November 3rd - LaDonna Brown

Tuesday, November 3rd is the third lecture in the series History and Heritage: Indigenous Traditions of Oklahoma and the Southeast, co-sponsored by the Sam Noble Museum and the Oklahoma Anthropological Society. Ms. LaDonna Brown, Tribal Anthropologist for the Chickasaw Nation, will be giving a presentation on Southeastern Indian Finger Weaving Designs. Join us at 6:30pm for a reception and 7pm for the presentation. Complimentary admission; all are welcome!

October Events!

October is Oklahoma Archaeology Month!  

There are SO MANY wonderful events coming up.  I have highlighted a few below, but for the full list visit facebook.com/archaeologymonth.

Tuesday, October 6th - Sam Noble Museum, Norman:

Don't forget the next Cleveland County chapter meeting of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society! Dr. Elizabeth Horton will be presenting on Motifs and Iconography in the Sacred and Ceremonial Textiles and Basketry of Southeastern Societies, as part the fall speaker series History and Heritage: Indigenous Traditions of Oklahoma and the Southeast.  The series will complement an exhibit at the Sam Noble Museum titled Collision & Creation: Indigenous Arts of the Americas, 1890-2015.

Saturday, October 3rd - Pryor - Ask an Archaeologist Workshop

Have you ever wondered about the unusual rock you found in your backyard?  What about an arrowhead you discovered on a hike?  Now is your chance to ask an archeologist and find an answer!

On Saturday, October 3, Dr. Robert Brooks, State Archeologist and Director of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey, will be in Pryor to evaluate items from prehistoric Oklahoma.  At 10 a.m., Brooks will present from “Mounds to Mammoths,” a look at Oklahoma’s prehistoric past.  Then, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. he will answer questions about items that the public brings in for evaluation. Please note that monetary appraisals will not be given. 

The event will take place at 216 East Graham in Pryor. Both events are free and open to the public.

For additional information on the event, please contact David Pettyjohn at (405) 525-5325 or david@preservationok.org

Saturday, October 10th - Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur - Paleo-Indian Symposium

Dr. Briggs Buchanan, University of Tulsa—Clovis to Folsom Transition
Dr. Brian Andrews, Rogers State University—Folsom in the western slope of the Rockies
Dr. Lee Bement, Oklahoma Archeological Survey—Folsom in the southern Plains

Each speaker will be discussing their work in the Paleo-Indian field.  The panel will begin at 1:00 PM and continue until 3:00 PM.  Questions from the audience will be fielded.  Panel will be at the Holisso Research Center. Admission is free. For more information, contact Dr. TImothy Baugh at timothy.baugh@chickasaw.net. 

Saturday, October 24th - Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur - 18th Century Southeast Indian Beadwork

Dr. Brad Lieb, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Archaeologist, "Eighteenth Century Trade Beads among  the Chickasaw Indians." 

Time TBA. Panel will be at the Holisso Research Center. Admission is free. For more information, contact Dr. Timothy Baugh at timothy.baugh@chickasaw.net. 

Sept. 17-20 - Fall Dig at Ft. Washita

The Oklahoma Anthropological Society Fall Archaeological Dig is almost here!  All participants must be an OAS member and a Dig Fee of $5/day applies (up to $20).  These funds are used to cover costs for dig associated activities.

Here are some notes from the coordinator:

The Fall Dig is fast approaching!  I know I’m looking forward to getting back out in the field, and I hope many of you are as well!  I wanted to warn everyone about the closure of State Highway 199 between Madill and Fort Washita.  The floods of May washed out part of the bridge over the Washita, which means the most direct route to the site from I-35 is currently closed.  So, you will have to take an alternate route to get out to the site from I-35.  I have made a Google Map showing this route and I have written step-by-step directions below.  I hope this helps everyone to find the dig more easily!

Here is a link to the Google Map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=znPJGuK17J3A.kkCj5Rm9u6T4&usp=sharing

And here are the written directions:

To get to Fort Washita:

1.  Take I-35 SB to Exit 29, US Hwy 70 Eastbound

2.  Take 70 through various towns, including Madill.  There will be signs for Fort Washita in Madill, but DO NOT FOLLOW THEM!!!  You’ll wind up having to turn around and backtrack to Madill due to the bridge being out!!

3.  Continue on U.S. 70 E until you cross Lake Texoma on the long Roosevelt Bridge. On the east side of the lake is the community of Mead.  Just under 1.5 miles past Mead, Silo Road will be on your left.  You will see a water tower in front of you.  If you pass it, you’ve gone too far.  There is an E-Z Mart gas station on the right side of the Hwy, Silo Road on the left.  Turn left onto Silo Road.

4.  Continue north on Silo Road.  About 3 miles from the turn, the road does a 90 bend to the left then runs west for a bit and does another 90 degree bend to the right to head back north.  Stay with the road through those bends.  

5.  After about 5 miles on Silo Road, you go through the community of Silo, then in a mile or so the road intersects SH-78.  There is an abandoned store on the right corner of the intersection and you’ll see a sign for Brown Farms right in front of you.  Turn left onto Hwy 78.

6.  After about a mile, SH-199 is on your left.  There is a sign for Fort Washita.  There may be a road closed barrier at the intersection, but just drive around it, as you will turn off before the road is closed.

