June 2nd-4th. See the flyer for information.

Slave Dwelling Project flyer.pdf

10 week course, beginning Tuesday May 23rd with class sessions Tuesday nights on the Loudoun campus (NVCC) and Saturday mornings at area historical sites. Taught by Professor Patrick O’Neill.

Some sites include:
•    Chapman’s Mill in Prince William County
•    Bristoe Station Battlefield west of Manassas,
•    Fairfax County Archaeology Research Lab in Annandale
•    Ball-Sellers House in Glen-Carlyn, Robert Ball Sr. Cemetery, in Ballston

Some topics to be covered in the course:

ARCHAEOLOGY
•    what is archaeology
•    who does archaeology
•    why do archaeology
•    where to do archaeology
•    when to do archaeology
•    when not to do archaeology

ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
•    architectural details and dating
•    local, county, state, Federal significance of architectural history
•    National Register site evaluation
•    Measured drawings and photographs

TECHNIQUES
•    use of hand compass – conduct pedestrian surveys and mapping
•    laying out grids – artifact collecting and excavation
•    GIS – finding and comparing sites and locations
•    LIDAR technology – finding sites
•    land parcel maps (deeds/patents) – finding sites and buildings
•    USGS topographic maps – locating and mapping sites and landforms
•    aerial photographs – finding and mapping sites
•    Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps – finding buildings
•    Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – finding foundations, graves, pits…
•    carbon 14 dating – dating charcoal and organic matter
•    archaeo-magnetic dating – dating hearths and fired features
•    dendrochronology – dating by tree ring data

Oatlands and the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library are pleased to present a dynamic program this Sunday: An Afternoon with Michael Twitty.  Mr. Twitty is a food historian and independent scholar who researches and teaches about African American foodways and its parent traditions in Africa.  Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Twitty has presented at Monticello and on Good Morning America, and he is Colonial Williamsburg’s first Revolutionary in Residence.  We are very fortunate to have Mr. Twitty give a talk in Loudoun!  Please join us this Sunday, May 7, at 2 PM in the Pavilion tent at Oatlands for this special program.  See the Flyer!

Michael Twitty at Oatlands flyer

It’s Historic Preservation month in Prince William county (and across the United States).  Check out these activities!
Historic Preservation Month at HPD