A field school and archaeological dig led by Dr. Michael Strezewski, assistant professor of anthropology, and Bill Wepler, historical archaeologist for the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, will be held May 13- June 13 at Community House No. 2 in New Harmony, Indiana. About 10 USI students and volunteers also will be working at the site.

The dig is intended to help collect information and artifacts from Community House No.2 that can provide more information about how residents of New Harmony’s 19th century Utopian communities lived.

The field school’s directors hope to learn more about how Community House No. 2 was used and to pinpoint exactly where the Harmonist barn was located. A historical map showing several structures on the property, including the community house and the barn, will help guide their investigation.

The dig will help obtain a better understanding of what goods and products were available to New Harmony residents during different time periods. Participants also will search for privies and wells where trash was deposited.

Students will provide on-site interpretation when a visitor is taken to Community House No. 2 on one of Historic New Harmony’s daily tours.

There will be an open house at the site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Strezewski at or 812/464-1931.

Historic New Harmony is a joint program of USI and the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites.