July 2012 Archeology E-Gram
NPS Archeologist Tom Burge Retires
Tom Burge, long-time lead for the cultural resources program at Sequoia
and Kings Canyon NP, retired on June 2, 2012. Tom started his nearly
32-year career in the Dakotas and Montana with the USFS. After positions
as a Forest archeologist in Oregon and Missouri, he transferred in 1992 to
the NPS Pacific West regional office in San Francisco. Tom also served as
chief of the Interagency Archeological Services Branch (now defunct).
Following the NPS’s reorganization in 1994, Tom transferred to Sequoia and
Kings Canyon NP. He was immediately drawn in by the pull of the southern
Sierra Nevada landscape.
Tom says that it has been his great good fortune to have worked in
wonderful parts of the country, within great agencies, and with
exceptional people. “A string of lucky breaks for a blue-collar kid from
Pittsburgh.”
In retirement, he will be moving to Cody, Wyoming, to kick around the
Beartooth Plateau, the Bighorn Mountains, and, of course, Yellowstone NP.
By Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Specialist
Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP
Lynch Knife River Flint Quarry National Historic Landmark Dedicated
NPS personnel, public officials, tribal members, landowners, and the
general public gathered at a ceremony on June 9, 2012, to formally
dedicate the Lynch Knife River Flint Quarry National Historic Landmark in
Dunn Center, North Dakota. The quarry officially became a national
historic landmark on July 13, 2011. For thousands of years, people
traveled to the quarry site to obtain the highly prized Knife River flint.
Favored for its fine grain size and predictable fracturing pattern, Knife
River flint was the dominant lithic material over a large swath of central
North America.
The dedication ceremony opened with a traditional Mandan blessing from
Elder Edwin Benson, while fellow Three Affiliated Tribes members Cory
Spotted Bear and Keith Bear played music. Speakers included Knife River
Indian Villages NHS Superintendent Wendy Ross; NPS Midwest Region Deputy
Director Patricia Trap; former NPS Assistant Director for American Indian
Relations Gerard Baker; North Dakota Group Superintendent Valerie Naylor;
and State Historical Society of North Dakota Archeology and Historic
Preservation Division Director Fern Swenson. Vergil Noble, NPS Midwest
Archeological Center, and Damita Engel, Metcalf Archaeological
Consultants, presented the landowners with an official dedication plaque.
The ceremony ended with a speech from landowner Gail Lynch, who thanked
friends, family, and associates who contributed to the preservation of the
quarry site and designation as a national historic landmark.
The quarry joins five other national historic landmarks in North Dakota,
including the Big Hidatsa Village Site at Knife River Indian Villages NHS,
and Fort Union Trading Post NHS.
By Stephen Bridenstine, Interpretive Ranger
Knife River Indian Villages NHS
Students Participate In Hands-On Projects at Hopewell Culture National
Historical Park
Students from New Albany Middle School were awarded “A Ticket to Ride” to
Hopewell Culture NHP following an in-depth NPS project completed in the
classroom. More than 300 8th grade students were immersed in hands-on
science, art, living history interpretation, and habitat restoration
during their park visit on May 10, 2012. The goal of the visit was to
transform student ideas into park experiences.
Students assisted natural resources staff with the removal of 161 pounds
of garlic mustard. They conducted excavation work with park archeologists,
discovering and identifying both pre-historic and historic artifacts. At
the “Arts Afire” stations, students painted four banners which will be
used as headlight barriers for the park’s night sky events. They tested
their skills at spear throwing using an atlatl. Some even conducted a
mound survey with famed local 1800s historian, Dr. Davis.
New Albany teacher and program coordinator Josh Flory offered the
following appraisal of the event:
“The students are still talking about this experience, and many have found
a new sense of efficacy. They now see how they can make a difference in
the larger world, and several are actively taking steps to do so. This
experience has had an impact larger than we ever dreamed. Our staff
members are also excited, and several have approached us to see how they
might use NPS resources to support their curriculum… The experience our
students had at Hopewell Culture NHP was very distinct from their daily
environs, and many started to see a world that is larger than they
realized.”
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park conducts on-site and off-site
curriculum based educational programs for over 4,500 students each school
year. The “Ticket to Ride” program extended the reach of the park’s
programming by allowing a school that would otherwise not visit the park a
chance to experience the National Park Service first-hand.
The event was coordinated through a partnership between the NPS and New
Albany Middle School and through the generous support of the National Park
Foundation and Eastern National.
By Rick Perkins, Chief Ranger
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Opens New Visitor Center Theater
On June 9, 2012, Casa Grande Ruins NM celebrated the opening of a new
visitor center theater and the premiere of a new orientation film, Casa
Grande: House of Many Stories. The public was welcomed to an open house
with performances by traditional O’odham Desert Butterfly Dancers, and
complimentary samples of native foods provided by Ramona Farms and Western
National Parks Association.
