Join Michigan Tech’s 2005 Field School in Historical and Industrial
Archaeology. From May 9 through June 23, explore the remains of the West Point Foundry, one of America's earliest iron foundries.

The site is in Cold Spring, New York, located in the Hudson River Valley, just north of New York City. Michigan Tech is continuing a long-term research project on this famous industrial site. The West Point Foundry Preserve, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by Scenic Hudson Land Trust. Scenic Hudson has protected the site and is working to develop and interpret it as a public resource.

This summer will be Michigan Tech’s fourth field season at the Foundry, and will include mapping and excavations in both industrial and domestic areas of the site. The industrial component of the field school will focus on excavating a portion of the Foundry blast furnace, which operated from ca. 1817 through ca. 1844. The domestic component will investigate a
mid-19th century manager’s house and several unskilled workers’ dwellings on the Foundry property.

The field school will offer a unique opportunity for students to learn the methods of both historical and industrial archaeology on the 87 acre site. Students will gain experience in site mapping, including total station, GPS, and GIS. While in addition to excavation, students will engage in artifact classification, analysis, conservation, and photography. This field school is designed for students in Historical and Industrial Archaeology, Anthropology, American Studies, History, Military History, Material Culture, and Museum Studies.

Program participants will live at a local summer camp. The project will pay for room costs, but participants will be responsible for their own food. Participants have the option of earning between 2 and 8 credits. Tuition is $235 per undergraduate credit for Michigan residents, $605 per undergraduate credit for non-Michigan residents. Tuition for graduate credit is $432 per credit, regardless of residency.


Michigan Technological University, West Point Foundry Archaeology Project, Cold Spring, New York