a.s.c. news - conn archaeology · paleoamerican odyssey conference the center for the study of the...
TRANSCRIPT
1
A.S.C.NEWS
Issue No. 231 Newsletter of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut January 2013
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
December 27, 2012
Dear Members,
As this is being written we are stillin the horrible aftermath of theSandy Hook Massacre. As the TownHistorian for Newtown, this eventliterally hit home and something thatwe thought could never happenhere, did. Writing as the presidentof the ASC, I extend the profoundsympathies of our organization aswell as our sister organizationsFOSA and the State Museum ofNatural History and ConnecticutArchaeology Center to the grievingfamilies of the 26 victims. It is ourfervent hope that, although the paincan never be completely erased,with the passage of time this chapterof Newtown’s history can be writtenwithout bringing tears.
On a much happier note, I call yourattention to the up-coming FOSAannual meeting and lecture, thedetails of which can be found at theend of this newsletter. This year theannual lecture will be delivered bythe noted Mayanist, Dr. StephenHouston of Brown University. Histopic will be the recent discoveriesat El Diablo in Guatemala.
Within the past two decades majorstrides have been made in thedeciphering the enigmatic Mayan
glyphic writing system, so thattoday the Maya are the first NativeAmerican culture to have a history.We can actually give names to theimperial families of ancient Mayanrulers a well as assigning dates tothem and the important events oftheir reigns.
With the ruins and tomb of ElDiablo, which date very early in theClassical Mayan period, it is nowpossible to shed some light on themeanings of the richly decoratedbuilding within which the tomb wasfound, and also on the evidence ofthe local dynasties at the time oftheir founding. This is a lecture thatis on the cutting edge of Meso-American Archaeology and one thatyou will not want to miss.
I am delighted to announce that ourspring meeting is scheduled forApril 20th at the Barnum Museum inBridgeport. This museum is housedin an architecturally rich buildingconceived by Barnum just before hisdeath and completed in 1894 beforehe had a chance to see it completed.The program is still being puttogether, but it will focus onarchaeology in the southwest cornerof the state, with papers also onBarnum, and his contributions to thelocal history of Fairfield County.We have also been promised a tourof this underappreciated Museumwith its spectacular collection ofBarnum memorabilia.
We hope that you were able to takeadvantage of the tour ofGungywamp offered as part of ourfall meeting last October. Thisformat of lectures and afternoontour has proved to be so popular,that we hope to do it again thiscoming October duringArchaeology Awareness Week. Asof press time, the Society’s board isconsidering several possible tourvenues. As soon as a decision ismade, we will post the location onour website and in the next issue ofthis newsletter.
Continued p.2
IN THIS ISSUEPresident’s Message 1Archaeology Fair 2ASC Goes Gungywamping 2American Institute ofArchaeology
4
Western Conn. StateUniversity
4
Friends of the Office ofState Archaeology (FOSA)
5
Paleoamerican OdysseyConference
5
Archaeology Club ofNorwalk CommunityCollege
5
Institute for AmericanIndian Studies
8
Calendar 9ASC Officers 9FOSA Annual Meetingdirections
11
2
Continued from p.1
As has become my semi-annualplea, we are still looking forvolunteers to help us in severalareas of our operation, such ashelping to maintain and up-date ourweb site and also to help us breakinto using social media to get ourpresence as a voice of Connecticutarchaeology to the state’spopulation. Along the same lineswe need some one to help withcreating efficient press releases sothat word of our meetings and otheractivities get to the public in atimely fashion. If you feel that youcan help us, please do not hesitate tocontact me or any other Boardmember. (See contact informationfurther along in this newsletter.)
As always I look forward to seeingand talking with you at the up-coming FOSA lecture inGlastonbury and in Bridgeport inApril….
Dan CrusonPresident
October ArchaeologyFair in Wethersfield a
Success
An archaeology fair organized by aFOSA team led by Mandy Ranslowdrew exhibits from 19 organizationsaround the State and beyond,including a table for ASC. This washosted by the Keeney CulturalCenter in Old Wethersfield. TheOctober 27 event also featuredpresentations by Joan Hill of theColumbia Historical Society, ErnieWiegand from Norwalk CommunityCollege, Laurie Pasteryak for theMashantucket Pequot Museum andResearch Center, Matthew Swietonof Central Connecticut StateUniversity, LaNell Williams &Sarah Croucher of WesleyanUniversity and Martha Risser ofTrinity College.
