Time Team America

Gr 9 Up—PBS's Time Team America cast, comprised of host and team artist, Colin Campbell, and a group of archaeologists, spent three days at the historic site where New Philadelphia, IL, once existed. Now, the first American town to be founded in 1836 by former slave Frank McWorter has been turned over to an archaeology team to excavate, and the Time Team America group assisted specifically in the attempt to locate the town's pre-Civil War schoolhouse. Over a three-day period, they used geothermal technology, underground radar, and other advanced techniques to find anomalies in the ground to determine which sites to pick for digs. Town records, bills of sale, and family records were also researched to help narrow the search for the school site. Though the team was unable to find actual evidence of the school, small ephemera, such as pieces of slate and pottery, were discovered. The team also delved into local culture and customs of the time. They even discussed funerary rights when it was discovered that there was a separate African-American cemetery that is to be restored. This program provides an important perspective on advancements made into the freedom of slaves in America's pre-Civil war period, and offers an interesting and realistic overview of the fieldwork performed by archaeologists and historians. A fine choice for high school sociology and history classes.—Jessica Miller, New Britain Public Library, CT