April 2006



Archeology Program Coordinates Peer Review of COE Birds Point – New Madrid

Floodway Archeological Mitigation



The NPS Archeology Program coordinated a peer review of a large,

multi-phase archeological program carried out by the Army Corps of

Engineers (COE), Memphis District in the Bird Point – New Madrid Floodway,

southeastern Missouri, between 1989 and 2004.  The COE, Memphis District

requested the peer review to ensure that archeological investigations and

results to date were of the highest standards and so that work still to be

completed could be informed by professional recommendations of the peer

review team.   Peer review team members David G. Anderson (University of

Tennessee), Tristram R. Kidder (Washington University, St. Louis), and

Signa Larralde (BLM-New Mexico) met in Memphis, TN, on March 20-24, 2006 to

review the project area, reports and other documents, and to conduct

interviews with key project personnel.  The team was assisted by Peer

Review Coordinator Martha Graham and Departmental Consulting Archeologist

Frank McManamon.  Graham and McManamon worked with COE, Memphis District to

distribute documentation about the mitigation projects to the team members

prior to the meeting; and provided guidance and assistance in identifying

issues for the team to consider.  The peer review assessed effectiveness

and appropriateness of archeological resource identification, evaluation,

and data recovery methods and techniques in relation to required standards

for archeological and historic preservation. The Archeology Program will

assist the team in editing and producing the final report.

More information about peer reviews may be found in “The Peer Review of

Public Archeology Projects” by Bennie C. Keel, Southeast Archeological

Center, NPS (http://www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/PUBS/TECHBR/tch14A.htm)

Contact:  Martha Graham,  [log in to unmask]



Katmai NP&P Publishes Book on Prehistory and History of Region

 In September 2005 Katmai NP&P published a prehistory and history of the

Naknek region of the park,  “A Naknek Chronicle: Ten Thousand Years in a

Land of Lakes and Rivers and Mountains of Fire.” The author, Don E. Dumond,

Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, University of Oregon, wrote this book

for the public on behalf of the NPS.  The book focuses not only on

archeology and early history, but also extends into the early 20th century,

and includes information about the Mt. Katmai eruption, the Spanish

influenza pandemic of 1919, and the development of the fishing industry. “A

Naknek Chronicle” also carries an afterword by John Branson, the park

historian, that describes the role of Frank Hill in the development of the

publication.  A native of the region, Hill believed that the study of local

history helps to understand and accept cultural change, and that this

knowledge can offer guidance for the future.  As an influential educator in

the public school system, Hill strongly endorsed a non-technical book to

make local history accessible to students and to the public.

Contact: Jeanne Schaaf, [log in to unmask]



30 years of Service by NPS Archeologist Larry Nordby

Archeologist Larry Nordby worked for the NPS for 30 years before his

retirement in April of last year. During his career, he contributed greatly

to the advancement of archeological and preservation methods, as well as

enhancing professionalism and building research programs within the NPS.



Larry held a variety of management and research positions in the

Intermountain Region including Chief of the Branch of Cultural Resources at

the NPS Cultural Resource Center in Santa Fe.  He also served as the

Regional Archeologist of the Southwest Region for a number of years.  The

last 10 years of his career were spent at Mesa Verde NP where he

established the Archeological Site Conservation Program (ASCP) to better

manage and protect more than 4700 archeological sites within the park’s

boundary. In all of these positions, Larry’s influence has been

far-reaching and his ideas have been incorporated into program standards.



Prior to 1994, no consolidated archeology program existed for managing

Mesa Verde NP archeological resources. Information on site conditions was

incomplete and there was no methodology for archeological site

documentation. Under the ASCP, baseline information for previously

identified sites was collected, uniform standards for site documentation

and records management were set, and assessment procedures for newly

identified sites were developed. This program of documentation enables park

staff to better monitor archeological projects, manage site information in

a tabular and graphic database, and properly catalogue and archival field

records and reports.



Standardizing procedures under the ASCP allowed the park to establish a

comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to documenting its more than 600

cliff dwellings, most of which possess original architectural fabric such

as intact surface finishes, wooden elements, rock art, and historic

inscriptions.  Under the ASCP, the park focuses its resources on

documenting these sites in a hierarchical manner, first systematically

assessing the condition of a cliff dwelling;  then recording its

architecture, construction sequences, techniques, and methods; and ,

finally, treating and stabilizing site fabric as necessary.



Larry also participated in the Vanishing Treasures Initiative, established

in 1993 to respond to backlogged treatments needs and missing condition

information for thousands of archeological sites at 41 NPS units in the

Southwest. This initiative provides funds for the care and management of

cultural resources throughout the Intermountain Region, including

establishing new permanent positions for archeologists, historians, masons,

structural engineers, and exhibit specialists. Larry served on various

workgroups for the Vanishing Treasures Program including the Guidelines and

Definitions Workgroup, Career Development Workgroup, and Advisory Group.



During his NPS career, Larry was involved in many other professional

activities .  Outside of the NPS, he served on the Executive Board, Society

of Professional Archeology (1986-7); the Executive Committee, American

Society for Conservation Archeology (1986-8); the Archeological Review

Committee, City of Santa Fe, NM (1988-1991); and the Advisory Board, Center

of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO.  Because of his

interest and expertise in submerged cultural resources, he also was a

member of the NPS Submerged Resources Center (1979-1996); the NPS Regional

Dive Officer, Southwest Region (1979-1986); and a member of an

Archeological Advisory Team to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration’s U.S.S. Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.



Larry’s friends and colleagues wish him well, and hope that he has enjoyed

his first year of retirement.

(Thanks to Julie A. Bell, MEVE, for background information)



Projects in Parks: Chaco Digital Initiative

The Chaco Digital Initiative is a collaborative effort between the NPS, the

University of Virginia, and museums, universities, archives, and

laboratories to integrate archaeological data collected from Chaco Canyon.

Currently, these materials are housed at numerous repositories around the

country, making it difficult to answer even fundamental research questions.

The Chaco Digital Initiative is making the research and human history of

this national treasure more easily available through a comprehensive

digital research archive, parts of which can be accessed through a public

website. The goal is to ensure that these early archaeological research

records are preserved and accessible to future generations.  Much research

information about archeological collections, excavation fieldnotes, and

photographs from Chaco Canyon is available at the Chaco Digital Initiative

website at http://www.chacoarchive.org/.



NPS employees who can access the NPS intranet can learn more about this

project by going to Projects in Parks <

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 serves to

inform others of interesting archeology-related projects in a national

park.  Past reports are available on the Projects in Parks webpage,

accessed through the Archeology homepage, on InsideNPS. To contribute

project information, contact Karen Mudar, [log in to unmask]



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,

accessed through the Archeology homepage, on InsideNPS. Contact Karen

Mudar, Archeology Program, NPS, at (202) 354-2103, [log in to unmask] to

contribute news items and to subscribe.