Dawn Brown, Ernie Wiegand, NickBellantoni and Dan Cruson at theArchaeology Fair in Wethersfield
ASC GOESGUNGYWAMPING
The ASC Fall Meeting on October13, 2013 included a guided field tripto the controversial Gungywampsite in Groton, CT. The tour wasattended by over 40 and includedgood-natured debate over the originand meaning of the features, asshown in the following photos.
Is the site early English colonial,Native American, 6th century Irish,or a little of each? What’s yourinterpretation?
Group inspects a colonial cellar hole An intriguing row of standing stones
3
Vance Tiede and Ken Feder examine inscriptions Ernie Wiegand searches for inscription
Ken Feder and Vance Tiede debate an inscription. Is the double row of stones a mill?
Smaller stone chamber Carol and Lee West in a chamber with a window
4
Experiment with divining rods fails to detect Feder force field.
NEWS FROM OTHERORGANIZATIONS
The Hartford Society of AIA willhost the following lectures:
Monday, April 8, 2013 - 8:00pmTales from the Streets of PompeiiAIA National Lecture by JeremyHartnett
All lectures at 8:00 PM in McCookAuditorium, Trinity College, 300Summit St., Hartford, CT
The New Haven Society of AIA willhost the following lectures:
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 -4:30pmThe End of Ancient Athens: TheArchaeology and History of theAthenian TwilightAIA National Lecture by MichaelH. Laughy, Jr.
New Haven Society Contact:Lisa [email protected]
WESTERN CONNECTICUTSTATE UNIVERSITY
Once again, the WestConn summerfield school in archaeology will beout in Redding to teach studentsfield methods: surveying, mapping,testing, excavation, and labprocedures. Our project goals arebased on learning as much as wecan about the Revolutionary Warencampment of Brigadier GeneralSamuel Parsons: how well did thevarious regiments follow GeneralWashington’s orders to set up theirhuts at Middle Encampment? Whatmodifications did the soldiers makefor the rough terrain of the camp?What do we know about the Blackand Native men and women whowere soldiers or campfollowershere?
AmericanInstitute ofArchaeology
5
This field school can be taken forcredit only (3-6 credits), from May20th to June 20th. We don’t as yetknow the summer credit costs.Potential students are encouraged tocontact Dr. Laurie Weinstein formore information:203 837-8453 [email protected]
FOSA NEWS
The FOSA Annual Meeting will beheld on Saturday, January 26, 2013in Glastonbury, CT. See the lastpage of this newsletter for details onthe program, time and directions.
PALEOAMERICANODYSSEY CONFERENCE
The Center for the Study of the FirstAmericans is hosting theinternational public conference“Paleoamerican Odyssey”, nextFall, October 17-19, 2013, in SantaFe, New Mexico, U.S.A.
The Center for the Study of the FirstAmericans is excited to presentthree days of public lectures byleaders in the field of firstAmericans studies (archaeologists,paleoanthropologists, andgeneticists) as well as posters andartifact displays. The conference isopen to the public and will be heldOctober 17-19, 2013, in Santa Fe,New Mexico. The Center is excitednot only about visiting this gorgeousand historic place, but also reachinga large audience of professionals,avocationals, and members of thepublic interested in the Ice Agepeopling of the New World. Soplease pass on this message tocolleagues, students, and friends.
A list of speakers, exhibits, anddisplays, as well as informationabout the conference banquet and
special lodging rates is available athttp://paleoamericanodyssey.com/index.html.
For professionals and seriousavocationals, there’s still time tosubmit a poster proposal for theconference. The deadline is April 1,2013. If interested, please visit ourCall for Posters athttp://paleoamericanodyssey.com/posters.html. Poster space is limited,so make sure you submit your posterproposal early!
Sincerely,
Laurie Lind, Office ManagerCenter for the Study of the FirstAmericansDepartment of AnthropologyTexas A&M University4352 TAMU, 210 Anth BldgCollege Station, TX 77843-4352
ArchaeologyClub ofNorwalkCommunity College
February Meeting:Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Our first meeting for spring 2013continues our tradition of “FebruaryMovie Night”. We are pleased toannounce that this year’s film willbe “Cave of Forgotten Dreams”, theaward-winning documentary byfamed director Werner Herzog.
Herzog’s subject is Chauvet Cave,which was discovered in the southof France in 1994 by Jean-MarieChauvet, after whom the cave isnamed, Eliette Brunel Deschampsand Christian Hillaire. Afterfollowing air currents into the cave,Ms. Deschamps viewed the first ofthe hundreds of pictures of animalsin the cave: a mammoth, to whichshe exclaimed “They were here!”
