DonateDirector Harry Murphy Continues to Unearth History
Martin University’s Next Step Education through Archaeology Project (NSEAP) is a six-week summer archaeological research field school that engages roughly 20 high school students yearly in the investigation of 8,000 years of human occupation on an archaeological site located at Fort Harrison State Park.
Since 1999, Director Harry Murphy has made yearly progress on the site, using an unusual "100 percent Surface Collection Strategy;" in fact, the Fort Harrison Park site is the largest 100% surface collection site in America. The Strategy avoids digging to preserve the non-replaceable resource of artifacts that are found at the site, compiling a comprehensive database that can be accessed by other archaeological researchers. The site has published findings in a number of esteemed scientific publications, and Murphy is active in speaking at conferences and symposiums on archaeology around the Midwest including the recent symposium at the Midwest Archaeology Project.
The project has served more than 100 Indianapolis minority sites. The first, between 8,000 and 10,000 years old, is from a period known as the early archaic period. The other, a late Woodlands site, is about 1,000 years old and contains pottery and other useful artifacts. Murphy said, "The early archaic period site is quite rare. I am very pleased that the students have an opportunity to work on this site. Their work directly contributes to the successful dating and mapping of these unique sites."
Initiated in 1999, the Martin University Next Step Education through Archaeology Project has served over one hundred Indianapolis minority and low-income high school students. The primary goal is to use archaeology as a tool to provide high school students the skills and enthusiasm needed to succeed in college. In 2002, the Project received the Indiana Archaeology Award from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in recognition of an outstanding quality program of archaeological research projects, professional activities, and significant educational outreach contributions.