On Saturday, October 24 a Public Archaeology Day will be held at the Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site in Walloomsac, NY off Route 67. The event is open to the general public and free of charge. Consultants with Commonwealth Cultural Resources Group, Inc. and NYS Parks employees will be on hand to share the history of the battle, provide demonstrations of both metal detecting and ground penetrating radar equipment as well as to discuss the future of the site. Additionally, volunteer metal detectorists with experience are invited to directly assist the consultants.
[private]Volunteer detectorists should arrive at 8 am for assignment. Three presentations open to all will be offered from 9 to 10 am, 11am to noon and 2 to 3 pm. Pre-registration before October 22 is required. Registrants should indicate if they would like to attend one of the presentations and/or participate as a metal detectorist.
All detecting will occur on land owned and managed by the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYOPRHP). All artifacts will be turned over to the archeologists at the end of the day, for inclusion in the NYOPRHP collection. Informal briefings on findings will be offered throughout the day.
Participants and visitors should meet in the parking area near the monument. Detectorists should bring drinking water and a bag lunch and may work to 4 pm. Long pants and boots are required. All participants must sign a waiver freeing the archeological consultant and NYOPRHP from any liability. Participants and visitors will also be asked to sign photographic release forms. All detectorists will be acknowledged in the final project report.
This opportunity has been made possible by the American Battlefield Protection Program, which has provided funds to conduct a survey of Bennington Battlefield. This survey will study the history of the Battle of Bennington through documentary and archaeological evidence.
To RSVP, please contact David Pitlyk, Historic Site Assistant, Bennington Battlefield by telephone at 518-279-1155 or by e-mail at david.pitlyk@parks.ny.gov.[/private]