Indeed they were. Mammoths,bison, horses, lions and others
depicted with a grace andsophistication that places themamong the finest examples of earlycave art. Although their age,estimated by some to be about30,000 years before present, hasbeen the subject of some debate, allare in agreement that the Chauvetworks are nothing short ofspectacular.
In the course of his filming, Herzogtook extraordinary care not todisturb or endanger the cave, its artor the hundreds of animal bones andartifacts that carpet the floor of thecave. His knack for castinginteresting subjects from a widerange of backgrounds for interviewsextends even to a perfumer and acircus-performer turnedanthropologist!
As Chauvet Cave is closed to thepublic, Cave of Forgotten Dreamsprovides the next best thing: a tourof a magnificent “lost cathedral” ofearly man by a skilled guide whocombines mystery, awe and wonder,with a dash of wry humor, into amemorable trip into the mind andsoul of our ancient ancestors.
Come join us for this excitingpresentation! The meeting will beheld on Thursday, February 14 at 8pm., with refreshments at 7:30 pm,in the GenRe Forum on the EastCampus at 188 Richards Ave.,Norwalk, CT.
March Meeting:Lonetown: Archaeology andHistory of Cultural Frontiers inRedding
Fork excavated from the Read’sLonetown Manor
6
Stuart Reeve and Kathleen von Jenawill present a talk entitled"Lonetown: Archeology and Historyof Cultural Frontiers in Redding."The talk will explore the strugglesby local Native Americans to retaintraditional lands in Redding. JohnRead, the “Father of AmericanLaw”, was the first English settler inRedding in 1711, buying land fromChickens, a Pequonnock-Aspetuck.Read's son and family formed aclose alliance with Chickens and hisfamily. However, this culturalfrontier extends much deeper intime. The presentation describesarchaeology at Read's LonetownManor, Chickens' Reservation, andother important sites that have beendiscovered over the past 15 years asa result of the town’s support forarchaeological surveys.
Stuart A. Reeve (Ph.D. 1986,SUNY Albany) has more than 40years experience in archaeologyacross the United States, working inYellowstone and Grand TetonNational Parks, Chesapeake Bay,and more recently conductingsurveys for permitting wind farmsacross the county. Since 1996, Dr.Reeve has served as a consultant forthe Redding Selectmen andPlanning Commission and the Townof Easton, compiling town-widehistorical and archaeologicalassessments. Research interestsinclude prehistoric culturalchronologies, paleoecology andColonial settlement patterns inFairfield County.
Kathleen von Jena (BA 2004,Charter Oak College), has 15 yearsexperience in archaeology andhistoric preservation. Ms von Jena isRedding Town Historian, consultantfor the Redding PlanningCommission and Town ofEaston, and she works for theConnecticut Trust for HistoricPreservation. Research interestsinclude gender studies, earlyindustries and cultural landscapes.
Roton Point Salvage DigBy Ernie Wiegand
In November, in the aftermath ofHurricane Sandy, Mr. JohnCampbell contacted me to reportthat the loss of a 50’ section of seawall at the Roton Point Associationclub had revealed the presence of ashell midden. He asked if we wouldbe interested in taking a look at itand possibly conducting anexcavation before the discoverywould be once again be sealed by anew sea wall.
Upon arriving at the site a few dayslater, it was clear that there wasindeed a shell midden. The questionthen turned to “How old is it?”Directly overlying the midden was afill layer containing some historicartifacts that had probably beendeposited around the time of theconstruction of the sea wall. Closeinspection of the midden, however,failed to reveal anything other thanshells.
Of course we wanted to determinethe age and cultural affiliation of themidden before the opportunity waslost. So, on December 2, a team ofNCC Archaeology Club membersand archaeology students arrived toconduct a limited excavation.
After clearing away the many rootsthat formed a curtain in front of themidden, photographs were takenand a stratigraphic profile of the sitewas drawn. The excavators eachtook a one-meter long section of theshell midden and removed the layercontaining the midden. The soil waspassed through ¼” mesh sieves andall artifacts and faunal materialswere recovered for later analysis.
It soon became evident that themidden dated to the late 19th orearly 20th century. The artifactsincluded nails, window glass,bottle/jar glass, and a few sherds ofwhiteware and porcelain. Whilemost of the shells were from hardclams, some oysters were alsorecovered. However, the vastmajority of the bones were fromchickens, although pig and possiblysheep bones were also recovered invery small numbers.
Roton Point was a majorrecreational attraction from the1890’s until its demise in 1941. Inits heyday, there was a hotel, anamusement park, a midwayfeaturing attractions such as a glassblower, fortune teller, games ofchance and various refreshments,and a theatre for vaudeville. Manybig bands of the era played there,including Duke Ellington, BennyGoodman, Guy Lombardo andGlenn Miller, among many others.
