*April 2013 Archeology E-Gram*

*NPS Archeologist Jeff Richner Retired*
Jeffrey J. Richner, NPS Midwest Archeological Center (MWAC) Park Archeology
Program Manager, will retire April 3, 2013, after over 34 years with the
NPS. Richner grew up in the Detroit area and attended Western Michigan
University. There, he received a BA in Anthropology in 1971, and an MA in
Anthropology in 1973, graduating with honors. Richner conducted
post-graduate work at Southern Methodist University, where he earned a
second MA and was a project archeologist for the SMU Archaeology Research
Program, directing various projects across eastern Texas.

 Richner joined MWAC in 1978 and led field investigations at Apostle
Islands NLS. He continued to work there and in parks across the NPS Midwest
Region, most notably Sleeping Bear Dunes NL, Voyageurs NP, Cuyahoga Valley
NP, Indiana Dunes NL, and Pictured Rocks NL as the Park Program’s Great
Lakes archeological research coordinator. The results of his research have
been published in articles and 30+ series publications. In 2008, Richner
took on the duties of Park Archeology Program Manager.

 Over the course of his career, Richner worked with students, interns, and
park staffs to educate about archeology and material culture, and to
promote resource stewardship. He has coordinated Regional ARPA permitting,
training courses on the archeological aspects of Section 106, and
paraprofessional archeological training.

 In 2012, Richner was awarded the John L. Cotter award for Excellence in
NPS Archeology for his multi-decade and multi-faceted research and
collaboration with the Bois Forte Ojibwe and Voyageurs NP. He worked
closely with the parks to establish meaningful partnerships in the
investigation, preservation, and protection of the Midwest Region’s
archeological resources. In retirement, he leaves a legacy of excellence
that will benefit national parks in the Midwest.

 Richner’s post-retirement plans include gardening, antiquing, and travel
with his wife Kathy. He will also continue his work with MWAC archeology as
a volunteer. His friends and colleagues wish him all the best in his
retirement.

*By Jill K. Lewis
Administrative Officer
NPS Midwest Archeological Center*

*Southwest Archeologist Linda Cordell Dies*
Linda S. Cordell, a pre-eminent Southwestern US archeologist, died on March
29, 2013, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born in 1943, Cordell earned a BA at
George Washington University, an MA at the University of Oregon and a Ph.D.
at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Cordell's primary area of
research was the U.S. Southwest, with an emphasis on 14th- and 15th-century
northern and central Rio Grande Valley Ancestral Pueblo cultures.

Cordell taught at the University of New Mexico from 1971 to 1987. That was
followed by four years at the California Academy of Sciences. Cordell was
director of the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History from 1993
to 2006, during which time she was also on the university faculty as a
professor of anthropology. After retirement, Cordell became a senior
scholar at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe.

Cordell was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in
2005. She was awarded the A. V. Kidder medal for eminence in American
Archaeology by the American Anthropological Association—the second woman to
have won the Kidder medal in its 60 years of existence. Cordell was also
awarded the Byron S. Cummings Award by the Arizona Archaeological and
Historical Society in 2004.

 Always active in the profession of anthropology, Cordell was elected to
terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for American
Archaeology and Board Member and President of the Southwest Symposium, and
as a representative of Section H (Anthropology) of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science. Throughout her career, Cordell enjoyed
teaching undergraduate and graduate students, directing archeological field
schools, developing museum exhibitions, and conducting collaborative
research. She will be greatly missed.

* NPS Director Signs MOU with Spanish Government*
On April 17, 2013, NPS Director John Jarvis signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with Spain on the shared Spanish-American cultural,
historic and archeological heritage in the National Park System. D. Jesus
Prieto de Pedro, Director General of Fine Arts and Cultural Assets, and
Archives, and Libraries signed the MOU for the Spanish government. The
signing ceremony was held at the Spanish Ambassador’s Residence in
Washington DC.

 Director Jarvis noted that Spain has made, and continues to make,
important contributions to American culture. An early Spanish presence in
the New World is evident in 45 National Park units that contain significant
historical, cultural, and archeological sites of Hispanic origin. The
Presidios and Missions of the West and Southwest, the Castillo de St.
Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida, the Anza and El Camino Real de los Tejas
National Historic Trails, and several Spanish wrecks on submerged NPS lands
illustrate the long-lasting impact of Spanish explorers and settlers on the
history and culture of the United States.

