June 17, 2025

On March 23rd, the Niagara Peninsula Society of the AIA hosted a Society Outreach Event at Brock University, a fair called Discovering the Layers of Archaeology. The event included several tables that represented the steps of fieldwork.

Table 1 was Survey, where attendees learned about the process of surveying a site and the various ways to survey a given area. They also engaged in a surface survey activity, where they would have to place flags (toothpicks) in the soil to indicate and map the area they’d like to analyze and excavate, as well as areas of interest.

At Table 2, Excavation, attendees learned about the techniques used throughout the excavation portion of a site, including how to dress like an archaeologist, the various tools used during excavation, the Harris Matrix, and stratigraphy. After learning about these different aspects, attendees were able to dig through tubs of soils that contained artifacts for them to identify and remove with trowels and brushes.

At Table 3, Analysis, attendees learned how to analyze finds once collected from an excavation, including looking for decoration on ceramics, dating analysis, and cleaning techniques. They would engage in a dating activity using pictures of various cellphones over the years, followed by sorting and cataloguing an assemblage of finds in trays.

Finally, at Table 4, Finds and Publish, attendees learned about the “after fieldwork” process and the different avenues archaeologists could take with their recent data collection. For the activity, guests made their own terracotta votives with fast-drying clay from three templates (Tau statuette, skyphos, and an oil lamp).

Guests were encouraged to also visit the Brock University Classics and Archaeology Department’s Cypriote Museum in between tables or after completing all activities.

With more than 50 attendees, the event was a resounding success! The Society noted that “It was a joy to spread the techniques and practices of archaeology to younger individuals and those interested in learning more about the profession.” The Niagara Peninsula Society’s president, Angus K. Smith, also said that the Society is going to consider hosting this event again, possibly bi-annually, and with an expansion to a larger demographic as well as the introduction of even more activities.