Students can work with archeologists at field school

Experience the thrill of exploring how early settlers of McHenry County lived in an Irish community, dating to the 1840s, with an archaeology field school offered by McHenry County College.

The field school takes place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 5-18. Students will work with Midwest Archaeological Research Services to explore the historic Brookdale Community at the intersection of Route 14 and Dunham Road, between Woodstock and Harvard, at the McHenry County Conservation District administration offices of Brookdale.

This Irish community was founded in 1840 by Wesley Diggins. Brookdale was abandoned in 1856 when bypassed by the railroad.

This exploratory first year will be spent looking for the location of the schoolhouse as well as conducting limited excavations at the women's stage coach stop. Students must provide their own transportation to the site.

Those interested in this opportunity can register for the Archaeology Field Study course (ANT 290) and pay the MCC tuition costs, plus an additional fee of $450 for equipment and selected supplies. Students will earn three credit hours upon successful completion of the field school.

To register for the Archaeology Field School, contact the MCC Registration Office at (815) 455-8588 or register online at www.mchenry.edu/myMCC.

For more information, contact Judi Cameron at (815) 479-7869 or visit www.mchenry.edu/dig.