Patricia E. Miller, Ph.D., RPA
Senior Archaeologist

  • Areas of Expertise
    • Cultural Resource Management Studies
    • Section 106 Preservation Act Archaeological Surveys and Excavations
    • Public Outreach and Education Predictive Modeling
    • National Environmental Policy Act
  • Years of Experience
    • With URS: 2 Years
    • With Other Firms: 21 Years
  • Education
    • Ph.D. / 1993 / Pennsylvania State University / Anthropology
    • M.A. / 1983 / Pennsylvania State University / Anthropology
    • B.A. / 1979 / Pennsylvania State University / Anthropology
  • Continuing Education
    • 2005 / Permit Required Confined Space Entry Training
    • 2004 / ODOT Section 106 / National Register Eligibility Training
    • 2002 / OSHA Construction Standards for Excavation
    • 1997 / Cultural Resource Management Plans: Preparation and Implementation
    • 1994 / Introduce to Federal Projects and Historic Preservation Law
  • Registration/Certification
    • Register of Professional Archaeologists
  • Chronology
    • 2009 – Present: URS Corporation, Inc.
    • 1999 – 2009: KCI Technologies, Inc., Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
    • 1987 – 1999: Archaeological and Historical Consultants, Inc., Centre Hall, Pennsylvania

Overview

Dr. Miller has over 23 years experience as an archaeologist in cultural resource management. She has directed numerous archaeological surveys and has extensive experience with large-scale highway projects involving the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements. She is skilled at designing and implementing all phases of complex prehistoric archaeological data recoveries and has directed major data recovery excavations in stratified settings in the Susquehanna and Ohio River Valleys. Dr. Miller has given presentations at schools, historical societies, and professional meetings. She is also familiar with web site design using tools such as Macromedia Dreamweaver and Fireworks, and has produced websites, booklets, brochures, and posters for public education.

Project Specific Experience

US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, Leetsdale,Pennsylvania.

Principal Investigator for the 1 million dollar archaeological data recovery at site 36AL480, Areas 1 and 2. Responsible for all administrative aspects of the project, including management of all subconsultants, and served as the main point of contact with the Government. Also monitored production for compliance with the schedule, budget, and the Government’s requirements. Additional responsibilities included attending Government meetings. Also will synthesize all Area 1, 2 and 3 reports. Conducted for the US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District.

Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 11PK1771, Rockies Express Caprock Pipeline (Segment 2), Pike County, Illinois.

Principal Investigator (Lithic Analysis) for a Phase III Archaeological Data Recovery located along the proposed pipeline and horizontal directional drill site. The site consisted of woodland period pit features, and a (potentially earlier) chipping cluster. The Woodland Period features contained food waste including fish and bird bone as well as nut hull fragments and other faunal material. Excavation of 40 one meter square units was also carried out along the edge of a creek floodplain.

Archaeological Data Recovery at Site 33PE839, Rockies Express Pipeline-East (REX-East) Project, Perry County, Ohio.

Principal Investigator for a Phase III Archaeological Data Recovery located along a proposed reroute of the Rockies Express-East pipeline. The site consisted of lithic reduction loci and short-term habitation with Early Woodland and Transitional period occupations.

Cabot Oil and Gas Pipeline, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Principal Investigator for Phase I archaeological investigations for the proposed Cabot Natural Gas Pipeline Project in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.. The overall project consisted of roughly 43 miles of proposed gas pipelines that will connect new wells with existing pipelines. A Phase IB (subsurface testing) survey was conducted on areas determined to be of high and moderate potential for archaeological resources.

Bloomfield Heater Site 1, Richmond County, New York.

Principal Investigator for Phase IA/IB archaeological investigations for the Williams Gas Pipeline Company’s construction of a natural gas heater on a 3.6-acre property. Research was conducted to reconstruct land use history. Mechanical backhoe trenching with supplemental shovel tests confirmed the presence of deep fill across the entire property.

Interstate 95/Girard Avenue Interchange, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Responsible for data analysis and report preparation for prehistoric sites identified and evaluated during archaeological surveys for interchange improvements. Authored the report of data recovery for the historic Aramingo Canal.

Airport and Churchman’s Road Intersection Improvement Project, New Castle County, Delaware.

Responsible for data analysis and report preparation for data recovery investigations at a multi-component prehistoric archaeological site. Authored a public outreach booklet.

Fort Hill Site, Archaeological Assessment, Phase III Data Recovery (46MG12), Morgantown, WV, Gateway Town Center LLC.

Principal Investigator for Phase II and III investigations at a late prehistoric Monongahela village. Data recovery involved test unit excavation, excavation of a sample of features, and mapping of the entire site. Responsible for research design, data analysis and preparation of the final report. Produced a web site and booklet for public education.

SR 0011/0015, Section 008, Transportation Improvement Project, Perry and Juniata Counties, PA, PennDOT, District 8-0.

Principal investigator for Phase III data recovery at five stratified sites (36Pe16, 36Pe60, 36Pe61, 36Ju93, and 36Ju95) on the Susquehanna River floodplain. Responsible for developing and supervising the implementation of the excavation plans, as well as overseeing the laboratory analysis of over 200,000 artifacts. Responsible for data analysis, interpretation of site histories, and reporting of results.

