glass spheres known as witch balls have a long history, and were widely used by superstitious people in both this county and in Europe as a means of warding off bad luck and evil spirits. Made in a variety of bright colors, these balls were often hung in windows or displayed as decorative objects throughout the home. Learn More
September 2011 Artifact of the Month
Mastodon Tooth found at Franklin Court
September's artifact of the month is unusual in that it is both a natural fossil and a cultural artifact. It is a mastodon tooth that was found in 1953 in the vicinity of Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia mansion. This fossil (and others like it) played a role in the scientific observations that were shaping western society during the early enlightenment. Learn More
The River and the City: Archaeology of the Delaware Riverfront (Video)
This short film (approx. 20 mins.) documents the archaeological investigations of the Meadows Site (36PH35), in South Philadelphia, and provides a glimpse of some of the extraordinary historic resources that are likely to be uncovered during the future re-development of the city’s Central Delaware Waterfront area.
Native American Sites in the City of Philadelphia
An online introduction to the first occupants of the City of Philadelphia and the archaeological legacy they left behind. There are currently only about a dozen such sites documented within the boundaries of the city, with the majority located in the peripheral, less disturbed parts of the city. Only four of these known sites have been identified to date within the core downtown parts of center city.
Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review
The overwhelming majority of archaeological investigations conducted in the United States are performed as a requirement of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966.
This short pamphlet has been compiled by the President’s Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP), and is intended for members of the general public who may be otherwise unfamiliar with this law and the way in which it works.
Featured PAF Member: David G. Orr
David Orr has been working in Philadelphia and its environs since 1973 when he moved to Delaware from Rometo take a position in the American Civilization Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Read more