The Archaeological Society of Delaware invites everyone to join us and hear Bill Liebeknecht present on the Clark Tenant Site, DelDot Project at Routes 1 & 16, Milton, Delaware.

On behalf of the Federal Highway Administration and Delaware Department of Transportation, Dovetail Cultural Resource Group conducted archaeological excavations at the late-eighteenth- to early-nineteenth century Clark Tenant site (7S-C-108/S12611) in Sussex County, Delaware. The excavations confirmed the site was used on and off from circa 1790 to 1830 as a short-term occupational area for agricultural workers of the Clark family. Short-term sites of lower economic status, such as the Clark Tenant site, are often overlooked due to their diminished archaeological signature. This site yielded a low density of artifacts and was situated in an undesirable low-lying landform a considerable distance from water. Despite these factors, the Clark Tenant site yielded valuable information about the organization and use of the Clark Family landholdings.

Bill Liebeknecht has over 40 years of experience in writing and implementing cultural resource management (CRM) research designs. He has worked on CRM projects in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and has directed numerous archaeological surveys and excavations on prehistoric and historic sites, with a focus on the material culture of the Middle Atlantic Region. At Dovetail, Mr. Liebeknecht serves as a Project Archaeologist II and assists in marketing, managing projects, and preparing technical reports. In addition to his CRM experience, Mr. Liebeknecht has authored numerous scholarly articles and chapters in books on his research on prehistoric lifeways and historic material culture. He has also presented numerous professional papers at major regional and national conferences.

Archaeology is a scientific discipline that seeks to understand how people lived in the past. It is the only means of learning new information about those who left no written records and provides another avenue of study for those who did leave records. Delaware prehistory dates back of 12,000 years and there is a rich colonial history: all of which can be studied through archaeology.

The Archaeological Society of Delaware is a non-profit organization established to promote the preservation and study of archaeological sites in Delaware. Advocacy is an important aspect of the society as sites succumb to development, coastal erosion, and infrastructure projects. Membership is open to all persons with an interest and there are three chapters (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex).