Historical archaeology

Curtin is Seeking Field Techs and a Lab Assistant for October 2020 Project

Curtin Archaeological Consulting, Inc. is seeking field technicians for employment on projects in the Saratoga Springs-Ballston Spa area during October 2020. This work will focus upon a Phase 3 data recovery project to be conducted at a 19th-century farm site. The Phase 3 field investigation is scheduled for October 12-23. It is possible that we will conduct other Phase 1 and Phase 2 survey and excavation work during October or early November. We also need a short-term lab assistant during November. We work with appropriate caution for social distancing and other Covid-19 prevention protocols both outdoors and indoors. We are seeking people within easy commuting distance of work sites south of Saratoga Lake near Northway (I-87) Exits 12 and 13, as there is no budget for motels or per diem. Please email resumes to jobs@curtinarchaeology.com. If you have recently submitted a resume, please email us with your availability.

Ceramics in situ

Ceramics in situ

Ceramics in lab

Ceramics in lab

CRM Re-Opening: Precautions to Reduce the Risk of Covid-19 Spread

CRM Re-Opening: Precautions to Reduce the Risk of Covid-19 Spread

Archaeologists have been adjusting to working within the surrounding context of Covid-19 transmission since the pandemic forced us to shutter our offices in March to work at home. This experience has been somewhat different for each Cultural Resource Management (CRM) organization, although the common experiences of needing to do office and even lab work at home, and to find appropriately safe ways to work in the field loom large.

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History and Archaeology in Albany’s South End: Recent Investigations

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The work of the archaeologists at these sites was performed at the request of Omni Housing Development, LLC.  The archaeological project was carefully designed to recover information important to the history of the South End prior to construction in Phase 3 of Albany’s South End Revitalization, a project of the Albany Housing Authority.

How Archaeologists Tell Time

Archaeology is about telling time.  To be sure, knowledge of the spatial or formal properties of the sites we excavate is important, but if you can’t account for time, you can’t do archaeology.  Historical archaeologists infer time with a number of methods, but it really all comes down to careful artifact inspection and identification.  If the various materials from a given site can be correctly identified and their diagnostic attributes recorded, historical archaeologists can almost always determine occupation periods.