Lenape Meadow Archaeological Excavation
The Great Swamp, Basking Ridge, N.J.
(Click on Photo for a Site Map)
Note: The Public Program is Currently on Hiatus
Check Back Periodically for Updates
The volunteer staff will continue with project work throughout the hiatus
About Our Program
The Lenape Meadow Excavation is a public archaeology project. Over the years, the site has attracted high school students, members of the general public, avocational archaeologists, and graduate students in archaeology and other fields. The only criterion is the desire to learn the techniques and methods of field archaeology.
Though the public program is currently on hiatus, the volunteer staff is conducting ongoing project work.
The staff is in the field April through June and September through November In January through March and during inclement weather the staff can be found inside the Environmental Center, cleaning and cataloging material found atthe site, as well working with material uncovered from a previous excavation at the Lord Stirling Manor site.
For additional information
E-mail:Dr. Cooper
This excavation is sponsored by the Somerset County Park Commission's
Environmental Education Center in Basking Ridge, N.J.
Click here for a recent inteview with Dr. Cooper
Some Happy Participants
Our Mission
The goals of the project are to provide an opportunity for public
archaeology for students, as part of school-sponsored programs, and
adults, as participants in the Sunday programs and site tours; to
investigate occupation levels for extent, time periods, and cultural
affiliations; and to determine National Registry eligibility for the
site.
The Site
As evidenced by the finds to date, the site is a Late Archaic - Early
Woodland village area. Combined with evidence from other sites nearby
and local collections, the meadow represents a part of the extensive
habitation of the Great Swamp, here c. 6000-1000 ybp. The typical
assemblege consists of
debitage from tool manufacture, with the most
frequently used materials being flint, chert, jasper, argellite, and
quartz. Finished tools and blanks are also recovered. A conspicuous
lack is that of organic remains. The meadow, in the swamp and located
near the Passaic River, floods regularly either from the river or from
elevated levels of ground water. Thus, organic material would decay
rapidly. It is hoped that continued excavation will reveal portions of
the site less susceptible to this flooding. Structural remains include
hearths and adjacent postmolds. It is again hoped that continued
excavation will reveal sufficient features to reconstruct habitation
types and organization.
Click here to view results from some specific units
Some Recent Photos
Photos From Previous Sessions
Here are some links that may be of interest:
Website Administrator: Brian Sniatkowski
E-mail:briansnat@worldnet.att.net
Accesses: 
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