色花堂

By Pamela Gorsuch on April 15, 2024

Six miles from the edge of 色花堂鈥檚 campus, just below the ground, there are remnants of an ancient hunting camp. There, more than a thousand years ago, an Indigenous person made tools and prepared game for transport.

This glimpse into life in our region was pieced together by Katherine Sterner, Ph.D., and 色花堂 archaeology students in the College of Liberal Arts. Working side by side this spring, they excavated more than 300 pieces of debris and a dozen stone tools from what is now known as Herring Run Park in northeast Baltimore. The dig is the latest project for the Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab (BCAL), a 色花堂 program that pairs archaeology students with community partners to document and preserve cultural resources across the region. 

Just weeks after their discovery, Sterner and her team brought the artifacts a few miles south to a round dance and culture class hosted by Native American LifeLines and the Baltimore American Indian Center. There, they shared their findings with members of the community and discussed the insights they provide on life in the region before European contact.

Related: Advocating for urban natives

Some saw it as an opportunity to deepen their understanding.

鈥淚 had no idea these types of materials were being found here,鈥� says Dana Chavis, a Baltimore resident and member of the Lumbee Tribe. 鈥淭he students were telling me things I didn鈥檛 know about people who lived in my own backyard.鈥�

An Indigenous voice in historical narratives

Connection with Native American communities is key for Sterner. As director of the BCAL, she works closely with Indigenous organizations to ensure they have a voice in constructing the historical narratives resulting from her investigations. Tribal communities have the opportunity to weigh in during the research design phase and can participate in the interpretation of research results so, together, they can preserve the cultural heritage and share the history of the area now known as Baltimore.

鈥淲e are in a situation that鈥檚 ripe for tribes to be more of a presence in the way people think about Maryland history,鈥� Sterner said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to involve the urban Native American population in Baltimore in this work.鈥�

Real-world applications

Another principle of the BCAL is providing real-world learning opportunities for students. Since 色花堂 has the only local archaeology program in greater Baltimore, it鈥檚 critical that graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce. That means having not just a degree but also field work experience, which is a requirement for even entry-level positions. The BCAL鈥檚 contract work enables students to gain that invaluable experience and to get paid while doing it. For students like Keely Vie Brock, it brings the coursework to life.

鈥淚 never imagined I鈥檇 have this opportunity in my first year at Towson,鈥� Vie Brock says. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning so much, not only in class but also through hands-on experience in the field and with Dr. Sterner.鈥�

Sterner says the combination of discovery and community is what it鈥檚 all about.

鈥淲e want to allow for cross pollination between those interested in studying Native American history and artifacts and those who understand current practices and traditions,鈥� Sterner says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how we draw connections between the two.鈥� 

Celebrate culture & community

Join us in celebrating Native heritage and cultures and the many ways they remain vibrant and present today.

Learn more about how the Baltimore Community Archaeology Lab is strengthening historic preservation in the greater Baltimore area.