Historical Archaeology Internships

George Washington's Mount Vernon announces paid
internships in historical archaeology during summer
and fall 2003.  A 10-week program, June 2 - August 9,
2003, is intended for advanced undergraduates and
graduate students who have had field training in
archaeology, while a 6-month track, June 2 - November
30, is designed for recent graduates seeking
additional field work in historical archaeology and
interpretation.  Mount Vernon's internships offer an
opportunity for intensive archaeological fieldwork in
a research-oriented setting with a strong emphasis on
direct interaction with museum visitors.

Mount Vernon is a historic site museum located near
Washington DC.  Its mission is to interpret the life
of the first president within the context of his home
and plantation.  In April 2002 Mount Vernon completed
a renovation of Washington's reconstructed 1771
gristmill.  This working mill serves as the focal
point of a seven-acre exhibit which interprets George
Washington's entrepreneurial endeavors.  A research
project to study Washington's 1797 whiskey distillery
began in 1999.  Constructed adjacent to the plantation
gristmill, the distillery provided another product for
Mount Vernon's rye and corn.  The distillery, a 75 x
30-foot stone building, housed five copper pot stills
producing over 11,000 gallons of whiskey in a year.
Though large and productive, the operation was
short-lived and the building was dismantled by 1815.
Over the course of four summers, archaeological
excavations exposed strata related to the stone
distillery.  In 2003 fieldwork will focus on these
distilling features including excavation of the
building's foundation, drainage system, and heat
sources.

Interns will participate as members of the
archaeological field crew excavating
distillery-related features and interpreting the site
for the public.  Field experience will be augmented by
lectures, discussions, readings and writing
assignments on topics relevant to Chesapeake
archaeology and history, distilling history, historic
preservation, and public archaeology.  Trips to area
sites will also be taken.  Applicants should be in
good physical condition and should be aware that the
internship primarily involves long hours of digging in
hot, humid, and dirty conditions.  Participants will
receive a competitive stipend and assistance in
securing local housing.  The internships are funded by
a grant from the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.
S.

To apply, submit a resume with two references, and
cover letter, including a statement detailing interest
in this program, and specifying the preferred track
(10 week or 6 month).  Deadline is April 4, 2003.
Selection will be made by April 18.

Please send applications to Esther White, Historic
Mount Vernon, P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA  22121,
[log in to unmask]  Fax:  703) 799-5222.

Thanks,
Eleanor Breen
Assistant Archaeologist
703) 799-6303
[log in to unmask]





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