Paging Dr. Jones: Open house at Schoharie County archaeological site tomorrow

Above: A 2008 video from the University of Albany about student research at the Pethick Site, an active prehistoric archaeological dig in the Schoharie County town of Esperance.

Today and Friday, July 5 and 6, the New York State Museum and the University of Albany's archaeology department are holding a two-day open house at the Pethick Site, in the Esperance hamlet of Central Bridge.

The site, one of the most important archaeological finds in the state, dates back to at least 2,000 B.C. Over 200,000 artifacts have been unearthed from the site.

From a press release from the New York State Museum:

State Archaeologist Dr. Christina Rieth of the New York State Museum and Dr. Sean Rafferty, associate professor of Anthropology at the University at Albany, will discuss New York State Archaeology and the relationship of the Pethick site to other nearby sites in the Schoharie Valley, as well as to prior excavations conducted by archaeologists nearby. They also will discuss how artifacts found at this site are similar to or different from other sites of similar age and how landscape features, such as the Schoharie Creek, have played an important role in the occupation of the site.

Students from the University at Albany’s Anthropology Department will provide tours of the site and active excavation areas, but visitors are welcome to explore at their own pace and stay as long as they would like.

The Pethick Site is located on Smith Road, off Route 7/30A in Central Bridge.