The Archeology and Interpretation of Native Americans at Valley Forge National Historical Park

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Northeast Region National Park Service Archeological Landscapes and the Stories They Tell" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania commemorates the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The enabling legislation directs the National Park Service to preserve the natural and cultural resources of, and educate the public on, the encampment. It is no surprise that virtually all of the interpretive programs and materials are related to the Revolutionary War. This narrow thematic focus has dictated the research trajectory in the park, and has possibly influenced the recording of basic site information. Researching original reports indicates that the precontact component of historic sites has not always been recorded in the park’s archeological site management system. Taking all evidence into account using GIS, the overall presence of past Native Americans in the park is much greater than originally thought. This has been discussed with associated Native American Tribes with the goal of adding their stories to park interpretation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Northeast Region National Park Service Archeological Landscapes and the Stories They Tell

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 583