The Maine Archaeological Society

Promoting archaeological awareness through education and publication, and encouraging archaeological conservation

Welcome to The Maine Archaeological Society's official website

Here you can learn of upcoming events, find education tools/resources, become a member/pay dues, shop, and much more. Please, feel free to explore the entire website and take full advantage of all it has to offer.

Stone furnace structure at Katahdin Iron Works surrounded by autumn trees.

Join us for four days in Maine’s North Woods excavating at Katahdin Iron Works village, from Thursday, October 15, to Sunday, October 18, 2026!

The site is roughly 15 miles north of Brownville along the West Branch of the Pleasant River, on land recently acquired by the Appalachian Mountain Club.

No fee to participate. Participants must be members of The Maine Archaeological Society.

Camping: Tent, pop-up, or car camping at one of the KI-Jo Mary group sites on nearby Silver Lake.

Bring your own food, tent, and other personal camping supplies. We will provide all the archaeology gear you need, firewood, and water.

For more information, contact Sarah Loftus.

Field School Details

Location: Katahdin Iron Works village, roughly 15 miles north of Brownville, Maine

Thursday, October 15 – Sunday, October 18

Four days of archaeological excavation at Katahdin Iron Works village.
Camping at a KI-Jo Mary group site on nearby Silver Lake.
No participation fee; Maine Archaeological Society membership required.

What to Bring

Your own food.
Your tent or other camping setup and personal supplies.

What We Provide

All the archaeology gear you need.
Firewood and water.

Open the 2026 Field School application (PDF). For more information, email Sarah Loftus at seltreehouse@gmail.com.

Dear tMAS Member,

We are pleased to announce that this year’s fall membership meeting will be held at the Cobscook Institute from Oct. 9–11, with an exciting program of presentations and field trips. Dormitory-style accommodation or tenting are available at the Cobscook and, along with meals, are included in the registration fee.

Registration has been closed.

Please note: The Cobscook Institute cannot accommodate dogs.

The Maine Archaeological Society’s 2026 Fall membership meeting, a multi-day event featuring field trips, will be held at the Cobscook Institute in Trescott from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 11.

Questions may be directed to Gabe Hrynick.

Sincerely,
The Maine Archaeological Society Board

Current Itinerary

Address: 10 Commissary Point Road, Township of Trescott, ME 04652

Friday, October 9

3:00 p.m. – Registration/check-in at Heartwood Lodge, Cobscook Institute
4:00 p.m. – Field trip to Reversing Falls
6:00 p.m. – Dinner, The Commons
8:00 p.m. – World premiere of the Barry Keegan knapping video, followed by a campfire and flintknapping, weather permitting

Saturday, October 10

7:00–8:30 a.m. – Continental breakfast, The Commons
8:30–9:00 a.m. – Overview lecture on recent research in the Quoddy Region
9:00–9:30 a.m. – Lecture on what has eroded away: Archaic period collections research in the Quoddy Region
9:45 a.m. – Depart for Sipp Bay Preserve; brief informal presentation at Sipp Bay Preserve to discuss recent excavations, zooarchaeology, and management plans
11:30 a.m. – Depart Sipp Bay
Noon–2:00 p.m. – Lunch, The Commons
2:00 p.m. – Depart for Jonesport to see the Margaretta
4:00 p.m. – Depart Jonesport for the Cobscook Institute
6:00–7:00 p.m. – Dinner, The Commons
7:00–8:00 p.m. – Keynote lecture on the Margaretta, The Commons
8:00 p.m. – Campfire, weather permitting

Sunday, October 11

5:00–5:30 a.m. – Continental or grab-and-go breakfast, The Commons
5:30 a.m. – Depart for Machiasport to see the “Picture Rocks”
6:00–8:00 a.m. – Tour of the “Picture Rocks”
8:00 a.m. – Depart for Jasper Beach; brief stop at Fort O’Brien State Historic Site
10:00 a.m. – Depart for home or back to the Cobscook Institute to pack up

Please check the Maine Archaeological Society website for updates and registration information. We hope to see you in Trescott!

The Archaeological Conservancy

This past summer, The Archaeological Conservancy visited and filmed the excavation being performed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission at the Sharrow Site in central Maine on the Piscataquis River. Click the Learn More button below to learn more about the project and to watch the video!