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

Forensic Anthropology in Oklahoma

Here is a wonderful article and video about the work done by forensic anthropologist and OASer Angela Berg.

http://newsok.com/where-is-sandy-rea-oklahoma-state-anthropologist-helps-piece-together-mysteries-of-the-unidentified-and-missing/article/3699927

Spring Dig and Exhibits - In and Out of Oklahoma

Well, I fell off the face of the earth for awhile, but now that the semester is done I am back online!  

First and foremost, the Oklahoma Anthropological Society Spring Dig is going on right now at the Bryson Paddock site near Ponca City.  It is running from May 25-June 3.  Excavation hours are 8:30-4:00.  A carpool is meeting each day at the Kanza Wellness Center in Newkirk at 7:00 am.  At the light in Newkirk, go east, the road will curve, but keep east about two miles till you get to a intersection. There you see a large sign to the casino. The Kanza Heath Center is on the southeast corner of that intersection. 

For more information on Bryson Paddock, visit: 

http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/Bryson-Paddock/fieldschool.htm

In Oklahoma, a neat exhibit is opening  on June 2 at the Sam Noble Museum on dinosaurs from China.  Yes, I know quite well that archaeologists DO NOT study dinosaurs, but the museum is also hosting a free and public opening event on Friday, June 1, that will feature cultural activities provided by the Confucius Institute of the University of Oklahoma.  It should be quite fun.  Perhaps more pertinently, a series of Native American art objects will be on display for the first time at SNOMNH starting from May 5-September 16!

And finally, for all those interested in the omnipresence of Mayan archaeology this year, check out the online component to the 2012 Lords of Time exhibit at the Penn Museum.  They've got a neat series of videos and links posted!

http://www.penn.museum/sites/2012/

Monday, April 30 meeting

Our "May" meeting will be held on Monday, April 30 (2012) at 7PM and SNOMNH.  Our guest speaker Lauren O'Shea will speak about bison mtDNA from the Southern Plains and how this genetic information may help illuminate past human foraging strategies.