Making Colonial Forts Relevant in the Twenty-First Century
Presented by Dr. Michael Nassaney; Professor Emeritus, Western Michigan University and former Principal Investigator of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project.
In our fast-moving, technologically-advance era, one might ask “what can we learn from the decayed remains of a colonial fortification?” Surely life in days gone by was quaint and we might be nostalgic for simpler times. Yet archaeological investigations of colonial forts have revealed insights that may have relevance for charting a course in the twenty-first century. In this presentation I touch on some of the ways in which fort archaeology is contributing to a better understanding of the past and a vision for the future.
- Thursday, June 12 from 1-4 p.m.: Members of TCHA are invited to the Fort Ouiatenon Preserve to tour the preserve and watch field school students excavate. Members can watch excavations, learn about archaeological research from archaeologists, and see some artifacts recovered during the 2025 excavation season.
Other related events:
- Saturday, June 14 from 10 am – 12 pm: Members of TCHA are invited to the Fort Ouiatenon Preserve to tour the preserve and see the excavation areas in a show-and-tell format. No excavations will take place during this time.
- Then join us again on June 18th at 6 PM for the Field School wrap up presentation, at the History Center! (Artifact Show and Tell and Excavation Progress Report from the 2025 Field Season. This program is open to the public, and free. Talk to Archeology students, anthropologists, and see the newest findings from their ‘25 Field School.)
- Saturday, June 14 from 10 am – 12 pm: Members of TCHA are invited to the Fort Ouiatenon Preserve to tour the preserve and see the excavation areas in a show-and-tell format. No excavations will take place during this time.
Other related events:
- Thursday, June 12 from 1-4 p.m.: Members of TCHA are invited to the Fort Ouiatenon Preserve to tour the preserve and watch field school students excavate. Members can watch excavations, learn about archaeological research from archaeologists, and see some artifacts recovered during the 2025 excavation season.
- Then join us again on June 18th at 6 PM for the Field School wrap up presentation, at the History Center! (Artifact Show and Tell and Excavation Progress Report from the 2025 Field Season. This program is open to the public, and free. Talk to Archeology students, anthropologists, and see the newest findings from their ‘25 Field School.)
Artifact Show and Tell and Excavation Progress Report from the 2025 Field Season. This program is open to the public, and free. Talk to Archeology students, anthropologists, and see the newest findings from their ‘25 Field School.
Saturday, June 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.