NCC8 Member Acquires Prehistoric Native American Effigy

This prehistoric Native American effigy artifact (900-700 years before present) was found at the location of Lycoming County's first registered excavation, 36LY0001 (Brock Village) in 1957. 
Carved most likely from bone, the effigy was drilled and was once adorned with feathers, perhaps in the same fashion as the current feathers. The eyes were made of freshwater pearl. 
It has been acquired from a local collector by Tank and Anita Baird with private funds, and is the subject of Tank Baird's upcoming radio talk with iHeartMedia's Ted Saul on "Animism and the Artifact."
Stay tuned. More to come ...

Kids Dig 'Arch in the Park'

While in Florida at the St. Augustine Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program during Spring Break, Lycoming College underwater archaeology students, from left, Ben Conrad, Darrin Coleman, and Richard Matel-Galatis record artifacts "in situ."

Muncy Historical Society, Northcentral Chapter 8, Lycoming College Unite to Offer One-of-a-Kind Archaeology Experience to Area Youth

MUNCY -- Arch in the Park is a hands-on heritage program designed by students for students. Organized by communication students at Lycoming College, Arch in the Park is an archaeological outreach offered by Muncy Historical Society, Northcentral Chapter 8 and Lycoming College's archaeology department, under the direction of Robin Van Auken of Hands-on Heritage.

Together, the groups are hosting an interactive archaeology demonstration, including hands-on terrestrial and underwater archaeological activities, to promote learning from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 24, 2016, at Muncy Heritage Park and Nature Trail, 601 Pepper St.

According to Jenny Reilly, a senior at Lycoming College and the primary organizer of the event, "This is a fun and educational opportunity for people of all ages to learn about archaeology." Reilly has a passion for archaeology, and after graduation in May, will attend graduate school for museum studies. She has a keen interest in preservation and digital archaeology, spurred by the destruction of antiquities in the Middle East.

Arch in the Park is the kick-off event of a series of unique, educational activities planned by Lycoming College students at the Muncy Heritage Park. These events include a Birds and Bugs Hike, a Fishing Derby and the popular star-gazing event, Under the Night Sky.

Hands-on activities for Arch in the Park will be taught by Lycoming College underwater archaeology students, who will show attendees how to record artifacts with a grid, handle lines and tie knots, and demonstrate scuba gear and tools they use when researching nautical sites.

Assisting Lycoming College with a hands-on excavation are the members of the local archaeology chapter, Northcentral Chapter 8, Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology. The group is active locally and excavate during the spring and summer at the Glunk Site in Montoursville. The group will display prehistoric Indian artifacts at the event.

NCC8 Slates Indian Artifact Fair at Taber Museum

Walking the freshly tilled farm fields is a Spring rite of passage for many history buffs, carefully meandering through the rows of mounded earth, searching for the elusive arrowhead.

There’s joy in discovery and often this leads to a lifelong passion for local history and admiration for Native American ingenuity and technology.

If you enjoy learning about prehistoric cultures in Lycoming County, now is the time to share your collected curiosities at the NCC8 Indian Artifact Fair.

Northcentral Chapter 8, Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology will host the educational open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the Taber Museum of the Lycoming County Historical Society, 858 W. Fourth St.

Gary Fogelman, noted artifact collector, author and publisher of “Indian Artifact Magazine,” is the featured guest for the event.

Fogelman said visitors will be surprised to learn that many times, collected items are ancient.

“People of the past often produced exhilarating works of art in flint and stone, and other mediums like bone and antler, which sometimes survives through time. Many people do not realize how old, usually in the thousands of years, these Indian artifacts are,” he said. 

“Often, the flint and stone tools are all that remain of past peoples and cultures, thus every bit and shred has a story and can possibly add to our knowledge of those past cultures and people,” he said.