A new hands-on archaeology program is giving Indianapolis high school students the chance to uncover the city’s earliest history while exploring careers in STEM.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works, in collaboration with city offices and community partners, has launched Indy-ology, a paid summer internship designed for up to eight students.
Participants will work alongside experts to study Greenlawn Cemetery, the city’s first public burial ground, which dates back to 1821.
Through archival research, artifact analysis and excavation, students will gain skills in archaeology and forensics while contributing to a broader effort to honor the lives of Indianapolis’ earliest residents.
The program, supported by the Bond Bank and Citizens Energy Group, was created because of construction on the White River Innovation District Infrastructure Project’s Henry Street Bridge. The city is currently excavating two of the four cemetery sections: the Original/Old Burying Ground established in 1821 and the Union/New Burying Ground established in the 1830s.
The Community Advisory Group has compiled a team of expert historians, archivists, preservationists, archaeologists and cemetery experts to advise on the project. The goal is to develop research anthology on the earliest citizens of Indy, a task Indy-ology students will assist with.
The program is designed for high school students interested in STEM, archaeology, anthropology, medicine, information science and forensics. The goal is to improve these fields with a diversified workforce.
Through the program, students will learn about archival research, genealogy, artifact analysis and osteology. Students will work closely with experts to develop research skills related to the local archives.
Applications opened Feb. 11 and close on March 17. To apply, visit governmentjobs.com/careers/indianapolis/jobs/4829270/indy-ology-internship.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
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Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
