Wolf Creek Excavations in Slippery Rock, PA

Dr. Aksel Casson is an assistant professor of Archaeology and Anthropology at Slippery Rock University. This fall he has organized archaeological excavations at Wolf Creek- Miller Nature Reserve in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. He hopes to build on top of previous excavation work that was completed in the 1980s. Some prehistoric artifacts were found in the 1980s and he hopes to find more this fall with the help of SRU students. Dr. Casson believes that Wolf Creek is the perfect spot to find prehistoric occupation. Dr. Casson believes that Wolf Creek was an area where small groups would be spending small/short term occupations in the area such as eating or gathering foods, spending the night there and then moving on. So far, elements like charcoal has been found in the area which indicates a cultural occupation. The archaeological excavations occurring at Wolf Creek are student driven and voluntary projects. Non-major students and anybody interested can participate in the excavations. All information or artifacts found at the Wolf Creek site is to hopefully be presented at regional or national conferences. Additionally, Slippery Rock University's community library is going to be partnering with the excavations to be presenting the information as well. The project will run up until the weather changes and it gets too cold to continue but Dr. Casson anticipates that these excavations could turn into a possible class for SRU students in the Spring semester of 2020.

Nick Grimm, a senior anthropology student at SRU sifts through top soil at the Wolf Creek Site

Dr. Aksel Casson, assistant professor of anthropology and archaeology at SRU takes measurements of the grid site at Wolf Creek

David Fishburn, student at SRU digs in the soil with trowels at Wolf Creek

James Jablonski, a SRU student combs through the soil in hopes of uncovering remnants of the past.

Dr. Stanley Lance (left) retired professor of field school at Gannon University observes the excavations of a former camp site at Wolf Creek

Donna Smith sifts through the topsoil and finds remnants of a previous camp fire and charcoal debris.

Wayne Wall holds a bag of collected debris and evidence of a former camp fire at Wolf Creek

Dr. Aksel Casson, assistant professor of anthropology and archaeology at Slippery Rock University takes notes at the Wolf Creek Excavations