2026 Digging Season at Red Bank

This year I graduated from public volunteer to the Trench Team. The Trench Team is made up of professional archaeologists, students doing field work, and avocational archaeologists. My friends and I mostly fall into the latter category, with a couple of professionals tossed in.

The lovely, easy to sift, dirt

The season in four weeks long. The first week the weather was stunning. Dan, James, Mark, Martha, and I kept marveling at how wonderful the dirt is at Red Bank National Park. A scant two months ago we all bonded through the mud and freezing temperatures at Fort Mifflin. I think we spent most of the first week oversharing with the public just how perfect the conditions were. The dirt is dumped on the screen. After three shakes all but the pebbles and artifacts sift out. It felt like magic!

Graphite: my personal most exciting find
of the season

The second week was the same, but warmer. That week has a strong focus on encouraging veterans to participate. It is humbling being with them knowing they have endured more than I ever will. Max, the woman in charge of the Fort Mifflin site, runs Eternal-Soldier in Philadelphia. She told me about how much programs like this help veterans. She is passionate about this program.

The third week I divided my time between screening and metal detecting. I fell in love with metal detecting three years ago on my second public archaeology day. I went back the following year and found a darling pin of a hand holding a tiny flag that likely dates back to the sesquicentennial celebrations of 1926 or 1927 (the Battle of Red Bank took place in 1777).

The third week is Family Archaeology. Lots of small children who are curious, as well as energetic. It is good to introduce them to this field.

The day went well. I was able to do some mapping, which I really enjoy. Max endorsed me to the archaeologist who was going to do it alone. I don't know if it was any faster having me help, but it felt good to be able to use different skills.

Wrapping up this day seemed to take longer. Max wanted to push to where she wanted to finish for the day, which meant us screeners had to keep screening even though we were ready to pack it in. Think of it as the one washing dishes finishes before the one drying said dishes. 

We finished, and started to take things down. In an effort to be helpful, I was
trying to hold up a string so the plywood could be woven under it. I leaned over too far, or the wall was not as strong as I thought it was. In any case I fell four feet into the pit, and caused more damage trying to get out. As far as I know, no pictures exist. Everyone was kind. After making sure I was okay, they helped me out, gave me water and a chair, and a clean washcloth. Wade, the head of the archaeology team, checked in on me. Other than a giant bruise on my arm where I hit the aluminum ladder, and a bruised ego, I seem fine. This morning I found a few more bruises.

On a happier note, here are pictures of some of the finds. I was not as excited about what I found this year. There were a lot of pebbles with a few flakes tossed in. While metal detecting, I worked hard to find a hand cut nail. After two years of digging at Newlin Grist Mill and finding hand cut nails almost every time I dig, it does not hold the same appeal for me. Still, I took a picture because that bugger was down about a foot and I had to work hard for it. The funny part of the experience was having the lead metal detectorist, Dana, patiently showing me the different levels and describing it means when the soil changes. I asked him if he wanted me to "Munsell it," and he realized I understood the different layers of dirt. I found a newer nail near the top of the hole, likely the one that set the metal detector off in the first place. 

Other finds:

A blood letter (for letting blood)
from the late 18th century

There is one more week this season. I am opting to visit Stacy at the Lord Sterling site instead, followed by seeing a different Stacey portray Molly Pitcher. I know the best stuff is always found in the last hour of the last day, but I'll choose to live vicariously instead.