Trent University Durham Students Dig Up the Past & Gain Career Boosting Hands-on Experience
Gaining real-world, hands-on experience – just one of the career boosting benefits students at Trent University Durham GTA are enjoying as they immerse themselves in Oshawa’s history in an archaeological field work dig at the Oshawa Museum.
The dig, which is on now and runs through to May 18, is the third collaboration between Trent University Durham and the Oshawa Museum. At the dig, students have the opportunity to learn excavation techniques, before following up with lab work and lectures in the classroom during the summer semester.
“Participating in field-work provides valuable experiential learning. It reinforces key ideas about archaeology through employing them in practical contexts,” said Dr. Helen Haines, anthropology professor at Trent University Durham GTA. “Our partnership with the Oshawa Museum has been a boon to all parties. The Museum is able to investigate the archaeological record of their houses. The university is provided with an opportunity close to home where our students can get important experiential learning essential for employment, along with learning more about their own history and contributing to their community.”
The dig aims to discover local hidden artifacts from the Oshawa area to add to the Museum’s collection and knowledge of local history. The two main objectives of this project are: to provide students with a local, affordable introduction to archaeological excavation and laboratory methods; and to work with the Oshawa Historical Society to further their understanding of Oshawa’s history and promote heritage awareness.
“The Oshawa Museum is excited to welcome back Trent University Durham students and Professor Haines,” said Laura Suchan, executive director of the Oshawa Museum and Trent University alumna. “We believe strongly at the Museum that it is important to encourage the next generation of students in the cultural industry, and we are delighted to be able to provide an area that allows students to not only to gain hands-on experience, but also the opportunity to learn more about Oshawa’s unique history.”
The dig will take place at the historic Henry House, one of three houses sitting on original foundations along the lakeshore that were built between 1840 and 1856 and served as residences for Oshawa’s early European settlers. Students enrolled in the course and participating in the dig will develop skills in surveying, identifying occupations, and will gain an understanding of life in Oshawa at that time through the excavation of wells, garbage dumps, privies, and middens. Previous digs in the area have unearthed a drain or possibly the channel for a pump, several unusual pieces of ceramics from New England, and a rare token – a type of money used before minted coins became widespread.
Students will dig for two weeks learning the basic concepts of archaeological excavation, recording, and mapping, and then spend the remainder of the summer term working in the laboratory at the Trent University Durham campus, learning “post-dig” artifact processing and analysis – analyzing and interpreting the material is how archaeologists gain a better understanding of the past. All artefacts recovered will be given to the Oshawa Historical society for curation and display in the community museum.
CONTACT INFO:
For more information contact:
Kate Gennings, communications and media relations officer, Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x6180 or kategennings@trentu.ca
Lisa Terech, community engagement, Oshawa Museum, 905-436-7624 x 106, membership@oshawamuseum.org
Posted on May 8, 2018