Public Archaeology Corps
The Lab and Field will be closed for the Azalea Festival April 4 & 5th, 2025
The Lab and Field will be closed for the Azalea Festival April 4 & 5th, 2025
Our mission is to protect archaeological sites. Many sites are lost each year due to development. When an archaeological site is lost, a piece of history is also lost.
Please register to become a Volunteer.
Please sign up to Volunteer at event(s).
Please become a member and/or make a donation
Terri Russ – “I’m so excited to present Public Archaeology Corps with a grant from #terraconfoundation to support the PAC archaeology laboratory ” #terracon
How and Where to Volunteer at the Site
The Field is Open on Saturdays
from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
The site is located at:
10 South Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28412
Click Here To Register To Volunteer
How and Where to Volunteer at the Lab
The Lab is Open on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. The Lab is located at: 27 North Front Street, Wilmington, NC 28412.(Clear Glass Door, with no markings, between Gourmet Market and Bourbon Street)
Click Here To Register To Volunteer
PEOPLE OF PAC
Jon Schleier
PAC Executive Director
Mike Sr.
Senior Geologist
Lyle Bass L.bass.PAC@gmail.com
PAC Coordinator of Public Outreach and Public Relations
David A. Norris
Historian
Linda
Pretend Archaeologist
Paul Hepp
Dig Dog
Mindy Ellinger
PAC Event Coordinator
Tharyn Birgfeld
Web Content Creator
Carol Ragan
Dirt Addict
Pax and Daniel Chaffin
"Pax The Amazing" youtube Influencer and Daniel the Graphic Designer
Michael Haseltine Jr.
Pit Gremlin
Amr Elsaid
Egyptian Archaeologist
Luis Sanchez
Brand New Rock Fan
Robin Morgan
Trowel Hog
Lisa Comento
PAC Instagram Media Maven
Jasmine & Tessa Zucker
old world digs new world together
Patrick H. Garrow
RPA , PAC Laboratory Director
Doug Dickinson
PAC Equipment Manager
John Hooks
PAC Volunteer Coordinator
Nancy the Lab Worker
Cora Hoeing
Our Beam Climber
Jason Norris
Copy Editor by Trade, Archaeologist by Passion
Becky Smith
"Da Bomb"
Dennis Stout
Not dead
Adam Wampler
"Best Hair Guy" aka Alex
Ryan Palumbo
Headhunter in Shaloottee
Anthony Richardson
Volunteer Archaeologist
Scott A. Wyatt
Retired Professor, University of Illinois
Christy and Beth Chaffin
Archaeology sisters
Mercer Johnson
Glorified Sifter
Paul Hall
UNCW Student Member, gone Rogue
Ryan & Steven Janocho
Future Archaeologist and Dad
Keith Keeney
PAC Chair of Board of Directors
Will Lees
Retired Archaeologist who can't stop diggin'
Monica Beck
RPA Historical Archaelogist
Grenda Dennis
The Old Trouble Maker, Loved By All
Braxton
Archeological Repeat Offender in the hole
Alex Clupper
College Outreach Coordinator
Katie Harris
Student Intern
Jenna Sultana
pit daemon
Mike & Debbie Palumbo
annoying and more annoying , said their son Ryan
Lillie Wright
cleaning specialist
Nick Rosa
Future Paleontologist
Issy Gee
Student Member
Mandy Sivits
Soon to be...Environmental Scientist
Hunter Creek
student sifter
Marian Kuethe Wyatt
Retired HS Choir Director
Mission
Our mission is to protect archaeological sites located on privately owned land.
Archaeological sites on public lands, such as military bases or state/national parks, are protected by state and federal laws. Sites located on private land are not under any protection, and many are lost to development each year. The careful study of an intact site by professional archaeologists often adds to what we know about history; when an archaeological site is lost, a piece of history is lost as well.
Our geographical focus is southeast North Carolina, in and around Wilmington.
Who We Are
Public Archaeology Corps is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization consisting of professional archaeologists, historians, and private citizens united in their concern over the rapid loss of archaeological sites.
Our Approach
We protect these endangered resources based upon a threefold approach of engagement:
PUBLIC EDUCATION
PUBLIC OUTREACH
VOLUNTEERISM
PUBLIC EDUCATION
We offer direct engagement with local youth of all ages. We teach youth about archaeology using age-appropriate content and hands-on activities.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
We offer information about our organization at local events (festivals, farmer’s markets, etc.), speaking engagements, and active archaeology events (where members of the public are welcome to interact with the archaeologists during an active excavation).
VOLUNTEERISM
We offer opportunities for volunteers to be involved in an active excavation of privately owned sites under the direction of professional archaeologists. This approach allows untrained members of the community to directly participate while under the supervision of professionals.
Lasting Thoughts
Every day in southeastern North Carolina pieces of our community’s history are lost forever. This unwritten history is found in archaeological deposits below the streets, businesses, and homes you walk by daily. Archaeological sites on private property in North Carolina are not protected, and this is where members of the Public Archaeology Corps get involved. We work with property owners to gain access to these sites before redevelopment and then recover, analyze, and study to learn the real stories of our community. These stories aren’t recorded in their written history. The practice of archaeology can connect a community to its past and enrich the lives of those who participate. Preserve the past and enrich the future, join the Corps!