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About the Curators
Steve
Warfel , Senior Curator
At
The Museum
I supervise and oversee management of the Commonwealth’s archaeological
collections, plan and develop exhibits and educational programs
which interpret archaeological materials and information to the
public, plan and conduct an annual field research program, analyze
archaeological collections and produce publishable reports, provide
answers to public inquiries about Pennsylvania archaeology, and
make identifications of archaeological artifacts and collections.
Current
Projects
For the past eleven years I conducted research at Ephrata Cloister, a National Historic Landmark and Commonwealth Historic Site. The purpose of my study was to locate and identify physical evidence of original communal structures that once comprised the 18th century German religious community known as Ephrata. To date, we located and investigated the site of the first communal dormitory built in 1735, the first prayer house built in 1736, the Brotherhood’s first dormitory built in 1738, the Brotherhood’s first prayer house built in 1739, and numerous small activity areas. Both the Brotherhood’s dormitory and prayer house were confiscated by the Continental Army in 1777-1778 and used as military hospitals.
Nearly 900,000 artifacts have been recovered over the course of the eleven-year project. They reflect on human activities associated with Native Americans, who occupied the Cloister landscape as early as 3500-4000 BC, the 18th century Cloister commune, 19th century Seventh Day German Baptist farms, and historic site and museum use of the property during the 20th century. Artifacts dating to the communal period have provided new information about the lifestyles of men and women who chose to withdraw from the “outside world.” These objects indicate that members did not always live according to the strict standards set for the community by their leader, Conrad Beissel.
Historical and archaeological research have allowed us to locate the 18th century Ephrata community on the modern landscape and more truthfully interpret member activities to the visiting public. It is expected that 18th building locations will be physically marked and interpreted on the ground surface for the benefit of the visiting public in the future.
Education
BA, Franklin and Marshall College, 1971
MA, Brown University, 1980
Recent
Publications
Click
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a pdf file of Stephen G. Warfel's publications
(last update-Fall 2006).
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Contact
Steve Warfel
swarfel@state.pa.us
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Janet
Johnson, Curator
At
The Museum
Archaeology Section collections are utilized by academic and individual researchers on a regular basis. We encourage study of these artifacts and, to that end, I assist in culling out artifacts necessary for various research projects. Other activities involve the submission of collections from compliance archaeology projects, processing loan requests and documentation associated with selected artifacts, and answering public inquiries about archaeology and our collections. Volunteers, under my supervision, assist in revisiting older collections and documentation, which require attention due to changes in curatorial practices.
Current
Projects
The Section of Archaeology strives to curate collections for preservation and future access by the public either through research or exhibit. With that mission in mind, answering research request and inquiries dictates most of my work schedule. Around these tasks I have also been working on recently donated collections from private individuals. The largest of these collections is the David Warner collection principally collected during excavations while a member of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Forks of the Delaware, Chapter12. This collection provides important research material from sites along the Upper Delaware in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Additional collections recently donated to the museum include artifacts recovered by a private collector in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. This collection includes materials from investigations at the Mcfate Site, an important Monongahela Village site previously investigated by the Works Progress Administration. Both of these donations contribute to our understanding of prehistoric cultures and their life ways. Additionally, interns have researched, identified, and rehoused archaeological coins from our collections into archivally stable containers important in insuring long-term curation. I continue to work with institutions in providing public programming upon request.
Education
BA, Mansfield State University, 1979
Publications
McConaughy, Mark A. and Janet R. Johnson
2003 Sugar Run Mound (36Wa359) and Village (36Wa2): Hopewell/Middle Woodland in Warren County, Pennsylvania. In Foragers and Farmers of the Early and Middle Woodland Periods in Pennsylvania, edited by Paul A. Raber and Verna L. Cowin, pp. 101-116. Recent Research in Pennsylvania Archaeology, No.3, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA.
Kent, Barry C., Janet Rice, and Kakuko Ota
1981 A map of 18th century Indian towns in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania
Archaeologist 51(4):1-18
Contact
Janet Johnson
janjohnson@state.pa.us
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David
J. Burke, Curatorial Assistant
At
The Museum
In addition to maintaining collections and records of the Archaeology Section, my responsibilities include auditing compliance archaeology collections to ensure they meet long-term curation standards. Occasionally I work with donated private collections to determine if artifacts can be attributed to previously recorded sites or, alternatively, represent new site locations. These varied tasks and others make working in the Section of Archaeology a refreshing and rewarding experience.
Current
Projects
I am currently assisting with the audit of a large archaeological compliance collection recovered from several counties in the center of the state. The research was conducted prior to highway bridge replacement and expansion.
Education
B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 1999
Contact
David Burke
davburke@state.pa.us
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Elizabeth
Wagner, Curatorial Assistant
At
The Museum
I assist with management of the Commonwealth’s archaeological collections. This task includes auditing, processing, and housing collections. The Archaeology Section is the central repository for archaeological collections in the state of Pennsylvania, and a great deal of maintenance is required to ensure that collections are accessible to future researchers. I also maintain the Museum’s archaeology gallery and Section library, assist researchers, and monitor climatic conditions in artifact storage areas.
Current
Projects
I am currently assisting with the audit of a large archaeological compliance collection recovered from several counties in the center of the state. The research was conducted prior to highway bridge replacement and expansion.
Education
B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 1996
Publications
2003 The Wise Cabin: A Regional Perspective. In A Gap in Time:
Context, Archaeological Inventory, and Management Recommendations
for the Fox Gap Section of The South Mountain Battlefield,
edited by Joe Baker. IUP Archaeological Services
Contact
Elizabeth Wagner
elwagner@state.pa.us
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