November 2006
Another important date for Antiquities Act Centennial Celebrations
2006 has been a good year for the Antiquities Act. During the course of
the year, President Bush created two new National Monuments, both of them
with important archeological resources: the African Burial Ground in New
York City and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument.
The centennial has occasioned commemorative exhibits, web sites, news
reports, articles, and symposia. Individual National Monuments, new and
old, have held celebrations, provided information, and promoted the
centennial of the law that was instrumental in their creation. This is
especially true for Devil’s Tower, the first National Monument, proclaimed
by President Roosevelt on September 24, 1906. An important round of
further commemorative activities will be held on December 8, 2006, when El
Morro NM, Montezuma Castle NM, and Petrified Forest NP observe their
centennials. Readers are encouraged to participate in the activities and
spread the word about these anniversaries.
Contact: Frank McManamon, [log in to unmask]
Progress on the Integration of Maintained Archeological Sites and the
Facilities Management Software System (FMSS)
The NPS maintains many archeological sites in park units throughout the
country. For the last two years, a small, dedicated group of NPS
archeologists, facilities managers, and superintendents are developing a
module for the FMSS system that will integrate the maintenance of
archeological sites into the facilities management program more smoothly.
This integration will enable park managers, and facility and cultural
resource staffs to estimate and plan more efficiently the life cycle
requirements for park archeological sites. It also will help park managers
and program managers at regional and WASO offices to determine the long
term needs and costs of archeological site maintenance activities. In a
memorandum dated October 6, 2006, the Associate Director for Cultural
Resources and the Associate Director for Planning, Facilities, and Lands
Facilities summarize progress so far on this effort and discuss several of
the issues related to the work. A copy of the memo can be found on the
Inside NPS page for the Archeology Program,
http://www.inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=279&lv=3, under the tab along
the left side of the page, "FMSS and Archeological Sites."
Contact: Terry Childs, Archeology Program, [log in to unmask]
Guidance on Archeological Resources and Fire Management begins development
The NPS Archeology Program has begun development of a module of the
service-wide Archeology Guide focused on Archeological Resources and Fire
Management. A working group of experts with experience in managing
archeological resources that may be affected or have been affected by fire
held a teleconference on November 15, 2006, to identify relevant topics for
inclusion in the guidance. Information about the fire working group
activities is available on InsideNPS at
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=279&id=4813 .
The Archeology Guide describes operational requirements, activities,
standards, and provides guidance on the responsible management of
archeological resources under the stewardship of the NPS. The Guide
supplements more general directions in Director's Order #28A: Archeology,
the NPS CRM Guideline, and Directors' Order 28: Cultural Resource
Management. The first module, launched in FY2006, provided guidance on
issuing Permits for Archeological Investigations on parklands.
The NPS Archeology Guide and Permits for Archeological Investigations can
be accessed on the Archeology Program web site at:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/npsGuide/ .
Contact: Karen Mudar, [log in to unmask]
NPS 2007 Archaeological Prospection Workshop
The NPS 2007 workshop on archaeological prospection techniques “Current
Archaeological Prospection Advances for Non-Destructive Investigations in
the 21st Century” will be held May 14-18, 2007, at the HAMMER Training
Center, Richland, WA. Lodging will be at the Guest House, Richland, WA.
This will be the seventeenth year of the workshop dedicated to the use of
geophysical, aerial photography, and other remote sensing methods as they
apply to the identification, evaluation, conservation, and protection of
archaeological resources across the nation. The workshop will focus on the
theory of operation, methodology, processing, interpretation, and on-hands
use of the equipment in the field. There is a tuition charge of $475.00.
Application forms are available on the Midwest Archeological Center’s web
page at <http://www.cr.nps.gov/mwac/>.
Contact: Steven L. DeVore, Archeologist, NPS, Midwest Archeological Center,
Federal Building, Room 474, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE
68508-3873: tel: (402) 437-5392, ext. 141; fax: (402) 437-5098; email:
<[log in to unmask]>
Dr. Francis (Cal) Calabrese Retires
On November 3, 2006, Dr. Cal Calabrese, research coordinator for the Upper
and Middle Mississippi Valley Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU),
retired from the NPS. Cal received his Ph.D. from the University of
Missouri-Columbia in 1971. He began his career in archeology at the
University of Colorado-Boulder, working with Bob Lister and Dave Breternitz
on various projects in Colorado and Utah. After leaving Colorado, he served
as an archeologist for the state of Kansas for two years and returned to
graduate school at the University of Missouri-Columbia, working under the
direction of Ray Wood.
Cal began his career in the NPS in 1973, joining the Midwest Archeological
Center in Lincoln, NE. In 1975, he became manager of the center, which
coordinates field and laboratory research within national parks in 16 Rocky
Mountain and Midwestern states. In 1994, Cal moved to the Midwest Regional
Office in Omaha, where he served variously as acting deputy regional
director, special assistant to the regional director, and superintendent of
the Great Plains System Support Office. From 1998 through October, 2005, he
was the associate regional director for cultural resource stewardship and
partnerships. For the past 12 months, he has been detailed to the Upper and
Middle Mississippi Valley CESU at the University of Missouri in Columbus,
MO.
Although his position titles changed frequently throughout his 33-year
career with the NPS in Nebraska, Cal’s contributions always focused on
developing effective cultural resource programs, including an NPS
Ethnography Program. Cal supported good science in archeological projects
designed for parks. His research contributions and publications relate to
the prehistory of the Central and Northern Plains.
Cal intends to spend time in the Caribbean on his 40-foot sailboat after
his retirement. His envious colleagues wish him well.
Contributed by Anne Vawser.
Projects in Parks: Artifacts from 18th Century Spanish ships loaned to
Assateague National Seashore
In October, 2006, representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Education,
Culture and Sports and the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) signed a loan
agreement for artifacts from Spanish shipwreck sites to be displayed in a
new visitor’s center at Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia. The
loan agreement marks the end of a 7-year legal battle over objects believed
to be from the Spanish Royal Naval ships La Galga and Juno. La Galga
wrecked off the coast of Assateague Island in 1750. The Juno was lost in
waters off Assateague Island in 1802.
NPS employees who can access the NPS intranet can learn more about this
project and read other reports by going to the Projects in Parks webpage <
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=279&id=3670> on
InsideNPS.
Projects in Parks is a feature of the Archeology E-Gram that informs others
about archeology-related projects in a national park. Prospective authors
should review information about submitting photographs on the Projects in
Parks webpage. Selected reports are also available on the Archeology
Program website under Research in the Parks <
http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/sites/npsites.htm>
Archeology E-Gram, distributed via e-mail on a regular basis, includes
announcements about news, new publications, training opportunities,
national and regional meetings, and other important goings-on related to
public archeology in the National Park Service and other public agencies.
Recipients are encouraged to forward Archeology E-Grams to colleagues and
relevant mailing lists and new subscribers are accepted. Past issues of
the Archeology E-Gram are available on the Archeology E-Gram webpage <
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=279&id=3867> on
InsideNPS; and will be on the What’s New page <
http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/NEW.HTM> on the Archeology Program
website.
Contact Karen Mudar, Archeology Program, NPS, (202) 354-2103,
[log in to unmask] to contribute news items, stories for Projects in Parks
, and to subscribe.
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