Minecrafting Archaeology

Minecrafting Archaeology was created to allow players to experience a real archaeological excavation which has been recreated in Minecraft. The purpose of archaeology is not to find objects but to tell a story. Archaeologists collect and interpret evidence to write and rewrite history. The setting for this map is the historic French colonial fur trade post, mission, and garrison known as Fort St. Joseph. It is located in southwest Michigan on the bank of the St. Joseph River. Two scales of an excavation unit dug at the fort by archaeologists in 2014 have been recreated. The content of this map has been designed to be a teaching tool for students in grades 3 to 5, but can be enjoyed by all ages. Come explore the world of archaeology and the process of conducting excavation, identifying artifacts, and learning about French colonial history in Michigan!

Created by: James B. Schwaderer as a portion of his masters thesis at Western Michigan University.