Chardé Reid (left) and Harrison Wehmann (right) surveying a marsh island along the James River. Photo courtesy Patrick Barry. BY JENNIFER HOFFMAN
Imagine stepping outside; the air thick with the scent of wet earth and the hum of insects. Sunlight filters through the trees and casts shadows on the surface of a nearby river as an eagle flies above you in the distance. Otters dart playfully in the depths, and stories of the past come to life as you examine historical artifacts found in the area.
For people who want to be outdoors in the thick of the action but don’t mind a little desk work, Harrison Wehmann, a cultural resources technician at CSU’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, says his position is the perfect combination of both. CEMML’s Early-career Development Program helps college students and recent graduates bridge the gap between academic studies and early-career experience in natural and cultural resources. Through this program, Wehmann has gotten an introduction to the excitement of digging through swampy terrain at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, an Army Installation in southeast Virginia, to find forgotten pieces of history. In the process, he also feels the joy of connecting with the land and historical figures from the past.
Harrison Wehmann’s journey began in May when he graduated with a master’s degree focused on underwater archaeology. He studied at the University of Miami and got to work on various projects related to his specialization. He had previously earned his bachelor’s degree with a double major in archaeology and history at the University of Virginia.
“I guess you could say that my master’s program was my exploratory time,” Wehmann shared. “It helped me make sure that archaeology was truly what I wanted to pursue as a career.” He also wanted to gain more experience through an internship, which landed him in Washington D.C., working for Congress.
“It just kind of fell into my lap a little bit, but it was an interesting experience,” said Harrison Wehmann of his time on Capitol Hill. “It was way different from anything else I’ve done, but it was nice to get a better understanding of the legislative world because that’s really important to archaeology.”
Wehmann explained that his transition to CEMML happened through a stroke of luck and good timing. He came across the position while looking for cultural resource work in Virginia. CEMML extended an offer, and as soon as his D.C. internship ended, he drove straight to Joint Base Langley-Eustis to get right to work.
The relationship between cultural resource management and the military might not seem obvious at first, but it’s a balance of different worlds working together to protect and preserve. For Wehmann, working on a military base means finding harmony between the Department of Defense’s mission—ensuring national security and maintaining military readiness—and the responsibility to preserve history. While the DoD prioritizes defense and operational preparedness, it also recognizes that protecting Indigenous sites, historic military structures, and cultural artifacts is essential. Such protection supports the military mission by helping ensure long-term access to training lands and strengthening relationships with local communities and tribal nations. It also ensures that the DoD complies with the law and honors the military’s legacy—military history is a key part of American history. Wehmann’s efforts help ensure that activities at JBLE are conducted responsibly and sustainably.
Wehmann said that at times, his job can feel like a race against the clock, especially when it comes to preserving military artifacts. Recently, Dr. Christopher McDaid, discovered a Gatling gun dating back to 1874 submerged in a marsh on the installation. The cultural resources team then worked to stabilize and protect the antique weapon.
Wehmann said they had to get a little creative with their preservation methods; he was lucky enough to meet some conservators at a conference who knew about the intricacies of preserving old weapons like the Gatling gun. They even gave him a solution: submerge it in a bathtub and add zinc anodes to prevent further corrosion.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do for now,” Wehmann said. “I’ve reached out to museums, and they’ve given advice, but there’s only so much we can do here without the proper facilities. The goal is to make sure it’s preserved until it can be put on display somewhere.”
Harrison’s cultural resource team is not only in charge of artifact preservation but also conducts marshland surveys. Recently, they’ve uncovered fragments of pottery and remnants of bricks near Mulberry Island. These small discoveries point to a larger, more complex history of what might have once been a thriving settlement.
“Every artifact, every tiny shard, just adds layers to the story. And when you connect the dots, it’s like uncovering pieces of a larger puzzle that’s been hidden for years,” Harrison said.
Wehmann’s role also involves digitizing early 1980s field notes. Much of the work from earlier surveys was written by hand, often with little information or context on the precise coordinates. He’s had to find ways to align the old hand-drawn maps with newer coordinates using today’s GIS technology. It can sometimes be a tedious process, but he explains that it gives him greater appreciation for the people who created good maps with far fewer resources.
“It’s almost like they were doing archaeology by feel,” Wehmann said. “They had a map, sure, but there weren’t the advanced tools we have now. It’s a little humbling to think about how they made do.”
Wehmann describes his role at CEMML as being a bit like detective work. He finds a sense of fulfillment and purpose in knowing that each seemingly small task, whether documenting artifacts or creating public-facing posters, is part of preserving history.
After his CEMML contract ends, he plans to look for careers in the maritime archaeology sphere. He said that combining working with CEMML and his interest in marine archeology would truly be a dream position.
“I think if I wasn’t out here in the field or working on mapping these old sites, I’d be missing out,” he said. “I mean, yeah, we get the big, cool moments too—the discoveries, the finds—but it’s the small, steady work that really tells the full story. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”