Society digs history
Archaeology is more than just digging in the dirt — it's studying where we came from.
The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology's Ohio Valley chapter is full of Butler County residents who strive to learn more about our past.
“Try to think about archaeology as you throw a pebble in the pond and the ripples go all over the place, well archaeology leads you in many different directions,” said Ed Dlutowski of Butler Township.
When the Carnegie Museum's former Section of Man, now Anthropology, decided to move offices from the Preston Laboratories in Meridian to Pittsburgh in 1980, it could not take with it its charter for the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, as there was already a chapter in Pittsburgh.
Dlutowski was given permission to keep the charter in Butler County and open it up to anyone interested in archaeology.
“Before it was kind of elitist in that it was by invitation only,” Dlutowski said. “But we knew that there were people in the area interested in collecting things, so we put a notice out and lo and behold we had people show up.”
The chapter consists of members from age 16 to the mid-70s and from as far away as Masury, Ohio, to as close as Butler.
Each member brings with him an interest and passion for history, but the topics are diverse.
Lanny Vavro of Butler Township, the chapter treasurer, enjoys ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek history.
“I've always been interested in archaeology,” Vavro said. “When I was in fifth grade, I'd go out on the playground and collect the stones.”
Board of directors member, Tom Snyder of Butler, enjoys finding great signs and other antique objects.
“I'm a ‘junk' collector,” Snyder said. “I like old signs and stuff.”
The chapter members also have a variety of educations and professions.
“We are here to support both the professional archaeology community as well as anybody who's just interested,” said chapter President Pam Billman of Mars. “You don't have to have a Ph.D.”
While you don't need a degree to be part of the society, Dlutowski received his Ph.D. in archaeology while working at Armco.
He has been involved with sites in Butler County, such as the Lowrie/Shaw House, the Little Red School House, the Bonnie Brook Village and others throughout the world.
Amanda Valko of New Castle is the vice president of the chapter and a professional archaeologist with Michael Baker Jr.When the club helped with excavating the Lowrie/Shaw House, Valko was small enough to fit down into the outhouse.“(Archaeologists) get to gain some knowledge about who lived there,” Valko said. “For instance with the Lowrie/Shaw family, we just get a little more personal view of them by going through their trash.”The group meets the second Wednesday of each month to hear programs on historical and time relevant events.“Our speakers are college professors, some work for the state, professional archaeologists,”Billman said.In February the group has its annual show-and-tell meeting in which all members bring something to share.It can be anything from a book or arrowhead to glass bottles and signs.“I just like to collect stuff,” Snyder said. “I always tell my kids make sure you get what's in the attic. It will be their treasure not mine.”The group has had speakers about Marcellus Shale, as well as the Civil War.The members also discuss proper techniques and etiquette for doing excavations.“It's about preserving the past and making people aware they really shouldn't just be out collecting stuff and taking it home,” Vavro said.Valko said the goal of the chapter is “to provide educational opportunity to people ... and get people involved in the history of their community, their county.”
Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology board member Ed Dlutowski knows the importance of archaeology, which is why he started Dirt Dragons with the Butler Historical Society for youngsters ages 12 and older.The group is now working at the Old Stone House in Brady Township.Pam Billman of Mars, the Ohio Valley chapter president of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, first met Dlutowski when her daughter, Jamie Billman of Mars, joined Dirt Dragons and the society.“The kind of work that (the Dirt Dragons) do, if you go to college for archaeology, you might not get to it until your senior/junior year,” Billman said. “So it's really a good experience for someone who wants to do it, like my daughter.”The group meets Sundays as weather permits to work on local sites.To get involved with Dirt Dragons, call the Butler County Historical Society office at 724-283-8116.
The meetings of the Society for Pennsylvania Archeology are open to the public.When: 6 to 9 p.m. second Wednesday of each month September through MayWhere: Butler Public Library, lower level meeting roomCost: Free to attend. To join Chapter 22 of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, the cost is $10 for an individual or $12 for a familySpeakers for the upcoming meetings are:• March 14: George Kovalchick on the history of Butler• April 11: Ed Divers on native plant foods• May 9: Kurt Pitluga, Slippery Rock University, on Columbian archaeologyVisit www.orgsites.com/pa/chapter22/ for more information.
