May 2006
Updates to the Archeology Program Antiquities Act Centennial 1906-2006 web
pages
Updated information about commemorative activities and several new national
monument profiles have been added to the Antiquities Act Centennial web
page (www.cr.nps.gov/archeology/sites/antiquities): Sitka NM, Alaska
(1910); Grand Canyon NM (1908), Papago Suguaro NM (1914), and Walnut Canyon
NM (1915), Arizona; and Colorado NM (1911), Colorado. Papago Suguaro NM was
abolished in 1930 and is now a city park in Phoenix. The profiles describe
the monuments and quote visitors’ impressions of these extraordinary
places. June 8, 2006, is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Act by
President Theodore Roosevelt, thus establishing the first general legal
protection of cultural and natural resources in the United States.
Contact: Barbara Little, [log in to unmask]
NPS Archeological Sites Working Group meets
The Archeological Sites Working Group, a servicewide panel of NPS
archeologists, superintendents, management consultants, and Park Facilities
Maintenance Division representatives are meeting on May 16-19, 2006, to
continue development of asset management tools for maintained archeological
sites.”Maintained archeological sites” are that that require maintenance
such as conservation, stabilization, repair, documentation of
modifications, and other treatments. The working group is focusing on
developing asset specification templates, inspection guidance, cost
calculators for replacing or repairing materials in kind, and other
business practices for the Facility Maintenance Software System (FMSS).
Another key goal is to maximize information sharing between the National
Archeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS) and the FMSS. It
is anticipated that the management tools will be tested in several national
park units with archeological sites.
Contact: Terry Childs, [log in to unmask]
Antiquities Act Exhibit Opens at the Department of the Interior Museum
An exhibit at the DOI Museum, Main Interior Building, Washington DC,
entitled “The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the National Park Service: A
Century of Archeology, Conservation, and Preservation” highlights the role
of the NPS in protecting cultural and natural resources identified in the
Act. The exhibit displays artifacts and historical photographs from
national monuments. Debra Berke of the DOI Museum is the curator of the
exhibit; Teresa Moyer, a consultant with the Archeology Program played a
central role in assembling the exhibited artifacts and natural resource
samples, and in developing the exhibit texts.
The exhibit was made possible through generous assistance from many people,
including Christine Czazasty, Devils Tower NM; Bruce A. Weisman, Mount
Rushmore National Memorial; Tom Durant, Harpers Ferry Center; Kim E.
Beckwith, Western Archeological and Conservation Center; Richard Vernon and
Bridget Beers, Southeast Archeological Center; Nancy J. Russell, Everglades
NP; Michael T. Glore, Katmai NP&P; Karen Hughes, John H. Schroeder, and
Randall Skeirik, Montezuma Castle NM and Tuzigoot NM; Jeff Bradybaugh,
Leslie Newkirk, and Tom Haraden, Zion NP; Mark Madison, NCTC; David
Winchester, Casa Grande NM; Chris Moore, New York Public Library; Mia
Monroe and staff, Muir Woods NM.
An opening reception for the exhibit will be held Thursday, June 7, 2006,
at 2:30 p.m. in the Interior Museum at 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC.
Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are required and may be
placed by telephoning (202) 208-4659.
Contact: Debra Berke, [log in to unmask]
Joshua Tree NP Park Ranger and Special Agent Receives Harry Yount Award
Todd Swain, Park Ranger and Special Agent at Joshua Tree NP, received the
2006 Harry Yount
National Park Ranger Award for excellence in “rangering.” For more than a
decade, Todd has been the highest rated instructor of resource protection
courses for archeologists, paleontologists, tactical teams,
superintendents, U.S. attorneys, and park rangers in basic and advanced
courses. He created an advanced resource protection course which brings
together professional disciplines within land management agencies to
protect natural and cultural resources. Todd has been one of the principle
developers and leaders in the joint Department of Justice and the NPS
course “Overview of Resource Protection Crimes.” This course has been
invaluable in gaining support for resource protection from U.S. attorneys
nationwide. Todd has also worked closely with the FBI’s Art Crimes Team.
Named after Harry Yount, who is generally given credit for being the first
park ranger, the Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award is the hallmark of
recognition for a NPS park ranger. The prestigious award is presented
annually by the NPS. The peer-nominated award not only seeks to recognize
and honor outstanding rangers, but to encourage high standards of
performance; foster an especially responsive attitude toward public
service; enhance the public’s appreciation of the park ranger profession;
and further the art and science of “rangering.”
Contact: Gerry Gaumer, [log in to unmask]
WACC Archeologist Receives Appleman-Judd Award
Jeff Burton, archeologist at the NPS Western Archeological and Conservation
Center, is the recipient of the 2005 Roy E. Appleman-Henry A. Judd Award.
The award recognizes Jeff’s efforts to preserve and interpret resources
associated with the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II,
particularly for archeological work at Manzanar NHS and Minidoka Internment
NM, for preparing a National Historic Landmark nomination for the Tule Lake
Segregation center, and for co-authoring the NHL theme study “Japanese
Americans in World War II.” The Appleman-Judd award was created to
recognize expertise and foster creativity in cultural resource management
practices and projects-particularly those that may serve as examples or
models for programs servicewide.
Contact: Harry Butowsky, [log in to unmask]
SEAC Archeologist Receives Sequoia Award
John Jameson, Jr., senior archeologist at the NPS Southeast Archeological
Center is the recipient of a 2005 Sequoia Award. Up to five awards are
presented annually for outstanding contributions to the interpretive
profession. The award recognizes John’s dedication to the interpretation
of archeological resources, and to the NPS interpretation and education
program. The Sequoia Award was created to recognize individuals whose
efforts have resulted in exceptional and lasting improvements to the
interpretive profession.
Contact: Corky Mayo, [log in to unmask]
Projects in Parks: Independence NHP Archeology at Franklin Court
As part of the commemorations for the 300th anniversary of the birth of
Benjamin Franklin, on January 17, 1706, the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Consortium, in cooperation with Independence NHP, commissioned an
assessment of the archeology conducted at the site of Franklin’s
Philadelphia home, Franklin Court. The resources utilized include
excavation documentation and collections, and interpretive material that
had been developed by the park over the past several decades. The
archaeological assessment, supported three commemoration programmatic
initiatives: an international loan exhibition “Benjamin Franklin, In Search
of a Better World,” a Frankliniana database, and educational outreach
materials disseminated over the Internet (www.benfranklin300.org). The
archeological study constitutes part of a legacy contribution to
Independence NHP by the Tercentenary Consortium in honor of Franklin. The
author of the study, Patrice Jeppson, re-interpreted previously identified
artifacts, identified new sources of information, and identified previously
overlooked artifacts within the collections to provide a richer and more
textualized understanding of Franklin’s role in transforming 18th century
society and culture.
Contact: Patrice L. Jeppson, Ph.D., Historical Archaeology Consultant to
the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Consortium, [log in to unmask]
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.
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, stories for “Projects in Parks,” and to subscribe.
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