Considering the fact that severalsteamers and a trolley broughtthousands of visitors to the park, theshell midden is but a tiny reflectionof the summer fun enjoyed by manyin what was then called “theprettiest park on Long IslandSound”(www.rotonpoint.org/about/history).
7
NCC archaeologists at the Roton Point Shell Midden Top row (left-right) Holly Cuzzone, Ernie Wiegand and Roton Point Association member John Campbell. Bottom row (Left-right) Neal Konstantin, Sharon Giese, John Fable
Neal Konstantin excavating the midden layer
8
Calendar of Events
Behind the scenesA Tour of the IAIS Research Laboratory
Sunday, February 3rd, 1:00 pmDid you ever wonder where we house and care for our collection over 300,000artifacts? Or how our exhibitions are designed and put together? Join IAISAssistant Director, Lisa Piastuch and Director of Research & Collections,
Lucianne Lavin, Ph.D. for a behind-the-scenes look in our researchbuilding and learn how we identify, conserve and store artifacts as well as get apeek at some of our favorite collection items!Fee: Included in regular museum admission.
$5 Adults; $4.50 Seniors; $3 Kids; IAIS Members Free
Artifact Identification DaySunday, February 10th 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Still wondering about the history behind that artifact you found or inherited? Ifyou would like to learn more about your collection of local stone artifacts andNative American cultural items, bring them to IAIS for identification by renownedarchaeologist and IAIS Director of Research and Collections, Dr. LucianneLavin, a specialist in Eastern Woodland material culture. Limit 12 items perperson please.Fee: Included in regular museum admission.
$5 Adults; $4.50 Seniors; $3 Kids; IAIS Members Free
IAIS Film PremierQuinnetukut: Life in the WoodlandsSunday, February 17th 1:00 pm
The Institute For American Indian Studies is proud to present Quinnetukut: Life In TheWoodlands, a new short film depicting daily life for the Algonkian peoples of Connecticutbefore the arrival of Europeans in North America. Produced by IAIS, with thecooperation of local Native Americans, Quinnetukut provides a fascinating glimpse into thehistory of the land that has, for thousands of years, been known to its residents as ThePlace Of The Long Water. Join IAIS staff, as well as the actors who made this film areality, for a world premiere screening.
Fee: Included in regular museum admission. $5 Adults; $4.50 Seniors; $3 Kids;IAIS Members FreeThis video was made possible by a grant from The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut.
9
LHAC Lecture PresentsLonetown: Warrups, Reads and the Colonial FrontierSunday, March 10th 3:00 pm
IAIS is delighted to participate again in the Upper Housatonic Valley NationalHeritage Walks. Dr. Lucianne Lavin, IAIS’ Director of Research &Collections, will provide a glimpse into the history and culture of the localPootatuck tribal peoples that includes their community life, spirituality, andmedicinal uses of the indigenous flora. Participants will walk along themuseum’s nature trails, ending at our replicated 16th century Algonkian village.Please wear sturdy walking shoes and weather appropriate clothes.This is a free event in conjunction with the Upper Housatonic Valley NationalHeritage Organization’s Heritage Walks Weekend.
Winter ChatChristianity and Religion amongNative AmericansSunday, March 24th 1:00 pm
Join Dr. Lucianne Lavin, Director of Research and Collections at IAIS, for astimulating chat on the adoption and spread of Christianity among New England’sNative American communities. Why did indigenous peoples become Christian andwhat was the effect on their communities? Come to the discussion and decide foryourself!Fee: Included in regular museum admission. $5 Adults; $ 4.50 Seniors; $3Kids; IAIS Members Free
Winter Film FestivalSaturday, March 30th & Sunday,
March 31st 2:00 pm
In Battlefield Detectives: Native American Wars: The Apache, the HistoryChannel's team of battlefield detectives compares the weapons and battlefieldtactics of Apache fighters with those of their final foes, the soldiers of the U.S.Army. Exploring how the Apaches were able to use the landscape itself as anoffensive strategy against opponents and analyzing important new clues left at theBattles of Cieneguilla and Hembrillo, a military geologist sheds new light on thisold conflict. Run time: 50 minutesFee: Included in regular museum admission. $5 Adults; $ 4.50 Seniors; $3Kids; IAIS Members Free
The Museum is open: Monday through Saturday 10:00am – 5:00pm* and Sunday 12:00noon –5:00pm (*last admission 4:30pm)
CALENDAR
To help members plan theircalendars, we post the dates ofmeetings of interest in Connecticutand neighboring states. Pleasecontact the editor with any meetingsyou are aware of which you feelwould be of interest to themembership.
