Summer 2025 Internship Information

Introduction:

Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section in conjunction with The Lost Towns Project is offering two internship positions in Archaeology with a focus on laboratory methods and collections management. The internship will be based in Edgewater, MD with some travel required.

This internship is designed to be educational in nature and is best for undergraduate students or recent graduates seeking hands-on experience in a wide variety of archaeological topics in a local government/non-profit setting. 

Internship Description:

Interns will learn the basics of archaeological lab work and collections management by participating alongside professional archaeologists and volunteers in the lab and at curation facilities. There may be limited opportunities for fieldwork, but there is no definite fieldwork planned at this time.

With training, the intern will be required to:

  • Participate in and supervise artifact processing (washing, labeling, cataloging, and curation preparation) at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Laboratory at 839 Londontown Road in  Edgewater, MD (60% of time);
  • Conduct collections assessment of existing archaeological collections in Edgewater and Annapolis, MD, and record them in a collections management database (30% of time);
  • Attend field trips to regional archaeological sites, labs, and curation facilities (10% of time);
  • (Optional) Assist with public programs on weekends;
  • (Dependent on availability) Participate in Phase I and Phase II excavations at one or more archaeological sites across Anne Arundel County;
  • Work with other interns and volunteers as needed;
  • Contribute to blog, social media, and/or webpage posts; and
  • Write a final report on their activities. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the internship, the intern should be able to:

1. Conduct laboratory processing of artifacts (washing, labeling, cataloging, and curation preparation) to Maryland State Archaeological Standards;
2. Assess curated archaeological collections (artifacts and paper/digital records) as part of a management plan; and
3. (Dependent on availability) Perform archaeological fieldwork techniques, including excavation, artifact identification, and record keeping.

Qualifications:

  • Undergraduate students who are pursuing a major or minor in Anthropology, Archaeology, Historic Preservation, or Museum Studies, or recent graduates in those fields, are preferred.
  • Graduate students may still apply but should contact the internship coordinator in advance.   
  • Applicants should have some familiarity with archaeology and/or local history, either through coursework or extracurricular activities. 
  • Interns should be self-motivated and able to work both independently and in small teams with intermittent supervision.
  • Interns should possess basic computer skills, organization skills, record keeping, and attention to detail. They should be comfortable working in office, laboratory, and outdoor environments.
  • Interns will need independent transportation; work sites are not accessible via public transit.
  • Students may pursue academic credit through their institution.

Duration:

Interns will be expected to work Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, for a total of 150 hours. A schedule will be coordinated between the student and internship coordinator. Fieldwork or public programs may start earlier than 10:00 am. Most interns complete the internship in 9-10 weeks. The internship will start in late May or early June and must be completed by August 31, 2025.

Compensation:

College interns will receive a stipend of $1,000 upon completion of 150 hours.

For More Information or To Apply:

To apply, email a cover letter and a resume or CV to Drew Webster at [email protected]. Applications are due April 15, 2025.

Lost Towns Project Awarded 2025 SHINE Grant from Maryland Humanities!

We are grateful to be one of 90 Maryland nonprofit organizations to receive $10,000 in general operating funding from Maryland Humanities’ Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE Grants Program (Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity)

As a very small volunteer-based non-profit, grant funding is critical to our ability to provide history and archaeology research and programming to our community. In 2025, this funding will help us fund our summer internship program, continue documenting important archaeological and historic sites, and fund general organizational expenses.

More information about the SHINE Grants can be found here.

This project has been financed in part with State Funds from the Maryland Historical Trust, an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning which is an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Historical Trust or the Maryland Department of Planning.

Maryland Archaeology Month 2024

April is Maryland Archaeology Month! Here is how we are getting involved. Find more archaeology events across the state at marylandarcheologymonth.org.


Archaeology Lab Open House (Maryland Day Weekend)

Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab
839 Londontown Rd, Edgewater, MD

Dig into local history at the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Lab! View a wide variety of artifacts from recent excavations across Anne Arundel County, from 19th-century African-American tenant farms to 13,000-year-old Native American camps.

Kids and adults can try their hand at sorting artifacts, discover educational resources about local history, and learn how to get involved in archaeological digs and labwork, right here in Anne Arundel County.

No registration is required; drop in any time between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Find more Maryland Day Weekend Events at marylandday.org



Sites of Slavery, Resistance, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Anne Arundel County

Tuesday, April 9th
7:00 pm

Online Lecture
Hosted by Historic Annapolis
$15 – Register here

Lisa Robbins will be presenting the findings of an 18-month study on the housing of enslaved and free-Black tenants in Anne Arundel County during the 19th century. The study will also cover the notable architectural changes that occurred during the transition period immediately after emancipation. Lisa will use several case studies from the county to demonstrate the significance of documenting and preserving these cultural resources that are disappearing.


Discovering Archaeology Day

Saturday, April 13th
11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
10515 Mackall Road
St. Leonard, MD

A day of interactive learning and fun with archaeologists from across Maryland and Virginia, including hands-on activities for kids, tours, exhibits, games, giveaways, and cool crafts. Free & open to the public!


The Archaeology of Jug Bay: A Hike through History

Sunday, April 14th
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
1361 Wrighton Road
Lothian, MD

Join archaeologist Drew Webster, from the Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section, to celebrate Archaeology Month with a hike from the Jug Bay Visitor’s Center to the Jug Bay River Farm. Along the hike (approximately 2.5-3 miles) you will learn about the many archaeological findings and research sites ranging in occupations from 13,000 years ago to the historic period. Drew will share how these archaeological sites inform us about past ways of life for people occupying the landscape of Jug Bay. The hike will include an artifact show-and-tell.

