Myth, Memory, History, Encounter: Fall Commemorations

Myth, Memory, History, Encounter:  Fall Commemorations

October 9 is Leif Erikson Day.  It has been since 1964 when congress approved it and President Johnson proclaimed it (it is a federal “observance”, not a federal holiday).  Leif Erikson Day usually passes relatively unnoticed where I live in New York State, although I imagine things are a bit different in Minnesota and other places around the upper Midwest.

Announcing a Great New Publication in Archaeology

Numbers 83-84 of the journal Northeast Anthropology is a single, integrated, guest-edited volume titled Archaeological Landscapes:  Scale, Technology and Emerging Approaches.  It is guest-edited by Nina M. Versaggi, Laurie E. Miroff, and Edward V. Curtin.  

One Head, Many Hats: The Diverse Expertise of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Archaeologists

One Head, Many Hats: The Diverse Expertise of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Archaeologists

Recently, my friend Nina Versaggi provided a contribution to The Conversation that succinctly and beautifully offers her perspective of a career in archaeology. While Nina conveys the excitement of archaeological discovery and the importance of reconstructing the past, she also talks about the varied responsibilities and skill-sets that many American archaeologists have as cultural resource managers.

January in June? 1816, the Year without a Summer

January in June?  1816, the Year without a Summer

Since I’m seeing news-reference again to the infamous Year without a Summer, I resurrect this piece from a couple years back.  200 years ago this month, a Ballston Spa, New York newspaper story stated that June 6, 1816 dawned cold and snowy.  In the “Year without a Summer” it was reported in Ballston Spa that 5 inches of snow fell in June, and 12 inches during June through August. 

Archaeologists and Anthropologists Gather for Regional Conferences, Spring 2016

Archaeologists and Anthropologists Gather for Regional Conferences, Spring 2016

On April 15 the New York Archaeological Council (NYAC) met in Rochester, New York preceding the 100th anniversary meeting of the New York State Archaeological Association.  Workshops responsive to the crisis in archaeological collections curation were held as the NYAC program on Friday afternoon. Later that night NYSAA held its business meeting, while the conference continued through the rest of the weekend, ending with a guided tour of the new Seneca Art and Culture Center at the Ganondagan State Historic Site on Sunday afternoon.  Some of the featured events of the NYSAA conference included the day-long plenary session on Saturday and the keynote presentation by John Hart on Saturday night.  Volunteered papers were presented on Sunday morning.