Heberling Associates, Inc.

Our new fleet vehicle.

Archaeology in the Covid Era...working at the American Fort Presque Isle in Erie, PA.

With heavy hearts we share the sad news that Paul Heberling, founder and co-owner of Heberling Associates, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at the age of 98. Prior to forming the company, Paul was a professor of anthropology, sociology, and archaeology at Juniata College where he created and developed its archaeology program in the 1960s and 1970s. In a period when our state universities were working abroad, he was one of the very first to take a professional interest i...n the prehistory of the Juniata Valley. He directed surveys and excavations throughout the region, recording countless native and historic archaeological sites. For more than 25 years he spearheaded a long-term archaeological study at Greenwood Furnace State Park, funding much of the work himself. Later he assisted in running youth archaeology camps at the Park for many years. Paul was an inspiring teacher and a gifted public speaker who gave hundreds of talks to local groups during his long career. To many he was the public face of archaeology in the Juniata Valley--the first person they turned to with a question about archaeology, prehistory, or indeed, anything that was "old." Paul served on the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board and the Board of Preservation Pennsylvania for many years, and was a tireless advocate for archaeology and historic preservation. In the early 1980s he formed Heberling Associates, Inc., one of only a very few cultural resource management companies to be based in central Pennsylvania, then or now. He considered this to be one of his proudest achievements, and he remained actively involved almost to the very end. Paul created the company in his own image, founding it on core principles of professionalism, integrity, intellectual rigor, and a commitment to giving back to the public. Thirty-five years later we remain committed to his vision. Rest easy Paul, you did well. See more

Congratulations to Scott Heberling for receiving the Society for Industrial Archaeology's 2020 Vogel Prize. The work in the Blacklog Narrows was one of our favorite projects and best of all, it was in our own back yard. Thanks to all past and present staff who contributed!

Today we reluctantly bid farewell to our talented friend and colleague Staci Spertzel Black who is embarking on a new chapter after 11 years as our Field/Lab Director. We will miss Staci very much but appreciate her many contributions and wish her the best in all things!

Five special places in need of tarps, or money, or ideas, or letters, or more. Preservation Pennsylvania will make these sites our work priority for the year. C...heck our website, sign up for our e-news (see tab on our FB page) and follow us on social media for updates and alerts on how you can help. See more

This new PennDOT video features one of our recent projects, an archaeological data recovery in Washington County, and some of our staff.

A sampling of images from a recent historical survey project we did in Johnstown. It's quite a town: been through a lot but still fighting. And full of great architecture.

Congratulations to Scott Stephenson! Scott was one of our very first employees during his college years. He has done well.

Heberling Associates recently had the opportunity to assist with efforts to preserve and create an artist community at the boyhood home of renowned playwright August Wilson in the Lower Hill District neighborhood of Pittsburgh. This home and the rest of the Lower Hill were the setting for Wilson's famous "Pittsburgh Cycle" of 10 plays, each taking place in a different decade of the 20th century. Under contract to the Daisy Wilson Artist Community, Inc. we completed extensive ...archaeological testing on the Wilson house lot and adjacent parcels. Despite massive modern disturbance, our backhoe trenches and test units revealed 25 archaeological features, including a brick well, a privy, a probable well or cistern, all dating to the late 19th and early 20th century. Landscaping for the artist community project will be designed to avoid these significant features and recovered artifacts will be displayed at the site. See more

We're pleased to share this three-panel exhibit that we recently prepared in connection with our Phase III archaeological data recovery investigations at Site 36WH1619 at Bentleyville, Washington County, PA. The project was funded by PennDOT District 12-0 and the Federal Highway Administration as part of the reconstruction of the I-70 Bentleyville Interchange.

We are pleased to present the new historical exhibit and welcome signage that we developed in connection with the proposed intersection improvements in the village of McAlevy's Fort, Huntingdon County. They will be installed at the end of the project. McAlevy's Fort and Stone Valley are blessed with rich history and a beautiful environment.

We're pleased to announce a new publication: "8,000 Years on the Banks of Aughwick Creek," by Paul A. Raber, our Director of Archaeological Studies. This booklet presents the results of our recent data recovery studies at the Pogue Bridge North Site (36Hu224) in Huntingdon County, a project sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. For 8,000 years, small groups of Native Americans camped at this site along Aughwick Creek, leaving behind tools, chipping debris, and food remains that provide much information about how they lived and interacted with their environment. If you would like a copy please feel free to stop by our office at 904 Main Street, Alexandria, PA 16611 and we will be pleased to give you one free of charge.