Ages: 12 years old and up. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Fee: $10 per person, entrance fee included. More information and registration here.


Walk for the Woods

Saturday, April 27th
7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Bacon Ridge Natural Area
Farm Road Entrance
Crownsville, MD

Hosted by Scenic Rivers Land Trust.

Enjoy a day of guided hikes exploring the heart of the conserved Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville. Experts in wildlife, native plants, birds, history, archaeology, and more will be on-site and available to attendees. Plus, self-guided hike options will be offered, complete with trail maps and educational signage posted along the trails, as well as other fun educational activities.

Registration for guided hikes will open in early April. The hike schedule and link to registration will be announced on www.SRLT.org.

Resiliency Through Change Workshop: 13,000 Years of History Along the Patuxent River

Register Here

Resiliency through Change: Educator Workshop

Register here.

Learn how Climate Change affected native people & how archaeological sites are now threatened because of it.

Designed for 4th-12th grade Educators.

Engage in Maryland History

Mario Harley, a citizen of the Piscataway Conoy tribe and a member of the Wild Turkey Clan will speak about the culture and history of the Piscataway People through modern times.

Explore Environmental Relationships

A Citizen of the Piscataway Conoy tribe will explore the environmental relationships Piscataway people have had throughout recent history.

Discover New 4th-12th grade Resources to Use

Two archaeologists from the Lost Towns Project will introduce new resources that can be used in the classroom. A hands-on artifact analysis and hike to an archaeological site (weather dependent) will complete the day.

Bring a lunch and be prepared for a short hike (weather dependent)

Location: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary — Wetlands Center
1361 Wrighton Road
Lothian, MD

This project has been financed in part by the Maryland Center for History and Culture’s Thomas V. “Mike” Miller History Fund. However, Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Center for History and Culture.

Lost Towns and AA County Honored at Heritage Awards

The Lost Towns Project and Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section were among the awardees honored at the twentieth annual Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Awards, held on November 2nd at historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville. Honorees included:

  • The Archaeology of Jug Bay for the Heritage Partnership of the Year
  • Anne Arundel County’s Historic Markers Program for the Public/Private Initiative
  • C. Jane Cox for the Patricia Barland Leadership Award
  • View the full list of honorees here

Heritage Partnership of the Year

The Archaeology of Jug Bay initiative won the Heritage Partnership of the Year Award. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary has partnered with archaeologists from Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section and the Lost Towns Project since 2015 to research the area’s 13,000+ year-old human history and to share these discoveries with the public. The Jug Bay area is home to some of the most important archaeological sites in the state; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary alone has 24 registered archaeological sites between the three properties they manage. Citizen science projects at these sites have brought hundreds of volunteers and grade school students to participate in discovering their community’s heritage through archaeology.

Over the past year, these three organizations have worked together to host three archaeology paddle tours, one archaeology hike, and one homeschool program. They also debuted the Native American Heritage Toolbox an online resource that shares the discoveries of Jug Bay archaeology with the general public.


Public/Private Initiative Award

Anne Arundel County’s Historic Markers Program, run by its Cultural Resources Section, won the Public/Private Initiative Award. The program began in 2021 and is a collaboration between public agencies, heritage organizations, and local historians which highlights and celebrates local history.

The program seeks to recognize often under-represented history and places that may not be recognized by the conventional historic preservation mechanisms. Some important sites lack an aboveground presence (as in archaeological resources, or the location of historic houses that have been demolished). In other cases, surviving physical resources are on private property, not necessarily visible from the public way, and thus are not publicly accessible. This makes applying conventional heritage tourism tools and methods challenging, and results in limitations to the public’s understanding of the full range of resources and historic landscapes that tell the whole story of the County’s historic development.

In the three years that the program has been in operation, the County and dozens of non-profit and private community partners have developed, produced, and installed 24 wayside interpretive signs, 24 roadside markers, and 18 signs for small family cemeteries. These markers, which commemorate historic structures, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes, provide a powerful means of communicating with the public on important historic places that matter across the Heritage Area.

County offices and community partners include:

With contributions from Stacy Poulos


Patricia Barland Leadership Award – C. Jane Cox

C. Jane Cox was honored with the Patricia Barland Leadership Award, awarded for the highest level of achievement over a career with long-lasting contributions to local history and heritage. Jane currently serves as the Administrator of the Cultural Resources Section of Anne Arundel County’s Office of Planning & Zoning and is a founding board member of the Lost Towns Project.

Over decades of public service, Jane has participated and then overseen archaeological and historic preservation research and compliance projects at dozens of sites across Anne Arundel County. She has also developed public programs, museum exhibits, websites, and more for training and education. A short sampling of projects she has worked with support from with the Heritage Area includes “Paddle Through History” kayak tours, archaeology displays for the public, a cemetery symposium, and the much-lauded Story Map project, “African American Voices, Memories and Places: A Four Rivers Heritage Trail.”

She thrives on bringing the rediscovery of the past to the citizens who live in and visit the County. Her extensive knowledge of the heritage assets of the County has made her a sought-after expert on matters of local archaeology, history, and heritage, and her efforts have had a long-lasting effect on historic preservation and interpretation.

Congratulations, Jane!

With contributions from Heather Ersts and Dr. Carol Benson


Photos courtesy of Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area