I also watched the TV story here in Philadelphia. The historians who 
have been made "guardians" of the bones by the DA of Chester County 
have now contacted the physical anthropologists at Penn. They admit 
they have no idea what they are doing in regard to:
(1) excavating the site, and (2) then analyzing the remains, and they 
have asked for help.

Is there anyone on the Philadelphia Archaeological Group or other 
groups who might help them with the excavation??  If so, AFTER the 
excavation Janet Monge, our skeletal person, would certainly be 
interested in analyzing the bones (with the exception of DNA). We can 
not get involved in the excavation stage (either as the official 
sponsor or fiscally) because we are already involved in our own 
project. We have no resources for such a dig.

If there is some other institution or person at an institution, an 
archaeologist, who can help please let me know. It is important that 
these historians did ask for help. The TV story was a bit of a 
shocker but no major disaster yet.

Except for the digging part this project is 99% physical anthropology.

Bob Schuyler



At 03:28 PM 3/27/2009, you wrote:
>Interesting story, but certainly doesn't appear to be 
>archaeology.  My view of their website indicates that these are 
>amateur excavations by a history professor and his reverend 
>brother.  I am troubled by any story that starts with "we pulled a 
>skull from the ground."
>
>Bob Genheimer
>George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
>Cincinnati Museum Center
>1301 Western Avenue
>Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
>513-455-7161
>513-455-7169 fax
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of geoff
>carver
>Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 3:51 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Secrets of mass grave revealed
>
>
>Interesting little report on a small piece of history: a mass grave,
>possibly of Irish immigrant railway construction workers, possibly victims
>of cholera or cholera-induced anti-immigrant hysteria:
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7961564.s
>tm
>
>
>Open Feb. 13 through Sept. 7 - Dinosaurs Unearthed will take you 
>back in time with its more than 20 life-sized roaring, moving 
>dinosaurs, full skeletons, fossils and reports on significant 
>dinosaur discoveries. See it with the OMNIMAX film, Dinosaurs Alive!
>
>Also, don't miss RACE: Are We So Different? in the Cincinnati 
>History Museum. It challenges perceptions about race, encourages 
>dialogue and promotes hands-on learning with numerous interactive kiosks.

Robert L. Schuyler
University of Pennsylvania Museum
3260 South Street
Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324

Tel: (215) 898-6965
Fax: (215) 898-0657
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