 During the signing ceremony, Mr. Prieto spoke of the profound impact that
the NPS has had on the conservation of natural and cultural resources in
Spain, noting that the Parks systems of Spain and the United Stated have
developed together. He cited the legislation creating Spanish National
Parks that was signed only a few months after the NPS Organic Act in 1916.

 With the signing of the MOU, Spain and NPS have agreed to collaborate on
projects that use NPS cultural resources to educate the public. The
memorandum will provide a vehicle for joint projects between archeologists,
historians, and museum professionals in Spain and the United States. Such
projects might include research, exhibit development, loan of exhibit
materials, training, bilingual publications and interpretive materials, and
preservation Hispanic heritage resources. Cultural resources staff has
already begun to work with Spanish embassy personnel to plan projects.

* Contact:* Stanley C. Bond, Ph.D. Chief Archeologist, NPs, 202-354-2123

* NPS Announces a New Archeological Teaching with Historic Places Lesson
Plan*
The NPS National Register Program is pleased to announce that the NPS
Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) program has launched its 142ndlesson
plan, “Comfortable Camps?” Archeology of the Confederate Guard Camp at the
Florence Stockade. In this lesson, students investigate the life of
Confederate guards at the Florence Stockade Civil War prison camp in South
Carolina and discover how archeology revealed much of this information. The
Florence Stockade was constructed in September 1864 in a large field
surrounded by dense pine forest and forbidding swamps. Built on a similar
pattern to the prison at Camp Sumter in Andersonville, Georgia, the
stockade consisted of a large rectangular opening surrounded by walls built
with vertical logs. The prison population peaked at approximately 15,000,
and of these, nearly 2,800 died in captivity. The dead were buried in long
trenches that formed the nucleus of what is now the Florence National
Cemetery.

 The lesson was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
National Cemetery Administration (NCA), as one component of the mitigation
associated with the expansion of Florence National Cemetery.

The new lesson plan is currently featured on the TwHP homepage, <
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/>. For a direct link, go to  <
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/142Florence/142FlorenceStockade.htm
>.

* ArcheoThursday Webinars Available on NPS Archeology Program Website*
Webinars recorded during the 2012-2013 ArcheoThursday series have been
posted and can be accessed on the NPS Archeology Program website. The
series theme was Topics in Archeology; archeologists from inside and
outside the NPS spoke about research taking place in the US. The first four
webinars may be viewed at http://www.nps.gov/archeology/tools/webinars.htm.

 *The Archeology of Japanese American Internmen*t
*Dr. Stacey Camp, University of Idaho*
During World War II, the U.S. government imprisoned over 120,000
individuals of Japanese heritage solely due to their ethnicity. Internees
creatively interrogated their imprisonment by utilizing and crafting
material culture. This talk examines the material engagements recovered in
the form of artwork, gaming pieces, vases, and other artifacts from Idaho's
Kooskia Internment Camp.

 *The Pleistocene Human Colonization of Interior North America*
*Dr. David G. Anderson, University of Tennessee*
In this lecture, Anderson focuses on when, where, and how human beings
entered the Americas during the last Ice Age, more than 13,000 years ago.
The routes early peoples took can be inferred from an examination of the
archaeological and environmental record, and are not as obvious as we might
think.

 *History in Bits and Pieces: The Battle of Cedar Creek*
*Clarence R. Geier, James Madison University*
Clarence Geier and students have documented evidence of the Union
encampment, interpreted parts of the battle flow, and reconstructed the
cultural setting of the Cedar Creek Battlefield. This presentation
discusses approaches used in analyzing battlefield remains; methods and
procedures used to study the land involved; and the results gained from the
application of the layers of field research.

 *The Windover Site—Voices from the Pas*t
*Glen H. Doran, Chairman, Florida State University*
Wet sites provide an often spectacular view of prehistoric life and their
contribution cannot be over emphasized. The Windover cemetery in Brevard
County, Florida, has yielded preserved organics including woven materials,
antler tools, wood bottle gourds, food remains, and bone tools with 168
burials dating in excess of 7,000 radiocarbon years.

*Archeological Survey of the Bark Canada, a Gold Rush Era Shipwreck*
A team of professionals and volunteers conducted archeological survey of
the bark Canada in April 2013. Karl Gurcke, historian for Klondike Gold
Rush NHP, took the lead in Skagway for this multi-agency endeavor involving
the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Alaska Office of History and
Archaeology (OHA), the Municipality of Skagway, the Institute of Nautical
Archaeology, the Yukon Transportation Museum, and the NPS Submerged
Resources Center. Site inspection started on April 12 with mapping and
assessments of key features and artifacts. The main purpose of this project
is to document the vessel before it completely deteriorates. It is visible
at low tide and can be seen at high tide in calm weather conditions.