7.  Continue on SH 199 for several miles.  You’ll drop down into some bottomlands and then after you come up, Fort Washita will be on your right at the top of a big rise.  You can’t miss it.  There are some reconstructed stockades and a big gate and sign.  Once in the park, follow the signs that say OAS to sign in.

Thanks!  

September 1st, Phil Cross, The History of Caddo Bows and Arrows

We're pretty excited about our speaker series for the Oklahoma Anthropological Society (Cleveland County chapter) meetings this fall: History and Heritage: Indigenous Traditions of Oklahoma and the Southeast

The series will complement an exhibit at the Sam Noble Museum titled Collision & Creation: Indigenous Arts of the Americas, 1890-2015 that is opening on Friday, August 28th (public opening reception at 6pm).  The Museum will be co-sponsoring the speaker series and providing refreshments beforehand.

Here is our schedule for the fall.  Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, 6:30pm reception, 7pm presentation, at the Sam Noble Museum.

• September 1st: Mr. Phil Cross, member of the Caddo Nation and lead singer and historian for the Caddo Culture Club, The History of Caddo Bows and Arrows
• October 6th: Dr. Elizabeth Horton, Station Archeologist at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, Arkansas Archeological Survey, Motifs and Iconography in the Sacred & Ceremonial Textiles and Basketry of Southeastern Societies
• November 3rd, Ms. LaDonna Brown, Tribal Anthropologist, The Chickasaw Nation, Southeastern Indian Finger Weaving Designs
• December 1st, Dr. Ian Thompson, Director of the Historic Preservation Department, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Archeologist, and NAGPRA Specialist, The Choctaw Nation, Choctaw Traditional Foods and Land Management

Phil Cross carving bois d'arc for a Caddo bow

First up, please join us in welcoming Phil Cross! Cross was raised on his family’s Caddo Indian allotted land in western Oklahoma. He is a member of the Caddo Indian Nation and of the Caddo Culture Club at Binger, Oklahoma. Cross serves as the historian for the Caddo Culture Club and is the lead singer for the Club’s dances, ceremonies and appearances.

Cross learned bow making techniques and successful hunting methods at an early age from Caddo and other Indian elders. He has been successful in taking big game, wild turkey, and all types of small game with his hand made bois d’arc bows. He has developed an extensive knowledge of the history of the bow and arrow of Caddo Indians and other tribes around the U.S. He has conducted workshops on Indian primitive bow making and archery for a variety of groups and youth across the U.S. His work is known worldwide and he has published a number of writings on the subject. His workshops include the use of   ancient stone tools as well as modern shaping tools. He has been featured as a bow maker in a number of television programs including “Is this a Great State or What”, Channel 4, Oklahoma City, Ok, and “Outdoor Oklahoma”, OETA, Oklahoma City, OK.

Archaeology in the Classroom!

Interested in using archaeology in your classroom? This Project Archaeology workshop is a supplementary science and social studies curriculum unit designed to familiarize educators in grades 3 through 5 (also easily adaptable for secondary subjects) with archaeology resources for the classroom that can enhance learning opportunities in math, science, art, and social studies. Archaeology is an engaging way for students to tangibly connect to the past. Archaeology is interdisciplinary and uses scientific and historical inquiry to foster cultural understanding. Teachers and students can be a part of the discovery and defense of our cultural heritage by learning how archaeologists study the past and then apply their knowledge to uncover a real archaeological site! Explore a slave cabin, farm house, colonial home, and several Native American shelters right from your classroom!

The workshop will take place at the Museum of the Great Plains on November 6-7.

Visit our webpage for more in http://projectarchaeology.org/programs/oklahoma and click on “View Upcoming Course” for registration. Contact Ryan Howell at rhowell@blm.gov or 918-621-4153 with any questions.

Registration Deadline: September 18th unless full.

Registration is free for teachers and a continuing education training certificate will be awarded upon completion of the course.

OAS Spring Meeting - May 2nd - Chickasaw Cultural Center

The Spring Meeting of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will be on Saturday, May 2nd at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur.  The meeting will begin at 10am with a tour of the Center.  More info coming soon.

If you haven't caught it yet, the meeting will be just in time to see the Dugout Canoe Exhibit before it closes.  This is an amazing venue - we hope you will be able to join us!

OAS Spring Dig: May 11-16, 2015

Time to get back out in the field!  Come join the Oklahoma Anthropological Society at the 2015 Spring Dig.  It will be at Historic Fort Washita in Durant.  The Fort was first established in 1842 and was acquired by the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1962.  It is now a National Historic Landmark.

Join us for a 6 day archaeological dig with educational programs in the evenings.  Dr. Amanda Regnier and Dr. Scott Hammerstedt from the Oklahoma Archeological Survey will be directing the excavations.  According to dig chair Andy Slaucitajs, the digging area has no shade, but also no poison ivy or oak.

As always, visitors are welcome and observation of the dig is free, but participation requires membership in the OAS and a small fee.

One of the hotels recommended for visitors to the Fort is the Best Western Markita (580-924-7676).  Limited camping is also available at Lake Texoma on a first-come first-serve basis.