The New Philadelphia Archaeological Project (NSF-REU) is a fieldschool in archaeology and laboratory techniques, held at the townsite of New Philadelphia, a 19th century multi-racial farming community in central Illinois. Ongoing field investigations at the site are led by Chris Fennell, Anna Agbe-Davies, and Terry Martin, who provides this description of the 2010 field season, to be held May 24, 2010—July 30, 2010.
2005 aerial view of the 42-acre New Philadelphia town site. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tommy Hailey.
The history of New Philadelphia, Illinois serves as a rare example of a multi-racial early farming community on the nation's Midwestern frontier. The town's population reached its peak of about 160 people after the Civil War, a size comparable to many western Illinois communities today. However, by the end of the century racial and corporate politics of America's gilded age resulted in the death knell for the settlement: regional investors routed a new railroad line to pass north of the town. Many of New Philadelphia's businesses and residents moved away and, by the early 20th century, only a few farmsteads remained on the space of the former town.
Frank McWorter, founder of New Philadelphia. Sculpture by Shirley McWorter Moss on display at the Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield.
Photograph courtesy of Sandra McWorter and Lincoln Presidential Library.
A collaborative project of archaeologists, historians, and members of the local and descendant communities is underway to further research the social history of this demographically integrated town and to enhance its focus in our national memory. The town site of New Philadelphia is now a National Historic Landmark based on its significant archaeological resources and exceptional value to our national heritage.
This NSF-REU sites program will enhance undergraduate education in scientific methods and analyses in an ongoing long-term project at New Philadelphia. The excavation and analysis of artifacts and archaeobiology data will provide students with a hands-on learning experience and mentoring process for students in an interdisciplinary setting. Ultimately, these different data sets will be integrated and the students will gain an understanding of the importance of scientific interdisciplinary research as they examine the growth and development of the town. This research will elucidate how individual members and families of this multi-racial community made choices to create their immediate environment, diet, agricultural practices, social affiliations, and consumer choices.
- New Philadelphia Field School, official website
- More Fieldwork in Focus
- Time Team America: New Philadelphia
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