The history of  the Canada in Skagway is shrouded in mystery with a hint of
piracy. Built in Bath, Maine, in 1859, she was almost a derelict in Tacoma,
Washington, at the start of the Klondike Gold Rush. Patched up and loaded
with 800,000 board feet of timber and other items, she left Tacoma on
January 30, 1898, under tow by the tug Pioneer. Battered by winter storms
occurring up and down the Lynn Canal at the time, she reached Skagway on
February 14, 1899. Subsequently, the Canada was either washed ashore or
deliberately run aground. The archeological investigation and continued
historical research will fill in more details and provide photographs for
educational exhibits.

*By Cynthia Von Halle
Chief of Interpretation
Klondike Gold Rush NHP*

*Grave Marker Preservation Project Completed*
From January to March 2013, Emily Harte, exhibits specialist with the NPS
Historic Preservation Training Center, joined forces with Kalaupapa NHP
exhibits specialist Richard Miller to perform extensive preservation work
on seven severely deteriorated historic tombs located in the Kalawao area
of the park.

 Kalaupapa is the site of the century-long program beginning in 1865 of
exile and imprisonment of victims of Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Kalawao
was the location of the first settlement of exiled people and was the home
of Father Damien, who has been recognized for his work with the patients.

Approximately eight thousand people were sent to Kalaupapa during the time
of exile.  Thousands were buried in unmarked mass graves, and the 1946
tsunami removed many wooden and lightweight masonry grave markers. Twelve
hundred historic grave markers exist in the park. This project is part of a
continuous program of grave marker recording, assessment, and preservation
begun in the park in 2003.

The tombs that received treatment are constructed of lava rock set in
lime-based mortar. Most are coated with lime-based render and some were
lime washed. Each of the tombs had suffered partial collapse. Preservation
treatment involved disassembly of collapsed and unstable fabric followed by
repair with mortars matching the original materials. Harte and Miller have
considerable experience using historic lime-based mortars, having received
training through the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center and the
Scottish Lime Center Charlestown Workshops and and worked on historic
structures using lime-based mortars.

The project was opened with Hawaiian protocol performed on site by
Kalaupapa NHP ethnographer Kaohulani McGuire. Every work day was begun with
personal reflection by the exhibit specialists to make pono (spiritually
correct) the sensitive work to be undertaken that day, and, similarly, each
day was closed with the eating of a pinch of Kalaupapa sea salt to
symbolize the purity of the intent of the work and to provide protection
for all involved in the project.

 “The responsibility for ensuring the reverence due the grave markers and
tombs and the labor of preserving them help tell the compelling story of
Kalaupapa to the world, “said Harte. “ This leaves me with an unparalleled
lasting memory:  one of a sense of duty to the people who lost their lives
and another to the children of the future.”

 “Kalaupapa symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over extreme
hardship,” said Miller. “It is an honor to help to bring dignity back to
these tombs, the final resting places of people who were separated from
their homes and loved ones, their choices taken from them, first by the
disease, and then by their government.

 *By Richard Miller
Exhibits Specialist
Kalaupapa NHP*

* Obama Administration Opposes Bills to Limit Antiquities Act*
The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental
Regulation held a legislative hearing on April 16, 2013, on eight bills
that seek, in various ways, to restrict the power of the President to
establish or enlarge national monuments through the use of the Antiquities
Act.

*H.R. 250*, to amend the Antiquities Act of 1906 to place additional
requirements on the establishment of national monuments under that Act.

*H.R. 382*, to provide for State approval of national monuments.

*H.R. 432*, to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national
monuments in Nevada except by express authorization of Congress.

*H.R. 758*, to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national
monuments in Utah except by express authorization of Congress.

*H.R. 1512*, to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national
monuments in New Mexico except by express authorization of Congress.

*H.R. 1434*, to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national
monuments in Montana, except by express authorization of Congress.

*H.R. 1439*, to prohibit the further extension or establishment of national
monuments in Idaho, except by express authorization of Congress.

*H.R. 1459*, to ensure that the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
applies to the declaration of national monuments.

In a statement for the record, the Administration strongly opposed all of
the bills.

