NCPTT’s Archeology & Collections program seeks to enhance the preservation of archeological sites, landscapes, materials, and collections through research, grants, and partnerships.
The October 2006 to February 2007 period was a critical interval in which a number of research agendas advanced and the overall capacity of the program expanded. In terms of promoting our mission via external research, Alan Sullivan (University of Cincinnati) submitted the final results of his grant project on using satellite data to identify small-scale, unobtrusive archeological resources. Sullivan’s approach was successful, but his results raised the question of how to adjust satellite image resolution to avoid the problem of creating falsely positive archeological signatures. Sullivan hopes to address this in future research. Three other grantees are creating final reports of their work this month, and two other grant projects are currently underway. One additional archeology project has been selected for funding as part of the 2007 PTT Grant cycle.
Internal Research
The following internal research projects are in development:
- Pedogenesis and Mound Chronology—In November, Washington University provided a preliminary sample of core data from the Poverty Point World Heritage Site to the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM) at the University of Minnesota. The cores were drawn from non-anthropogenic contexts in order to test project feasibility. If the pedogenic studies fail to produce measurable results in ancient geological settings, then the study is likely to be unsuccessful in anthropogenic contexts. The IRM provided their analytical data on soil chemistry and magnetism to NCPTT and Washington University in February. Interpreting the data is the next step in the project; however, a recent, major health problem with one of the key researcher’s family members is likely to cause a delay in progress. In the interim, NCPTT plans to forge ahead with its obligations by using student intern labor to continue building a Poverty Point GIS database.
- Bone Consolidation Products—Last fall a student intern began summarizing the range of products currently used to consolidate and strengthen archeological bone specimens. He began a literature review and contacted several conservators in the United States and the United Kingdom. The goal is to identify which products are in use and which have been systematically evaluated for efficacy and reversibility, so that we may target an area of research need. Research will continue as an additional intern becomes available.
Training Events
The following Archeology and Collections training programs can be found on NCPTT’s first consolidated annual training calendar:
- Prospection in Depth 2007—Logistical details are being arranged for a second course in GIS, GPS, and geophysical prospection. Instructors have been identified, two project agreements are in circulation, and two are in preparation. The course will run June 16-30. Like last year, the course will be academically grounded in a major African Diaspora research project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and NCPTT will also host an online, interactive website for distance learning.
- Technologies of Remote Site Surveillance and Monitoring—The Louisiana Army National Guard will fund a symposium and follow-up workshop whose goals are to assess the degree to which resource managers employ technology to protect remote archeological sites, and ultimately to foster inter-agency federal communication on the topic. A NPS solicitor has the project agreement under review, and plans are being made to host the events at NCPTT, one in September 2007 and one in February 2008.
- Geoarcheology for Practitioners—Plans are underway with the University of Tennessee to host a workshop on fundamental and technical approaches to geoarcheology. Soil scientists and geoarcheologists will team-teach the course at an archeological resource in the Tennessee region. This one-week workshop is scheduled for October 2008.
The Archeology and Collections program strives to enhance the Center’s image through professional publications and presentations. Particularly visible was an article with Brenda Barrett and Nancy I.M. Morgan on the role of preservation law and the concept of traditional cultural places in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (American
Anthropology 108[4]:706-718). Other efforts also raised our visibility, including three professional presentations (SHA, SAA, and CHAT), a role as a session moderator at a professional meeting (SHA), and four public presentations or lectures. NCPTT also awarded free tuition to an upcoming training event to the winner of the Southeastern Archaeology Conference’s Student Paper Competition and to the highest bidder at the NPS Fundamentals Training course.