American Heritage Research & Preservation Society
What is AHRPS? We are dedicated to working with individuals or groups to help with site survey and assistance with the recovery and preservation of artifacts. Several of our society associates have been involved with such efforts with the USFS ‘Passport in Time’ programs as far back as 20 years. The Director and others have worked with smaller groups on historical site projects, as well as individuals and private land owners in an effort to recover artifacts from the past on their property.
We’ve had a somewhat busy year so far working with individuals and groups to help with the recovery and preservation of artifacts. Seven members of the AHRPS Site Research Team have been working on two different projects. One is in the farm country west of Portland, Oregon where there used to be three houses, at different times, with the associated barns and outbuildings. This one I was able to work on, but health issues have prevented my travel to help at the Utah and Nevada sites. Bummer!
The second effort has been at two ghost town sites, one in Utah and the other across in Nevada, where some of our associates have been trying to isolate the old dump site, as well as locate the position of both a school and a general store. If all goes well with the Utah/Nevada efforts we should be able to plan a Spring 2012 Outing for detecting and screening. If so, we’ll probably open this up as a ‘general invite’ to attendees of our Detector Owner Rendezvous meeting groups to join the AHRPS Associates.
AHRPS Associates have been involved in with the USFS ‘Passport in Time’ programs as far back as 21 years. The Director and others have worked with smaller state and local groups on historical site projects, but more often with individuals and private land owners in an effort to recover artifacts from the past on their property.
We make an effort to encourage landowners to join in our site searches by providing free-use of equipment and training. We also work to give our assistance to the metal detecting hobbyist, either individually or through an organized club, and to provide education as it pertains to the use of metal detectors. The assistance includes specific detector knowledge and “how-to” training; metal detecting seminars; regional shows to promote the hobby of metal detecting as well as historical site work; research, recovery, and the value of artifact preservation; outings for society ‘associates’ and invited property owners; and much more.
On our site you'll find:
So take off your headphones and listen up.... you're in for a real treat!
Detector Owner Rendezvous … free monthly public meetings
If you live in the greater Portland, Oregon metro area, or you are just visiting, you’re welcome to attend a monthly meeting. Our get-togethers are on the 2nd Saturday of each month. A 1½-2 hour meeting starts at 8:30 AM, and is followed (weather permitting) with a metal detecting outing. These are simple “have fun and find stuff” outings that are void of any competition. It will also be a good time for some people to get some hands-on detector help, if needed.
Soon we’ll update the calendar with the meeting locations as they might vary from month-to-month. We’ll also include a suggestion of the topic(s) planned for each meeting. You can use the contact button in the menu bar of this page to e-mail any questions or suggestions related to our DOR programs or outings.
The AHRPS Site Recovery Team
Well, some of us got a bit tied up in research on some other projects and haven’t had the time to finish some of the Central-Oregon activity. Although a few property owners have signed-off on permission for our survey and site study, we have a snag in some site search efforts due to access. A number of possible locations have been narrowed down to a few that might have the best potential for individual success.
These have been moved to the back-burner and hopefully a 2012 week-end to week-long outing can be planned when we finish the research. It will be for AHRPS Associates and invited participants who attend our DOR gatherings. Some locations will only allow a limited number, however, we’ll make an effort to involve more dedicated/avid detectorists.
We’re still working on access to a private town (almost a ghost) in Eastern Oregon for another trip. Both of these sites lack a ‘local hotel’ so we will either need to camp out or stay a short drive away. More info when it comes in for a 2012 outing!
Contact Us
We are working on a web-based form that will accept comments and automatically generate emails to various AHRPS Associates, but until then, please feel welcome to email the Director, Monte, with any questions, comments, or general ideas.
We are seeking donations to help in our efforts to better educate relic hunters, assist researchers in establishing and maintaining open access to historical sites, and to provide access to detecting sites through permits from land owners.
Monte Berry, Archaeological Dig
Monte Berry pens Past Encounters Fall 2011.
View previous archived editions here.
Visit the calendar link above to view the Detector Owner Rendezvous meetings, on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
Our test videos page will be continuously updated with new videos as well as new edits of the existing ones.