* Abandoned Mineral Lands Report Issued*
A legacy of mining and oil and gas development has left at least 23,000
abandoned mineral land (AML) features in 129 units of the National Park
System. This is one of the major findings of an NPS Natural Resource
Technical Report released in March, entitled, Interim Inventory and
Assessment of Abandoned Mineral Lands on National Park System Lands. This
report presents the results of a three-year, Systemwide, on-the-ground
inventory and assessment of all known NPS AML sites. The report is
considered "interim" because the inventory of California parks has not yet
been completed. A final report will be released early in 2014 when the
California AML inventory is complete.

 The project had two primary objectives:

   - Complete a comprehensive inventory of AML sites in units of the
   National Park System that categorizes high, medium, and low priority
   mitigation needs; and
   - Estimate the resources needed to address priority issues with NPS AML
   features using a consistent, credible approach.

Most AML sites are found in the Pacific West Region’s southern California
desert parks, but all seven NPS regions have AML features. Mitigation
recommendations at the AML sites include treatments ranging from total
reclamation to bat-friendly closures on underground mine openings to
protect critical habitat and cultural integrity of significant sites. Of
the AML features inventoried, approximately 82% do not need treatment, 6%
have already received long-term treatment, and 12% are in need of treatment
at an estimated cost of $55.6 million.

* NPS Student Employee Network Launches Newsletter*
The NPS Cultural Resources directorate recruits future generations of park
employees by offering internships, and part-time and seasonal employment to
students. The Student Employee Network (SEN) is a student-led,
student-based communication network that fosters idea-sharing, innovation
and professional development for current and future student employees of
the NPS. The SEN aims to continuously inspire emerging generations of
diverse NPS leaders by meeting the needs of student employees and embracing
their valuable role in helping to further the NPS mission.

The SEN has launch the Student Employee Network (SEN) newsletter. The
newsletter facilitates connections between the larger community of NPS
student employees. It is a venue for idea sharing, highlighting the talents
of student employees, and sharing insights from senior leadership. This
first issue of the SEN newsletter includes an article on managing stress
associated with balancing work, school, and life. In every issue there will
be an “Outstanding Student” article to showcase and celebrate the hard work
and contributions of a student employees. In this issue, editors say ‘Thank
you!’ to Angel Lopez for his dedication, excellence, and commitment to the
NPS. Also included is an article on the importance of effective non-verbal
communication. The concluding article is a conversation with Associate
Director David Vela on the role of student employees as the NPS enters its
second century of stewardship.

To read the newsletter contact [log in to unmask]

*National Park Service’s 2013 Archeological Prospection Workshop  -Reminder*
The NPS 2013 workshop on archeological prospection techniques, “Current
Archeological Prospection Advances for Non-Destructive Investigations in
the 21st Century” will be held May 13-17 at the Cedar Point Biological
Station near Ogallala, Nebraska. This will be the twenty-second 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 this
Nation. The workshop will present lectures on the theory of operation,
methodology, processing, and interpretation with on-hands use of the
equipment in the field. The field exercises will take place at Alkali
Station near Paxton, Nebraska. Alkali Station was a major trail facility
used by travelers on the Oregon and California trails, the Pony Express,
the transcontinental telegraph, and the frontier army.

Co-sponsors for the workshop include the NPS Midwest Archeological Center,
the Lute Family, and the University of Nebraska’s Cedar Point Biological
Station. There is a registration charge of $475.00. Lodging will be at the
Cedar Point Biological Station.

For further information, contact Steven L. DeVore, Archeologist, NPS,
Midwest Archeological Center, Federal Building, Room 474, 100 Centennial
Mall North, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508-3873: tel: (402) 437-5392, ext. 141;
fax: (402) 437-5098. Application forms are available on the NPS Midwest
Archeological Center website at http://www.nps.gov/mwac/.

*Navy Offers Advanced NHPA Section 106 Training*
Navy CECOS is offering Advanced Section 106 Law and Regulation class at
Fort Meyer, VA (Washington, D.C. area), on August 13-15, 2013. The course
is DoD-focused, but is relevant (and open) to other Federal employees.

Registration is free through the CECOS website at:
https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csfe/cecos/.
*Contact*: Cheryl L. Huckerby, (202) 433-4986

*Projects in Parks*: is taking a break this month.
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 Projects in Parks web page
http://www.nps.gov/archeology/sites/npSites/index.htm or through individual
issues of the Archeology E-Gram.

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
pagewww.nps.gov/archeology/public/news.htm on the NPS Archeology Program
website. NCPE Intern Rachel Haines assisted in the production of the
E-Gram. Thanks, Rachel!

*Contact*: Karen Mudar at [log in to unmask] to contribute news items, stories for
Projects in Parks, and to subscribe.