Nagaki Design Build Associates designed and constructed the monument’s
theater as an addition to the existing visitor center, using innovative
rammed earth technology. The modern structure maintains a thousand year
tradition of earthen architecture at the site, beginning with the Casa
Grande itself and surrounding structures, which were constructed of
hand-worked caliche mud. The monument’s historic administrative buildings
and visitor center are also earthen structures, constructed of adobe in
the 1930s.
The new theater and the film mark an important transition in the way
visitors experience the monument. The film captures the multiple
perspectives that contribute to understanding the site’s importance.
Native Americans who are traditionally associated with the monument
consider it a sacred place. Archeologists, other scientists, and
preservationists are fascinated by the abundant material culture found at
the site and the information it conveys about the sophistication of the
ancient people who built it.
From news release by Carol West, Chief Ranger
Casa Grande Ruins NM
Cherokee Cultural Heritage Weekend Held at Fort Necessity National
Battlefield
Fort Necessity NB, Pennsylvania, celebrated three special events between
June 29-July 8, 2012. On June 29, a naturalization ceremony was conducted
at the visitor center, where 26 individuals representing 20 different
nations took the oath of citizenship. About 100 friends and family and
park visitors witnessed the event and welcomed our nation’s newest
citizens. The participants were then given a tour of the battlefield where
the seeds of the republic were sown in 1754.
On July 3, the 258th anniversary of the Battle of the Great Meadows, park
staff presented memorial programs throughout the day to commemorate the
sacrifices made by the 33 men who died during the battle. The names of the
known dead were read; for the unknown dead, a commemoration in French and
English was delivered as a tribute.
The weekend of July 7 showcased a partnership between the NPS and the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians with a Cherokee Cultural Heritage
Festival. The event was presented by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and
included the Warriors of AniKituhwa, their modern cultural ambassadors,
and a program highlighting the Emissaries of Peace.
While the Cherokees were not directly involved in the battles of 1754-55,
they did serve with the British in the final campaigns against Fort
Duquesne in 1758. While traveling to their homes in the south many were
killed by Virginia colonists who believed them to be hostiles who had
stolen horses and cattle from local farmsteads. This massacre of allies
led to the British/Cherokee War, which was ended with the Emissaries of
Peace traveling to London in 1762.
By Norman W. Nelson, Jr., Unit Manager
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Archaeology Day Reminder
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is organizing National
Archaeology Day (NAD) to take place on October 20, 2012. The aim of the
day is twofold: to raise awareness of archeology in the U.S. and Canada
and to provide educational opportunities for the public to participate.
The NPS has joined the AIA and its partners as a collaborating
organization, meaning that we join a nationwide effort to raise awareness
about archeology and improve public involvement. NPS participation is a
way to be part of a larger message about where archeology is, what
archeologists do, and why archeology matters.
Federal agencies, state governments, and local organizations across the
nation will host Archaeology Day events. See the full list on the AIA
website at
http://www.archaeological.org/NAD/collaboratingorganizations. Find out
about the kinds of events that they are planning on the interactive map (
http://www.archaeological.org/NAD/events). Some events are on-site and
in-person, like public archeology days or lectures, while other events
will happen online through blogs or social media.
To register an event at your park or region, go to the NAD events page (
http://www.archaeological.org/node/add/event) and fill out the form. The
information will go on the AIA NAD blog, an interactive map, and be
printed in the AIA magazine -- all ways that AIA can help to promote the
event beyond NPS channels.
The NPS Archeology Program at WASO will promote the event through the
Archeology Program website (http://www.nps.gov/archeology/) and the E-Gram
newsletter, but the program wants to hear your ideas about promoting
National Archeology Day.
Contact: Teresa Moyer at 202-354-2124.
Learn more at the National Archaeology Day website (
http://www.archaeological.org/NAD).
NPS Awards Battlefield Preservation Grants
More than $1.3 million in NPS grants will be used to help preserve,
protect, document, and interpret America’s significant battlefield lands.
The funding from the NPS American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP)
will support 27 projects at more than 75 battlefields nationwide.
This year’s grants provide funding for projects at endangered battlefields
from the Pequot War, King William’s War, the Revolutionary War, War of
1812, Civil War, World War II and various Indian Wars. Awards were given
to projects in 17 states or territories entailing archeology, mapping,
cultural resource survey work, documentation, planning, education, and
interpretation.
Priority was given to those groups submitting applications for nationally
significant battlefields. The majority of awards were given to
battlefields listed as Priority I or II sites in the NPS Civil War Sites
Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields; and the
Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and
War of 1812 Sites in the United States.
Federal, state, local and Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and
educational institutions are eligible for the battlefield grants, which
are awarded annually. Since 1996, the ABPP has awarded more than $13
million to help preserve significant historic battlefields associated with
wars on American soil.
For more information about the NPS American Battlefield Protection
Program, go to www.nps.gov/hps/abpp. For more information on each funded
project, go to http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/prpics/bpg.pdf.
