Blog Posts Archive

Archaic Period (6500 – 3000 B.C.). The Archaic Period is the most poorly known time period in all of Delaware prehistory, even though it is not the oldest. There are no well-preserved and excavated sites from this period in the state. Nevertheless, many projectile points from this time period have been found on the surface […]

Discovery may be the remains of an 1829 armory.

Deadline for submission of abstracts: March 31, 2017

Deadline for submission of abstracts: April 22, 2016.

Presentations to highlight archaeological or historical research, or related topics for the State of Delaware. Deadline: March 10, 2023

Avery’s Rest contains archaeological evidence of 17th century and early 18th century colonial occupation. The due date for submission of proposals has been extended to 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020.

Contact Period (A.D. 1600 – 1750.) The Contact Period is enigmatic cultural period of Delaware’s archaeological record which begins with the arrival of the first substantial numbers of Europeans and ends with the extermination of all but a few remnant communities of Native Americans. The Lenape were the main ethnic group living in Delaware at […]

Archaeologist headed to new job at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.

By Chuck Fithian, HCA Curator of Archaeology 200 years have passed since the War of 1812, but few realize the dynamic role that the First State and its citizens played within the conflict. This article is the first of four excerpts to be blogged from Mr. Fithian’s essay entitled, “For the Common Defense,” “Infernals,” and […]

By Chuck Fithian, HCA Curator of Archaeology The initial actions and campaigns of the war took place along the Canadian border and on the high seas. However, that would change in late 1812. In December, the British government would declare the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays to be in a state of blockade, and by the […]

By Chuck Fithian, HCA Curator of Archaeology The year 1814 saw the inauguration of a new governor— Daniel Rodney of Lewes. Like his predecessor, he continued to oversee and maintain the active defense of the state. Defensive measures continued with Delawareans manning the various fortifications and ongoing militia service. During the year, Delaware ceded Pea […]

Office’s programs help to preserve Delaware’s historic places and unique cultural identity.

A greenish gemstone was once popular as a building material, but had its flaws. Read on to learn more about serpentine stone.

Craig Lukezic to discuss Fort Casimir, established by the Dutch in 1651 in what is now New Castle, Del.

Twenty-eight-year veteran left the agency on June 30, 2014.

Longtime leader in Delaware’s archaeological community passed away on June 3, 2018.