WV Route 10, Man to Logan, Logan County, WV, WVDOH.

Principal Investigator for Phase II significance evaluation of five sites identified for the proposed project, and Phase III data recovery at one stratified prehistoric site, Site 46LG164. Responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the excavation plans and laboratory analysis. Responsible for data analysis, interpretation of site histories, reporting of results, and recommendations regarding site significance.

Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Principal Investigator for data recovery at prehistoric Site 36Da89 on Calver Island. Excavations extended to 5.4 meters below the surface and were conducted under the strictest OSHA-compliant safety procedures. Responsible for overall project design and implementation, including preparation of reports.

SR 0879, Section A01, Lick Run Bridge Replacement, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, PennDOT District 2-0.

Principal Investigator for Phase III data recovery investigations at the stratified Irwin Site (36Cd102), located at the confluence of Lick Run and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Responsible for overseeing fieldwork and laboratory analysis, as well as completing data analysis and report preparation. Implemented a public education program including a web site, a pamphlet, and a video.

CR 251/Seven Islands Road at Big Indian Creek Bridge Replacement, Phase I & II Archaeological Investigations, Site (9Mg56), Morgan County Georgia, GDOT.

Principal Investigator for Phase I and II archaeological survey for the proposed bridge replacement. A multi-component Late Woodland and Mississippian site was evaluated to determine its National Register eligibility. Responsible for fieldwork design, data analysis, and report preparation.

SR 0023, Section EIS, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, PennDOT District 8-0.

Principal Investigator. Responsibilities included development of the predictive model and testing strategy, oversight of fieldwork, and report preparation. The results of the model test were
incorporated into the Environmental Impact Statement to assess potential effects to archaeological resources from each of the project alternatives.

Turnpike Access Project for the Greater New Stanton Area, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Principal Investigator or Phase I archaeological survey for proposed interchange construction. Five archaeological sites were identified. Three sites were considered not eligible for the National Register and one site was avoided. Phase II survey was recommended at one potentially stratified prehistoric site. Responsibilities included background research, oversight of fieldwork, and report preparation.

SR 151 Highway Improvements, Catoosa County, Georgia, Georgia Department of Transportation.

Principal Investigator for Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed widening of a 5-mile segment of SR 151. The survey identified one prehistoric and one historic archaeological site, neither of which was considered eligible for the National Register. No further work was recommended. Responsible for fieldwork oversight, data analysis, and report preparation.

Improvements to Applegrove Street (CR 190)/Market Avenue (SR 43), STA-CR 190-0.48 Part 2, Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio, Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus.

Phase I survey for proposed roadway widening. No sites were identified. Responsible for report preparation.

Open-End Contract, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Principal Investigator. Services under a 3-year contract included artifact analysis and report preparation for the Commonwealth Archaeological Program (CAP). Reports included: Archaeological Investigations, Site 36Lh149, Rolling Meadows Estates, Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Archaeological Investigations, Site 36Bk512, Willow Creek Project, Ontelaunee Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Responsibilities included report preparation and overseeing data analysis.

Cultural Resources Management Plan, Fort Boreman Park, Wood County, West Virginia, Wood County Commissioners.

Principal Investigator. Responsible for development of a management plan for historic Fort Boreman, located near Morgantown. The plan covered preservation issues, as well as development of signage for public education.

Publications

2010

Archaeological Investigations on Calver Island (36Da89): A Stratified Site in the Lower Susquehanna River Valley. Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology 26:81-104. Co-authors – James T. Marine, Justine Woodward McKnight, and Frank J. Vento.

2008

A Summary of Existing Data from Pennsylvania Upland Sites. In Current Approaches to the Analysis and Interpretation of Small Lithic Sites in the Northeast, edited by Christina B. Reith, pp. 167-174. New York State Museum Bulletin Series 508. New York State Museum, Albany.

2006

The Archaic Period in the Susquehanna Valley (8000-1000 BC). Susquehanna Heritage 4:31-38.

2000

Archaeological Survey and the Environmental Impact Statement. Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology 16:45-56.

1998

Lithic Projectile Point Technology and Raw Material Use in the Susquehanna River Valley. In The Archaic Period in Pennsylvania, edited by Paul A. Raber. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.

Presentations

2011

Philadelphia’s Venice: the Aramingo Canal. (with Ann Marie DiLucia, Douglas Mooney, and Anthony J. McNichol) Paper presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Morgantown.

Archaeological Investigations at 7NC-E-152: A Multi- Component Site Near Churchman’s Marsh. (with Douglas Mooney and Jennifer Rankin). Paper presented at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference, Ocean City, MD.

2008

The Transitional Archaic of the Susquehanna River Valley. Paper Presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference, Ocean City, MD.

The Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement: Alternate Mitigation in a Deep Alluvial Setting. Paper Presented at Protecting Pennsylvania’s Historic Resources, Byways IX. Harrisburg, PA.

2005

Archaic Life on a Mid-Channel Island: Preliminary Report of Excavations at 36Da89. (with James T. Marine) Paper presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Morgantown.

2003

Recent Excavations in Area 2 of Site 36Al480, a Stratified Site along the Ohio River at Leetsdale. Paper presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, State College.