Projectile Points: Pocket-Sized Pieces of the Past

Join archaeologists and NHSM curators, Lisa Kraus & Jason Shellenhamer to check out (3D!) examples of spear and arrow points from the NHSM collections and discuss what they can tell us about people in the past. The NHSM collection represents sites from all over the country, and spans over 12,000 years of human history. Although these ubiquitous stone tools usually served a utilitarian purpose (shooting and stabbing things), sometimes the contexts in which they are found suggest they had purpose and meaning far beyond the obvious. Bring an open mind and your questions about projectile point technology!

The suggested donation is $5. NHSM understands that the pandemic has adversely impacted many. It shouldn’t impact access to education. Therefore, a free option is also available.
Please note that this is a 2-Step Registration Process. Once registered, a confirmation email will contain a link to register via Zoom. We apologize for the inconvenience, but this is an added layer of security.

Lisa Kraus, Co-founder and Project Director of the Herring Run Archaeology Project, holds a Ph.D. in anthropology and historical archaeology from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her undergraduate degree in anthropology at the College of William and Mary. She has a particular interest in public archaeology, archaeology of the African Diaspora, and archaeology of the Chesapeake region. In addition to her volunteer work with the Herring Run Archaeology Project and her day job as an archaeologist with the Maryland Environmental Service & Maryland State Highway Administration, Lisa also serves as a co-curator of archaeology at the Natural History Society of Maryland.

Jason P. Shellenhamer, Co-founder and Project Director of the Herring Run Archaeology Project, completed his Master’s of Applied Anthropology at the University of Maryland in 2004. Prior to arriving in Maryland, he obtained his Bachelors of Arts degree from Franklin and Marshall College. Jason is currently the Senior Project Archaeologist at the Baltimore Headquarters of Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP. His projects have included excavations at the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Historic Park, Antietam National Battlefield, the Peterson House at Ford’s Theatre National Historical Site, and the excavations of the Baltimore defenses in Patterson Park during the War of 1812. Mr. Shellenhamer also serves as the co-curator of archaeology at the Natural History Society of Maryland.