Prehistoric Archaeology

Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus

Spring 2010 / History 193

Ancient Loudoun Archaeology

Celebrate Loudoun County’s 250 Founding Anniversary, and discover Loudoun’s (Northern Virginia’s) prehistoric Native American Past, by taking Dr. David T. Clark, Prehistoric Archaeology class, at the Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun Campus. Explore how professional archaeologists discover Loudoun’s rich archaeological heritage. Participate in walking surveys and test excavations at numerous sites across the county. Learn some of the exciting stories archaeology tells about “your” local past. Who were the first Americans? How long have they lived in our area? What evidence did they leave behind? How were native people living when Europeans first arrived? These are just a few commonly asked questions about prehistoric people in Northern Virginia. This class will answer these questions and more using the most recent archaeological evidence of local human history form earliest to “European Contact” times. To understand the evidence we will study the most common artifacts left by prehistoric people, look at archaeological reports, and use a variety of visual media. Guest speakers will discuss important archaeological topics related to the class. Concepts and technology will be applied during two site visits; Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the oldest site in the Eastern US, and The Smithsonian’s “Written in Bone” exhibit, and to explore state of the arts of forensic archaeology.

NVCC and the Loudoun Archaeological Foundation

(Apply on-line at www.nvcc.edu  (log-on: Admissions)

Instructor: David T. Clark, Ph.D.

Class number: History 193, Room: Signal Hill/LSH-0325

Thursdays: 7:00-9:45PM, Starting: 1/11/2010 - 5/10/2010