ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Visitors to the Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center’s Family Archaeology Weekend will experience scientific discovery in real time through hands-on, guided excavation of an 18th-century farmhouse foundation. The event takes place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, Sept. 14 and Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019.
Archaeology Weekend participants will uncover the story of the Hall Homestead on the Nature Center property, in what was formerly known as Frost Town, a pioneer logging settlement founded in 1792 in the old-growth pine forests of the Onondowahgah, or Seneca people.
Archaeology Weekend is designed to build cultural awareness and engage visitors by exploring archaeology as a citizen science—participatory scientific exploration through which the public can actively take part in meaningful research. Participants will learn the basics of archaeological fieldwork, including methods of excavation. how to properly clean artifacts, and tricks for identifying artifacts.
Dr. Alexander Smith, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at The College at Brockport, State University of New York, is working with the Nature Center to study the historic Frost Town property. Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. from the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University in 2015. He studies the persistence of indigenous culture in the face of Carthaginian and Roman colonial interactions in the late first century B.C.E. in the Mediterranean, as well as the social and environmental impacts of 19th-century Euro-American expansion in Western New York.
Archaeology Weekend admittance is $25 for families and $10 per person. Children must have adult supervision. Admission is free for members of the Archaeological Institute of America Rochester Society. Preregistration is recommended at RMSC.org. Days are divided into three-hour morning (9am–12pm) and afternoon (1–4pm) sessions. Shuttles will take visitors from the Nature Center Visitor Center to the dig site and it’s OK to arrive late or leave early for a session. Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the Nature Center trails.
The Cumming Nature Center is a dynamic, 900-acre environmental education facility that celebrates the unique landscape and culture of the Finger Lakes region through experiential learning opportunities and thoughtful exhibits. Educational programming at the Nature Center explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. These programs are designed to inspire innovative thinking among participants and provide them with the tools, knowledge and confidence to take action in the face of local, regional and global challenges. The preserve includes six miles of trails and countless opportunities to connect with the outdoors. The Cumming Nature Center is located at 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512.
For high-resolution images and additional information, contact Mare Millow, Marketing Communications Manager, RMSC, 585.697.1944, mmillow@rmsc.org, or visit RMSC.org/press-news.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past and present, including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit https://rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