Upcoming PBS History Detectives Episode Features Battlefield
In March 2012, Washita Battlefield NHS was contacted by the producers of
the PBS series, History Detectives, to verify information on items that
were submitted for an investigation. The items supposedly belonged to
Cheyenne Peace Chief Black Kettle and were recovered by a 7th U.S. Cavalry
soldier during the Washita attack on November 27, 1868. By late April
2012, the History Detectives were in Oklahoma, and spent the week filming
at the park and other locations in the state. Interviews included park
staff, a former NPS historian, and a Cheyenne Chief.
Tune in to PBS History Detectives on Tuesday, July 31 at 7 p.m. (CST) to
see what was learned! For more information, call 580-497-2742 or visit
www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/.
By Frank Torres, Chief of Interpretation
Washita Battlefield NHS
Archeological Resources in the NPS “Travel Itinerary Series”
Since 1995, the NPS has provided travel itineraries to places in the U.S.
in collaboration with many public and private partners. These travel
itineraries highlight thousands of sites that are listed in the National
Register of Historic Places and bring them to the attention of anyone
interested in learning more about American history, architecture,
archeology, engineering, and culture. Many of the travel itineraries were
first proposed by local preservation organizations, historical societies,
chambers of commerce, city governments, and regional or statewide groups.
The organization then worked in partnership with the NPS to develop the
itinerary. Each itinerary provides:
• Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American
history;
• Tourist information for historic places open to the public;
• Interactive maps;
• Color and vintage photographs;
• Links to related preservation and tourism web sites.
To date, a total of 54 travel itineraries have been developed. Many of
these contain archeological destinations. The “American Southwest” travel
itinerary contains a wealth of information about Native American pueblos,
while the “Florida Shipwrecks” itinerary introduces the traveler to the
excitement of maritime archeology. The “James River Plantations” itinerary
invites visitors to consider the challenges facing colonists and early
settlers in the New World. Lewis and Clark visited Knife River Indian
villages in 1804; you can, too, if you follow the “Lewis and Clark
Expedition” itinerary. The “Indian Mounds of Mississippi” itinerary is
also archeological in nature.
Learn more about The Travel Itinerary Series on the National Register of
Historic Places website by going to
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/index.htm.
2013 Albright-Wirth Grant Program Launched
Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Albright-Wirth Grant
Program (AWGP). They are due by August 30, 2012. The Albright-Wirth Grant
Program is a developmental program that awards grants to NPS employees,
both individuals and groups of three or more, to advance career goals or
personal development. A 2012 recipient award summary, available now on the
AWGP site, provides a narrative summary of each of the 34 recipients who
received grants in FY2012.
New to the program this year are changes to the grant amounts: a minimum
award of $500 and maximum amounts of $3,500 for individuals and $12,500
for groups of three or more employees. Grants are scheduled for dispersal
in December 2012. Supervisory approval is required.
Applicants are encouraged to think outside the box and use their
creativity, resourcefulness, and innovation to make career-enhancing
dreams a reality. The AWG program has awarded grants to NPS employees to:
Learn a new trade
Conduct or publish research
Detail/shadow/or be mentored
Pursue college degrees
Expand partnerships
Change career paths
Pursue self-improvement
Build websites
Develop leadership skills
Contact: Lonnie Lowe, 202-354-1487. The Albright-Wirth Grant program
application is an online process and can be accessed at
http://share.nps.gov/awg.
By Lonnie R. Lowe
Employee Development Specialist, WASO
Projects in Parks: Mapping an Armory Grounds Tailrace in Harpers Ferry
National Historic Park
By J.P. Ebersole
Harpers Ferry NHP archeology program is involved in an ongoing
investigation of the Lower Armory Grounds. This land contains the remains
of the second national armory commissioned by the United States in 1798.
One such feature is the tailrace tunnels. In 2011, park archeologists
obtained permission from the NPS and gained access to a tailrace tunnel.
The investigation has revealed a number of unique and unusual features
that facilitate a more complete understanding of the organization of the
armory workshops and management of the sources of energy for manufacturing
arms.
To read the full report, go to
http://www.nps.gov/archeology/sites/npSites/harpersFerryTailrace.htm
Projects in Parks is a feature of the Archeology E-Gram that informs
others about archeology-related projects in national parks. The full
reports are available on the Research in the Parks web page
www.nps.gov/archeology/sites/npSites/index.htm or through individual
issues of the Archeology E-Gram. Prospective authors should review
information about submitting photographs on the Projects in Parks web page
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 NPS and other public agencies. Recipients are
encouraged to forward Archeology E-Grams to colleagues and relevant
mailing lists. The Archeology E-Gram is available on the News and Links
page www.nps.gov/archeology/public/news.htm on the NPS Archeology Program
web site.
Contact: Karen Mudar at [log in to unmask] to contribute news items, stories for
Projects in Parks, submit citations and a brief abstract for your
peer-reviewed publications, and to subscribe.
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