Updates From the Centre County Historical Society


October is Archaeology Month in Pennsylvania
Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2011


OCTOBER IS ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH
Centre Furnace Mansion to host two new exhibits

During the Commonwealth's annual archaeology month, the Centre County Historical Society, in conjunction with several other county organizations, will be celebrating Pennsylvania's archaeological richness with the opening of two exhibits on Sunday, October 2nd. 

The first exhibit, Those Who Came Before – The Archaeology of Centre County's Native Americans, will explore the rich history of the people who lived in Central Pennsylvania for thousands of years before Euro Americans arrived.  On display in the Centre Furnace Mansion’s former / reconstructed ice house, this exhibit is presented by the Centre County Historical Society, the Bald Eagle Archaeological Society, and Penn State’s Matson Museum of Anthropology.

Native Americans first came to the region about at the end of the last Ice Age.  For thousands of years, they moved seasonally from camp to camp, hunting animals and gathering food.  Eventually, they began fishing, gardening and settling down in permanent settlements.  About one thousand years ago, they lived in villages and survived by growing corn, beans, and squash while continuing to collect the bounty of the forest and rivers around them.  By the time Andrew Boggs, James Potter and a few others had settled in the 1760s-70s in what would be named Centre County, the original inhabitants had already left their territory in response to the encroachment of colonists and other native peoples, the ensuing conflicts, and the resulting spread of diseases. 

Because this pre-history is not written in a book, it must be reconstructed by archaeologists from the material remains found of Native American camps and villages.  The exhibit will include artifacts, photographs of excavations in the region, and images that try to capture what the lives of Native Americans were like over the millennia that they called Centre County their home.

The second exhibit, Building on the Past, to be on display in the Centre Furnace Mansion’s Hearth Room, will tell the story of the discovery of a large 19th century ore washing operation on the former Rockview State Correctional Institution lands being developed by the new Benner Commerce Park. 


Archaeological dig at the ore washer site
Initially part of Bellefonte’s Logan Furnace, ore washing at this site was an important part of Centre County’s early industrial history. The information highlights ironmaster accomplishments, particularly those of the Valentine and Thomas families.  It is being developed as a traveling exhibit to be shared with Benner Township, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum, and other organizations at requested locations.  The research for this example of historical archaeology [research based on written documentation] has been undertaken by Heberling Associates. Inc.  Senior archaeologist Gary Coppock has served as principal researcher.

Development of this exhibit, organized by the Centre County Historical Society Heritage Preservation Committee, has been a collaborative project with representatives from the Bald Eagle Archaeological Society, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum, and the Centre County Planning Office. It is being supported in part by the Centre County Industrial Development Authority.

These two archaeological exhibits, which will be available from Sunday, October 2 through Sunday, November 13, are free of charge and open to the public.  Tour hours are Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment.  The Centre Furnace Mansion is located at 1001 East College Avenue, State College, PA 16801. 

Pennsylvania Archaeology Month is celebrated in October.  Information can be found at: http://www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com/archaeologymonth.html.  For more information about Centre County Historical Society and additional scheduled programs, visit http://www.centrecountyhistory.org/, email info@centrecountyhistory.org, or call (814) 234-4779.