African American History in Oklahoma - May 6

Come join us on Monday, May 6 to learn about Rosenwald schools in Oklahoma. Allison Archambo from the Oklahoma Historical Society has been working with avocational historians to document these forgotten buildings that represent an important period of African American history in Oklahoma.

Spring OAS Meeting and New Archaeology Blog

Are you ready for the Spring meeting of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society?  It is coming up on April 20th in Norman, with a wonderful theme: "OAS - A is for Anthropology".  Program and meeting details are available here: OAS Spring Meeting Agenda

Featured speakers include a number of OU professors and grad students: Lauren Cleeland, Susan Vehik, Patrick Livingood, Asa Randall, Holly Andrew, and Bonnie Pitblado.  Their topics range widely: parasites, gender relations, politics, climate change, and collaboration between professional and citizen archaeologists.  Talk about relevant!

Also, the Archaeology Department at the Sam Noble Museum has a new blog: SamNobleArchaeology.  Currently the blog is focused on a major project to inventory and rehouse collections from the Spiro mound site, with the help of a generous grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.  Watch for updates, especially after mid-May when our undergraduate interns have finished writing a series of entries on Spiro artifacts.

April OAS Meeting - Calf Creek

All are welcome!

Spring Break Escape at SNOMNH

Come learn more about archaeology and American Indian cultures during Spring Break Escape at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History!  We will be talking about stratigraphy and sharing artifacts from the archaeology collection on Friday, March 22, from 3-3:30.  Earlier in the day come see a flintknapping demonstration by Neil Garrison and learn about American Indian basketry from Stephanie Allen, the ethnology collection manager.  There will also be a performance by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers and Caddo and Kiowa storytelling with Kricket Rhoades-Connywerdy.  It should be a great day.

To Bridge a Gap 2013

The 2013 To Bridge a Gap conference will be at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Norman, from March 11-14.  This annual event, hosted this year by the Delaware, is held in collaboration with the National Forest Service.   It is designed to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the Forest Service and federally recognized tribal governments with interests in area forests.

The conference is also a great opportunity for archaeologists from all walks of life to meet with tribal members and learn about all parties' concerns and common interests.

Highlights of the 2013 conference will include a reception on Monday night by the Delaware Nation and the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and a banquet on Wednesday night with the Keynote Speaker Walter Echo Hawk (Pawnee), Native American speaker, author, and attorney.

The registration fee is $90 for the whole conference, or $40 per day.

For more information, please contact the Delaware Nation Cultural Preservation Department

a four day conference and is an annual event in collaboration with the National Forest Service. It is designed to strengthen government-to-government relationships between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service and federally recognized tribal governments with interests in area forests.

November OAS - Welcome Dr. Bonnie Pitblado! (Nov 5)

Also, on Saturday, November 3rd, the OAS will be having its Fall Meeting in Stillwater; “Digging the Civil War:Sesquicentennial Archeology,” hosted by Stephen Perkins, Associate
Professor in Anthropology, Oklahoma State University.  The meeting will begin at 8:00 am in the Murray Building on the OSU Campus .

October Events

October will be a busy month!  

Caddo Archaeology
On Monday, October 1 at 7pm at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Dr. Elsbeth Dowd will give a talk at the monthly meeting of the Cleveland County chapter of the OAS.  Dr. Dowd is the Interim Collection Manager of archaeology at the Sam Noble Museum.   Her talk is titled Backwater or Crossroads? Caddo History along the Mountain Fork.  The Ouachita Mountains have often been considered as the backwater of ancestral Caddo society.  In comparison to settlements in the Red River Valley, settlements among the mountains tend to be smaller – smaller communities, smaller mounds, and less exotic goods.  A close examination of settlements along the Mountain Fork, however, reveals a dynamic history, major shifts in ritual activity and regional affiliation.  Dr. Dowd’s presentation explores the history of the Mountain Fork Caddo from an archaeological perspective, with a focus on how small sites can tell big stories of movement through the mountains. 

Parasites and Ancient DNA in Archaeology
On Thursday, October 4 at 7pm at the Norman Public Library, Lauren Cleeland (doctoral candidate at OU) will give a talk at Science Cafe Norman. Her talk is titled From Parasites to Paternity: Ancient DNA in Archaeology.  It should be pretty neat stuff!

More Caddo Events
If you are into Caddo heritage, the Jacobson House in Norman is hosting a fantastic set of events this month:
Every Monday, 6:30-7:30pm:
     Caddo language classes with members of the Edmonds family
Saturday, September 29, Noon:
     Pottery pitfire with artist Chase Kahwinhut Earles
Friday, October 12, 7:30pm:
     Lecture on Caddo pottery with Chase Kahwinhut Earles and Jeri Redcorn
Saturday, October 13:
     1pm - Caddo archery
     2pm - traditional food tasting
     3pm - Caddo dancing