Bring your local treasures for an evening of history, artifact identification and fun with local archaeologists at an "Archaeology Road Show" to be held 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at The Center at Journey's Way at 403 Rector Street in Roxborough.
The free program is a coordinated effort by four area non profits: Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, The Kelpius Society, and the Roxborough, Manayunk, Wissahickon Historical Society. The Center at Journey's Way is hosting the program.
Doug Mooney, president of the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, will make a presentation about Philadelphia archaeology, and other specialists from the association will be on hand to provide area neighbors with a scientific appraisal of their treasures. Monetary appraisals of found items, however, are not part of the program.
Amateur discoveries are increasingly becoming an important source of information to historians and others exploring the past. If you've ever found an unusual artifact in your garden, dug up something using a metal detector, or stumbled across an item while walking the family dog, bring it to the road show and find out what it is.
Roxborough area residents are invited to bring a wide range of found items, including whole or fragments of old bottles, pottery, ceramics, metal objects and implements, arrowheads or other American Indian artifacts, beads, jewelry, glassware, toys, stones, marbles, buttons, and the like. Residents are also encouraged to bring old photos to share with the archaeologists and members of the Roxborough historical association. Any supporting documentation that would help identify the location of where items were found is particularly encouraged.
Artifact guidelines and additional information about the program can also be picked up after June 10 at the Front Desk at the Center for Journey's Way.
Tom Carroll, president of The Kelpius Society, says the June program "Is part of a broad effort of the Kelpius Society to form partnerships with organizations and individuals in and around the Roxborough-Wissahicken area. These neighborhoods are the site of the historic Kelpius community, which was established along the Wissahickon Creek in 1694."
The Archaeology Road Show is just one of many programs related to Roxborough's rich history that is being pursued in coming months.
The Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society is also collecting old photos from residents for inclusion in a history book to be published by Arcadia Publishers next year. Please contact historical society president, Karen Sears, at 215-483-9268 for more information about this project.
The Kelpius Society is embarking on an oral history project with Journey's Way, as well as working to restore the original Kelpius settlement site located in Fairmount Park. For more information see the website at: About The Kelpius Society www.kelpius.org
The Philadelphia Archaeological Forum advises and educates historians, architects, government officials, tourism concerns, and others about urban archaeology. Each October it hosts an all-day seminar that explores recent findings and developments at various projects throughout the City. The June program is an expansion of that endeavor and is the first road show to be hosted by the association. Other Philadelphia communities or school groups interested in hosting a future road show are encouraged to contact the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum www.phillyarchaeology.org.
For more information about the June road show, contact Doug Mooney, at the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, at phillyarchaeology@gmail.com
or Betsy Lightborn at elightbourn@intercommunityaction.org at the Center at Journey's Way: A program of Intercommunity Action Inc. www.journeys-way.org
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