In the 1960s, excavations at Castle Gardens uncovered a prehistoric site with a rich
trash midden, layers of Late Archaic artifacts, and features, such as hearths. Archaeologists
found a distinctive small, finely-notched point not previously recognized on New York
and Pennsylvania sites. Researchers identified a new phase, Vestal, named for the
town in which the site is located. Vestal marks a time when people moved their camps
seasonally and hunted, fished, and collected wild plants. The 2003 field school (with
the help of CAP) completed preliminary excavations that produced an abundance of artifacts
as well as cooking hearths and pit features. Investigations with the 2004 field school
and CAP examined the site in more detail and addressed a series of research questions
concerning the role of Vestal within Susquehanna Valley prehistory.
