Red Bank Battlefield Field School

The Red Bank Battlefield Field School offers a unique opportunity to study the discipline and practice of archaeology and public history. The class will take place at Red Bank Battlefield Park, where, in 1777, Continental forces delivered a devastating blow to attacking Hessians. The battlefield is an active archaeological site which continues to produce musket balls, canister shot, grapeshot, and other items left behind 245 years ago. 

Students will study with archaeologist Wade Catts and public historian, Dr. Jen Janofsky. Wade brings over 40 years of battlefield archaeology experience to the class. Jen is the Director of Red Bank Battlefield Park and has worked as a public historian for the past 20 years. 

The class will expose students to the fundamentals of applied archaeology-hand excavation, unit measurement, screening and processing artifacts-- while also working with park visitors to gain a better understanding of the archaeological process. In addition to work at the park, there will be several reading assignments and short papers. We will welcome several guest speakers who are experts in the field of archaeology and bioarchaeology. Students will also have the opportunity to experience a behind the scenes tour at the Museum of the American Revolution. The class requires a final project: an exhibit highlighting the field school’s discoveries. The exhibition will be open to the public and on display at the 1748 Whitall House. 

The class is open to both matriculated and non-matriculated students. It is offered both as an undergraduate Special Topics history as well as a Special Topics anthropology course. A graduate version of the course is also available. 

The class meets May 13-June 21, 2024 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am-1:00 pm. Students will also be required to participate in one of the park’s Saturday public archaeology days: June 1, June 8, or June 22 (either a morning or afternoon session). 

Students who are interested in gaining more field experience can sign up for 2-6 additional credits through INTR 20399 Internship in the Applied Liberal Arts.  More information about this program, including how to sign up for an Internship, may be found here.

Red Bank Battlefield Park is located at 100 Hessian Ave, National Park, NJ. 08063, on the Delaware River about 25 minutes from Glassboro. Students will need to arrange their own transportation to the site.

Students can register for these courses here. The titles and course numbers are listed below.

Undergraduate courses:

• 30468 HIST 05.368 ST BATL LAB ARCH & PUB HISTORY 
  
  
• 30608 ANTH 02.492 ST BATL LAB ARCH & PUB HISTORY

Graduate course:

• ​30465 HIST 05.561 EAH BATL LAB ARCH & PUB HISTORY