Archaeology Open House at Schoharie Site - June 15
Interested in archaeology? Visit an active archaeological excavation and meet with professional archaeologists on Saturday, June 15 in Schoharie!

The Pethick Site in Schoharie, NY is in its 13th season of excavation as an archaeological field school co-taught by the New York State Museum and University of Albany. It is a rich and important Native American site and has yielded almost 500,000 artifacts and over 1,000 soil features.

Visitors are welcome to explore and talk to university students. State Archaeologist Dr. Christina Rieth and Dr. Sean Rafferty of UAlbany will look at private artifact collections, which visitors are encouraged to bring.

Visitors of all ages are welcome! For safety reasons, guests will not be allowed to excavate. There is no cost for this event.

Directions:

  • Take I-88 West to exit 23, Schoharie/Central Bridge
  • At end of ramp, turn right at the flashing red light
  • Turn left onto Route 30/7a
  • Cross the Schoharie Creek, then take first left onto Smith Rd. Follow Smith Rd to the end. The site is visible on left.
June Programs
Saturday, June 15 and 22
Tour the historic State Education Building during this 45-minute tour led by State Museum staff.
Tuesday, June 18
Noon
See over 100 artworks during this lunchtime tour.
Thursday, June 27
Noon
Learn about the rise of the barge canal during this lunchtime tour.
Saturday, June 29
9:00 am
There are multiple escarpments in Thacher Park, where steep slopes rise between relative flat areas. Join geologist Chuck Ver Straeten and explore the topography and geology of the park, on and off trail. This hike, to the top of the park, will be moderately strenuous. Registration required; call 518-872-0800.
Bioarchaeology Spotlight
Forgotten graves from the 17th – 19th centuries may lie hidden beneath the streets and lawns of many modern communities. Older burial grounds that fell into disuse were sometimes abandoned leaving little trace over time. As they gradually disappeared from the landscape, they also vanished from public memory.

Today, when these burial places are accidentally discovered by construction, New York State Museum staff conduct bioarchaeological, or skeletal analyses to help identify the remains. The studies also contribute to a larger scientific effort to learn about health and disease in the colonial era.

In one case, burials found during construction on Pearl Street in downtown Albany were identified from a mid-18th century Lutheran church whose graves were supposedly moved in 1790 when Pearl Street was widened. One of the individuals, a woman who has come to be known as Pearl, suffered from several afflictions including poor dental health, respiratory infection, and possibly gout.

Pearl's story is featured in our exhibition Beneath the City: An Archaeological Perspective of Albany . Pictured here is a facial reconstruction of Pearl.
Gift Shop Item of the Month
Whether you plan on joining us for the hike at Thacher Park on June 29 or taking your own hike this summer, pick up "50 Hikes in the Upper Hudson Valley" by Derek Dellinger at the Museum Gift Shop.

On sale for $21.95, this book provides expert tips, directions, and fascinating context about 50 hiking experiences in the Hudson Valley.

For more information, contact the Museum Gift Shop at 518-449-7860.