I Study Dead People

As a professional archaeologist, not a day goes by without someone inquiring about my discipline. Some people congratulate me on my choice of career and for the completion of the several years of education required to obtain the B.A. and the graduate degree required to pursue work as an archaeologist. Children, in particular exude excitement at meeting a "real" archaeologist; their perceptions of the job range from Indiana Jones' adventures, to the study of dinosaurs, to other activities sometimes akin to collecting (looting) archaeological artifacts from sites. After dispelling these notions, my standard answer is thus: "Archaeology is the study of prehistoric and historic human cultures through the examination and analysis of their material remains, as found in archaeological sites, structures, features, and landscapes. Material remains may include the stone tools utilized for hunting or processing plant foods, bone tools for making clothing and shelter material, seeds and animal bones indicating the foods people subsisted on, burial features, ceramics, and wooden structures. Since my research specializes in the material remains of ancient and prehistoric people, in a nutshell--I Study Dead People.

For more information, use the Google Search tool at the top of the page and SEARCH "What is Archaeology". Thanks for visiting my blog, and have a great day! --AFN


http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/09/illinois-high-school-says-goodbye-to-final-remnant-of-native-mascot/

Historic Hidden Forest Cabin getting facelife

http://www.lvrj.com/news/45285857.html

http://www.lvrj.com/news/45285832.html

Kent Olson, 68, a historic log cabin restoration expert, on Tuesday checks out the Hidden Forest Cabin in the Sheep Mountains. The Hidden Forest Cabin is undergoing a $30,000 restoration. Historians believe the cabin was built in the late 1800s and was used by hunters, trappers, prospectors and maybe outlaws. Kent Olson flipped open his pocketknife and jabbed it into the bark of a log inside Hidden Forest Cabin. The blade stuck with ease.
"None of this lasts forever," he said, pulling the blade back out. "Pine doesn't do good getting soaking wet. Then you have the summer heat."
Olson, a mountain man from Husum, Wash., just north of the Oregon border, is the 68-year-old saw-slinger the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sent last week to replace four rotting logs in the rare, century-old cabin and repair its leaking roof...

"Click on link for photographs of historic cabins in the Las Vegas, Nevada area"

Kipp Ruin: Exhibit for the Visually Impaired

http://www.nmsu.edu/~ucomm/Releases/2009/april/visuallyimpaired_exhibit.htm


NMSU student creates exhibit for the visually impaired
A project that was in the works for more than three years is now an exhibit that not only depicts the arts of the Mogollon culture but provides a display that also can be enjoyed by those who are visually impaired.
Amanda Stroud, a New Mexico State University student studying anthropology, created the University Museum exhibit entitled “Kipp Ruin.”
“I came up with the idea for the exhibit while in a museum studies class. A display like this hasn’t been done in the University Museum in 40 years,” Stroud said.
Stroud studied the Mogollon site eight miles east of Deming called Kipp Ruin. Stroud explained the site, which dates from 1300 to 1450, was the location from which the Kipp Ruin people vanished and includes 20 pueblo rooms where pottery and tools are found.
The exhibit consists of four stations, all of which have brailed text. Each station was designed to provide a hands-on experience for visitors...

"We applaud our fellow grad colleague on such a unique idea. I recall our round-table discussions about sensory perception and how visually impaired students would be able to interact with the display. I seem to recall something about lemons, strawberries, and bananas, or was it bubble-gum?"--aggie castronuevo

Walden Headed for Southern Oregon

http://www.kmed.com/pages/landing/?WALDEN-HEADED-FOR-SOUTHERN-OREGON=1&blockID=39700&feedID=133

"Highlighting the schedule is a meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18 with Region 6 Forest Service Supervisor Mary Wagner (who oversees forest service land in Oregon and Washington) and state BLM Director Ed Sheppard to learn the agencies’ plans to begin forest health projects with the funds they are expected to receive in the federal stimulus package that the House expects to vote on tomorrow. Any stimulus package should aim to create jobs quickly, so Rep. Walden is interested to hear about how they plan to get Oregonians back working in the woods quickly with the new funds. "

Here's to Matt Punke, fellow archaeologist, who was chased down the mountain by another "wild, angry pig!" only to be saved by another fellow SuperArchy, Ryan, with a very big stick (tree trunk)!

Aggie

archaeologist, Lincoln National Forest