The Saginaw Valley has been home to people in Michigan for over 11,000 years. This long span of human occupation has resulted in a rich and complex archaeological record. The Historical Society of Saginaw County is devoted to protecting, preserving and studying this record, tasks which are vital if we are to gain an understanding and appreciation of the previous inhabitants of our region.

The Historical Society maintains and operates an archaeological repository for the long-term storage and protection

of its archaeological collections. In 1983, a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the Historical Society the only institution in the region officially designated as a repository for archaeological material derived from the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. This helps to keep important archaeological material locally available for scientific research.

In an effort to increase our knowledge of the archaeology of the Saginaw Valley, the Historical Society is involved in a variety of research-related activities. The Historical Society archaeologist and volunteers are engaged in ongoing efforts to document, analyze and record archaeological materials held in private collections; to conduct field surveys designed to locate and document archaeological sites; and to conduct archaeological excavations to learn more detailed information about the previous inhabitants of the Saginaw Valley. Our work currently focuses on the archaeology of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, located in the center of the Saginaw Valley.

>>Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Archaeology.