March 7-10, 2013, Middle AtlanticArchaeological Conference(MAAC), Virginia Beach, VA
April 19-21, 2013, Society forPennsylvania Archaeology,Uniontown, PA
April 20, 2013, ASC SpringMeeting, Bridgeport, CT
October 31-Nov. 3, 2013, EasternStates Archaeological Federation(ESAF), South Portland, ME
November 8-10, 2013, Council forNortheast Historical Archaeology(CNEHA) Annual Conference,Newark, DE
ASC OFFICERS
Dan Cruson – President174 Hanover RoadNewtown, CT 06470Home: 203-426-6021E-Mail: [email protected]
Robyn Swan Filippone – Secretary985 Bronson Rd.Fairfield, CT 06824Work: 203-259-0346Cell: 203-673-9614E-Mail: [email protected]
10
Cosimo Sgarlata - Treasurer &Membership1 Roscoe St.Norwalk, CT 06851Home: 203-847-5882Cell: 203-505-1567E-Mail: [email protected]
Lucianne Lavin - Bulletin Editor755 Riverside AvenueTorrington, CT 06790Home: 860-626-8210E-Mail: [email protected]
Ernie Wiegand II - E.S.A.F. Rep.152 Silver Spring RoadWilton, CT 06897Home: 203-762-1972Work: 203-857-7377E-Mail:[email protected]
Nick Bellantoni - StateArchaeologistOffice of State Archaeology2019 Hillside Ave, U-1023University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT 06269-1023Work: 860-486-5248E-Mail: [email protected]
Dawn Brown – Director at Large1714 Capitol Ave.Bridgeport, CT 06604Home: 203-335-8745E-Mail: [email protected]
Rob Wallace - Director at Large33 Frank St.Trumbull, CT 06611Home: 203-452-1948E-Mail: [email protected]
Cynthia Redman – FOSA ex officio26 Devin WayWindsor, CTHome: 860-285-8157E-Mail: [email protected]
Diana Messer – Director at Large376 Newtown TpkeRedding, CT 06896Cell: 203-470-9395E-Mail: [email protected]
Ken Feder – Director at LargeDept. of AnthropologyCentral Conn. State UniversityNew Britain, CT 06050Work: 860-832-2615E-Mail: [email protected]
Lee West - Newsletter Editor366 Main StreetWethersfield, CT 06109Home: 860-721-1185E-Mail: [email protected]
Visit us on the web atwww.connarchaeology.org
Electronic Delivery ofASC News Brings
Benefits
ASC News is now being deliveredelectronically to members whoprovide their e-mail addresses andwho did not opt out. There areadvantages both to readers and ASCfor going electronic. The electronicversion is delivered faster, iselectronically searchable, and hasworking internet links and colorphotographs. For the Society, thishas the potential to greatly reducecosts. Printing and postage are byfar the greatest expenses we incur.
If you wish to begin electronicdelivery of ASC News (For thepresent, the Bulletin will becontinue to be published only inhard copy) please contact Lee Westat [email protected]
Editor’s Note: ASC News ispublished three times a year, inSeptember, January and March.Please address inquiries andcontributions to future issues to ASCNews, Lee West - Editor,E-Mail: [email protected]
Permission is hereby granted toreproduce any portion of thisnewsletter as long as proper credit isgiven to ASC News.
2013 DUES NOW PAYABLE
It’s time to renew your membershipfor 2013. Check your mailing labelif you are unsure if you are current.(The label may not reflect paymentsreceived in the last month.) If itreads 11 or earlier, please fill outthe form and mail it back with yourcheck. Thanks!
I want to apply/renew membershipin the Archaeological Society ofConnecticut (ASC) to promotearchaeological research, conser-vation and service. Enclosed are mydues for the membership category:(circle one)
Individual $25.00NEW – Student* $10.00
Institutional $40.00 Life $300.00
Name: ____________________Address: _____________________________________________Phone: (___) ________________E-Mail: ____________________Affiliation: _________________(for students)
The newsletter will be sent to youelectronically unless you indicateotherwise below: I wish to receive ASC News bymail instead of electronic delivery
*Student Membership is a newcategory established in 2012 andincludes electronic newsletters, hardcopy bulletins, and for each newmember one back issue of thebulletin of your choice subject toavailability.
Send payment to Cosimo Sgarlata,ASC Treasurer, 1 Roscoe St.,Norwalk, CT 06851
11