Abdul Jones, Applied Archaeology MA student, recently presented his thesis research to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Abdul’s work is part of the larger Untold Stories of Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests Project, which is a partnership between IUP, WPC, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and others.
Abdul will give another public talk about his work on November 15. The talk will be held at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Richland Campus, and begins at 1:00 p.m.
The Laurel Hill Settlement was founded in the early nineteenth century by Edenborough Smith and William Hershberger, both African Americans. As the settlement grew, it evolved into an integrated community comprising African Americans, White Americans, and possibly Native Americans. Over time, many migrated from the community, settling in nearby Johnstown, Pennsylvania. John T. Brown and his family were among the final people to live on the mountain full-time.
The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired the land in 1968 and later transferred it to the state for the development of Laurel Ridge State Park. The Brown family was forced to move off the mountain when the land was acquired. When the family left the mountain, they left several structures on the property. Today, there is only a family cemetery left on the property.
The excavation of Browns Farm consisted of 74 shovel test pits and 11 test units. The goals of the excavation were to locate the house foundation, search for artifacts related to recreation and children, and examine these artifacts to gain insight into the subsistence strategies employed by the families over the 140+ years they lived on the site.
