Visiting with Buchanan Middle School Students

Hey FSJ followers, 

It's Ian again! This fall, I got the chance to become the new archaeology lab intern. I love learning more about archaeology and the fort as well as all of the public outreach that I get to do. Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Buchanan Middle School and talk to the 7th grade class about the archaeology and our Project researching Fort St. Joseph. I was a little nervous because I had never given a talk to a group of that size, but Mrs. Luke’s class was extremely nice and seemed genuinely interested in learning more about what I had to say. 

Prior to my visit, the students were asked to come up with three different questions to ask. One of the questions that many were wondering was, “What was your favorite artifact that you found?” While this question left me thinking for a bit and is hard for any archaeologist to answer, I eventually told them that my favorite artifact was a silver brooch tongue that I found in my unit a few years ago. Other questions that came up were “Why did the fort only have around twenty troops garrisoned?” and “What type of education do you need to become an archaeologist?” These questions made my day, because it showed that the students were interested in not only their local history, but also archaeology as a discipline. Some even mentioned that they might want to become an archaeologist when they grew up. 

I really enjoyed how much Mrs. Luke's classes were driven to learn more about the Fort. The entire class gave me their undivided attention and were very mature for their age. It was amazing! Seeing the students so enraptured by archaeology gave me a renewed appreciation for archaeology. Some days, digging and researching artifacts can feel less like an adventure and more like a job. However, seeing the intrigue on the faces of the students made me realize just how cool digging can be when done in conjunction with the public. I hope that hearing about this archaeological site right in their own backyards will turn some of the kids into aspiring archaeologists who may even go on to participate in our summer camp program at the Fort site. Many people talk about how rewarding it is to teach younger folks, and I agree with them. Simply seeing the interest on the students’ faces made everything I have done worth it. I loved my time at Buchanan Middle School and I can’t wait to continue doing public outreach activities through the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project. 

Have an archaeological day,

Ian