In conjunction with
the Society’s annual meeting, the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council (PAC) will
convene to discuss ways to address the looming shortage of archaeologists
entering the Cultural Resource Management (CRM) profession. Expected energy and
transportation infrastructure projects on the horizon will require a new
generation of archaeologists, and in numbers, to meet the demand. To that end,
the PAC is sponsoring a casual mixer Friday evening to introduce students
considering a career in CRM to meet professional archaeologists, consulting
firms, state agencies, and other industry stakeholders with an eye on the
future.
Anticipated presentations at the meeting with direct
connections to the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Section of Archaeology include
an update on recent AMS dating of organic artifacts from Sheep Rock Shelter
(36HU0001). Long curated with the Section of Archaeology, the artifacts from Sheep
Rock Shelter have been the subject of previous TWIPA posts such as: Huntingdon
County is the Home of Rock shelters and Iron Furnaces from our county
series; K is
for Knife, featuring the incredible bone handled knife found at Sheep
Rock Shelter from our archaeology through the alphabet series; and of course, Excavations at Sheep
Rock Shelter (36Hu1).
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| Squash seeds, Corn cobs, and husks from Sheep Rock Shelter, 36HU0001. Collections of The State Museum of Pennsylvania |
Additionally, this regionally significant archaeological
site will be highlighted and honored with one of the Pennsylvania Historical
and Museum Commission’s iconic blue and yellow historical markers this fall.
Renewed interest in old collections, coupled with enhanced analytical
techniques that ultimately broaden our understanding of the past is the
affirmation of the work of a curator of archaeological collections, and the
Sheep Rock Shelter collection is an excellent example of that effort.
Speaking on the curious semi-subterranean features found on
Pre-Contact village sites referred to as “keyholes”, the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s
Jim Herbstritt will provide a deep dive into his decades long research into these
archaeological phenomena. Construction methods, possible functions for, and
cultural clues about these enigmatic features will be explored through
ethnohistoric accounts, systematic excavation, and artifact analysis, as well
as insight gained during experimental reconstructions.
Saturday evening’s lectures will conclude with this year’s
keynote speaker, archaeologist Dr. Timothy Abel. Dr. Abel will share his
findings working with AMS (accelerated mass spectrometry) dating of late
Pre-Contact period (1200 – 1600 AD) Iroquoian settlements in northern New York
state. New refinements in the dating technique employed can both “tighten” but
also potentially upend existing chronologies, with implications that reach far
beyond the targeted study area.
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Student poster session from 2022 meeting |
The weekend’s events are rounded out by a juried student
poster session, bookroom, and a silent auction benefiting the efforts of the
Society. The Society
is a group of dedicated professional and advocational archaeologists who promote
the study of Pre-Contact and historic
archaeological resources in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. It works to promote scientific research and discourages
exploration which is deemed irresponsible in intent or practice. Membership is
open to all who agree with these basic principles and Chapters located
throughout the Commonwealth provide activities in support of the State Society.
Included with membership is the journal
Pennsylvania Archaeologist and quarterly newsletter. The Society’s annualtrip this year is the Archaeology of Civil War Battlefields and sites, June
8-11, 2023.
Many of these dedicated members of the Society choose to
curate their collections to insure the preservation of the archaeological
record represented in their collection. The State Museum of Pennsylvania,
Section of Archaeology would like to thank Mr. Michael Kotz for his generous
artifact donation. Collected all from
one site in Washington County the artifacts represent the Archaic through Late Woodland
time periods, and include numerous nutting stones, (36WH1160), and bifurcated
points (Archaic) through triangular points (Late Woodland). This collection
provides researchers with an opportunity to further examine procurement and
processing patterns in this corner of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Please continue to follow us on this blog to learn more
about what is happening in archaeology around the Commonwealth and check out The
State Museum’s Facebook
page for activities of the museum and view our on-line collections on the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission website.
