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.