© Photo Copyright Rhonda Roebuck 2011

Clann Mhór will assist in first ever Irish  Archaeological  Dig in Virginia

   The scene above is the site of this summer’s historic archaeological dig. Located in central Virginia at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains lies a beautiful vineyard owned by the Pollak family. This land is rich in history, home to horses, orchards and now wine. It once served as farmland that helped supply the workers of the Blue Ridge Railroad in the 1850s.

Dan Walsh operating the GPR

Stone foundation of a two family dwelling

  In the summer of 2011, Dr Stephen A. Brighton, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Maryland, along with his colleague Dan Welch, archaeologist and training manager with Geophysical Survey Systems, spent a week on the Pollak property surveying the land for a possible dig site. Using Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR, they were able to ascertain possible foundations and artifacts near some of the current stone structures on the property.

  Although multi-purposed over the decades, the current stone structures indicate early dry laid stonework perhaps dating back to the 1850s. Given the hypothesis that these current and past foundations may have been part of an Irish workers community, Dr. Brighton has arranged with the University of Maryland to sponsor a field school at this location for the summer of 2012.

May have been multiple dwellings in past

One of repurposed structures on dig site

  The field school this summer will be held May 29 through July 9. The six week class can be taken either for six undergraduate or graduate credits. The University of Maryland is waiving out of state fees for this course, and one does not need to be an anthropology major to attend. Full information is available in the University’s brochure, which can be downloaded below. As it will take place on private land, the dig site is not open to the public, but information will be made available to the community throughout the session.

Download Field Study Brochure

For additional information - Contact Dr. Stephen Brighton