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Millersville University student Ty Tempalski ventured to New Jersey in search of 17th-century artifacts and earned the Breidenstine Award for his efforts. Tempalski, along with a group of archaeology students, spent nearly two months in 2023 excavating three sites in a quest to unearth buried history. His dedication and perseverance in this challenging fieldwork have not only brought valuable historical insights but also earned him this prestigious recognition. Tempalski stood out among seven students vying for the award.
The purpose of Tempalski’s paper was to report on the artefactual and historical findings of Millersville University’s 2023 Archaeological Field School in New Castle, Delaware. The research supported the hypothesis of Millersville University’s Atlantic World Research Institute: that illegal maritime activity at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century was a crucial facet of many colonial American cities’ economies, infusing them with capital stripped by British taxes. Over the fall 2023 semester, archaeological research took place, uncovering more than 15,000 artifacts across three sites in historic New Castle, Delaware. The project sought to identify and excavate potential tavern sites, as these were typical gathering places for sailors involved in both legal and illegal activities and would, therefore, be central points for wealth gained through piracy or smuggling. Although the artifacts recovered did not provide evidence of illegal trade or piracy, the team discovered a likely 1790s tavern and the ground level of a previously unknown stone and brick building.
The other candidates and thesis topics are listed below:
Alexi Cordova, mathematics major; “The Complex Relationships Between Mathematician’s Religious Beliefs And Their Mathematical Ideas: Historical Snapshots”
Collin Joseph Hood, mathematics major; “Divisibility Tests in Different Number Systems and Their Applications”
Joshua Kinsky, meteorology major; “A Case Study on the Anomalous Winter Weather Events of March 2018 in New Jersey”
Rebekah Homes, an anthropology major; “Analysis and Conservation of a Found Historic Textile”
Hannah Warner, Meteorology with an Environmental Hazards and Emergency Management minor; “An Analysis of High Impact Weather Messaging and Communications”
Matthew Teare, Meteorology major; “Radar Characteristics of Tornadic Convection in Pennsylvania Sampled at Short Range”
Friends of Dr. A. G. Breidenstine, who served as dean of academic affairs at Millersville from 1955 to 1965, established a fund to provide annually an award to the student whose work was judged most outstanding by the honors committee.
Students completing a thesis receive information from their college dean or department chair with information on how to apply. The winner of the Breidenstine Award receives a scholarship.
