Our Germanna community knows and loves Dr. Eric Larsen, who has led Germanna Archaeology with vision, dedication, and heart since 2014. This week, we say farewell to Eric as he departs his role as Director of Archaeology and Cultural Resources, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that will shape Germanna for years to come.
Under Eric’s leadership, Germanna grew from a one-person operation at a library table into a nationally respected public archaeology program. He forged a lasting partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Archaeology Field School, helped open the Hitt Archaeology Center in 2019, and secured a Virginia Department of Historic Resources BIPOC grant in 2024 that expanded our team and brought African-descended and Indigenous researchers into our work.
One of Eric’s greatest contributions is ensuring that Germanna became a teaching program, a place where students, volunteers, and early-career professionals gain hands-on experience and a strong foundation in field and lab best practices. Because of Eric, Germanna Archaeology is what it is today.
As we celebrate Eric’s legacy, we are thrilled to share that Kelly Arford-Horne, M.A., RPA, has been promoted to Director of Archaeology and Cultural Resources. Hired by Eric in 2020 as Archaeology Site Director, Kelly has worked alongside him for over five years, managing daily excavations at the Fort Germanna/Enchanted Castle site and leading public programs that connect thousands of visitors, students, and volunteers to Germanna’s history.
Kelly brings over 25 years of experience in archaeology, with past work for the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (Montgomery County Parks), AECOM/URS Corp., Greenhorne & O’Mara, and the Thomas Balch Library in Leesburg. She holds an M.A. in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester (England) and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Maryland, and is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA).
“I’m honored to continue this work,” Arford-Horne said. “Archaeology is about supporting communities by connecting people and places, and Germanna is a powerful place to do that work. I look forward to building on the strong foundation our team has created and to deepening our collaboration with volunteers, students, and researchers.”
To celebrate both Eric and Kelly, we invite you to join us for “An Evening with Germanna: Archaeology Update” on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. via Zoom. This special program will include updates from this season’s dig—and a chance to thank Eric and congratulate Kelly in person!
