Highlights from the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology

Annual Meeting was held April 26-28, 2002 in Greensburg, PA hosted by Westmoreland Chapter #23.  Registrations for the meeting number 123.  The meeting also hosted the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council’s Friday Symposium.  Dr. David Watters from The Carnegie was the banquet speaker.

Membership should note:

The revisions to the Constitution of the Society were approved.  The revised document will be published in the Pennsylvania Archaeologist .

The new Private Collections Curation Committee held its first meeting.  A policy for the curation and donation of collections and artifacts will be developed by this committee.  The membership will be informed of the final results.  Stephen Warfel is the chair of this committee.

A Chapter Membership Forum was part of the program.  Mary Alice Graetzer and Ginger Dlutowski managed the brainstorming session.  The ideas and recommendations for increasing membership will be assembled and distributed to the chapters.  Increasing membership is vital to the survival of the Society and its chapters.

The Elmer Erb Committee chairman, Robert Labar has resigned.  Appointed to fill his position on the Board was James Herbstritt.  Election of Kurt Carr and Thomas Kirshner as trustees until 2008 completed the board.  A new chairman will be elected at the first regular meeting.  A resolution in gratitude for his years as chairman was send to Bob LaBar on behalf of the membership of the Society

The first Jacob L. Grimm IV C-14 Award was presented by Beverly Grimm to Bob Oshnock, Westmoreland Chapter #23 for the Consol Site.
 

SPA AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2002 

J. ALDEN MASON - PAUL RABER, PhD
ARCHEY - BARRY KRESGE, - GEORGE VON LUNEN
SHRADER/GEORGE - BEN JACOB
FRANCES DORRANCE - JOHN SHRADER CHAPTER #21

The Society is very fortunate to number these dedicated people among their diverse membership.  We wholeheartedly thank you for your interest and continuing desire to educate the public about the Commomwealth’s prehistory and history.

A new line of SPA clothing is available to members.  Check out the designs at Quemahoning.com.  There is an order form to download.  Sales are being handled by Edmund Dlutowski, 105 Woodlawn Road, Butler, PA 16001.  You may also phone/fax orders to 724-482-2105.
 

SPA Decals are also available from the Secretary.  These decals are great for automobiles and toolboxes. The decals with the SPA logo are a good promotional tool for public events and Archaeology Month.

October is Archaeology Month in Pennsylvania

Thanks to Philip Perazio and members of the Forks of the Delaware Chapter for taking on the job of preparing the Archaeology Month mailing.  A poster, speaker list, and calendar of events is in the mail to all members and related organizations.  The United States Army Corp of Engineers is one of the main sponsors of this year’s poster.  Thanks to all the sponsors for their continued annual support. 
 

Archaeology Month is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc., and the
Pennsylvania Archaeological Council. Its purpose is to increase awareness of
the important historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in the
Commonwealth. These sites are part of the heritage of all Pennsylvanians.
Everyday, archaeological sites are destroyed. We hope that through the
Archaeology Month events, more Pennsylvanians become aware of this part of
our history and work to protect our endangered resources.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public.
Note: the following event listings are organized by region.

Northeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Forks of the Delaware Chapter 14
Event: Chapter Monthly Meeting.
Date: Thursday, 3 October.
Time: 7:30 PM
Contact: Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-421-9525, Email:
pperazio-kar@sunlink.net.
Description:
Program of archaeological interest. Details and directions can be found at
Chapter 14's web page at the Siftings web site - www.siftings.com.

Event: A trip to the City Island excavation in Harrisburg will be
organized.
Date: Saturday, 28 September.
Time: All day. Departure time 8:30 AM.
Contact: Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-421-9525, Email:
pperazio-kar@sunlink.net.
Description:
A trip by rented van and/or carpool will be organized to visit the
Archaeology Month excavations at City Island (see PHMC announcement, below).
Assembly point will be the Palmer Township Municipal Complex (see Chapter
14's web page at www.siftings.com for directions.

Event: Excavation at the Brodhead Site.
Date: Selected Saturdays during September and October
Time: 9 AM - 3 PM
Contact: Philip Perazio, Phone: 570-421-9525, Email:
pperazio-kar@sunlink.net or
John Wright, Phone: 570-588-2432, Email: John_R_Wright@nps.gov
Description:
The public is invited to visit ongoing excavations at the prehistoric
Brodhead Site, in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The work
is being conducted under the auspices of the National Park Service by
Kutztown University and volunteers from Chapter 14. Please check with
contacts listed above for exact dates and directions.

Southeast

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - John Shrader Chapter 21
Event: Hay Creek Valley Historical Association's (HCVHA) Apple Festival
Location: Joanna Furnace, Route 10 near Morgantown, Berks County
Date: Saturday, 12 October 2002
Time: 7 AM-4 PM
Contacts: Cathy Spohn, President, Chapter 21 -
Phone  610-678-1274 (home) or 610-205-6711; Email cspohn@dot.state.pa.us
Charles Jacob - Phone 610-469-9530
Description:
John Shrader Chapter 21 will have an information stand at HCVHA's annual
Apple Festival at Joanna Furnace. Chapter members have been actively engaged
in the archaeological investigations and restoration of Joanna Furnace over
many years. SPA members will provide information on archaeology, the role of
the SPA, and the various projects Chapter 21 members have been involved with
in addition to our work at Joanna. We will  have an exhibit of the
archaeological research and field schools held at Joanna Furnace. The
current excavations at the hot blast engine area and casting house will be
open for visitors to see. Admission is free.

SPA Chapter 21 will also have an information stand at HCVHA's annual Fall
Festival that runs from Friday, September 6 through Sunday, September 8,
2002, also at Joanna Furnace. Admission is $5 per person over age 12 on
Friday and $7 per person on Saturday and Sunday. Passes for $10 for two are
available through the contacts listed above. Besides the archaeological
exhibits, there will be nineteenth century crafts, antique cars and
agricultural machinery, a Civil War encampment, music and other attractions.
The funds raised go to sponsor archaeology and restoration at JoannaFurnace, as well as a field school for local students.

Professor Marshall Becker, West Chester University
Event: Public Presentation - "Lenape: The Archaeology of a Culture in
Transition."
Location: Rydal Park Community Center, Rydal, PA
Date: Tuesday, 22 October.
Time: 1:30 PM
Contact: Marion Norris, Phone: 215-885-4042.

Central

The PHMC Commonwealth Archaeology Program and the City of Harrisburg
Event: Archaeology Month on City Island 2002
Date: Thursday, 19 September through Friday, 4 October
Time: 9:00AM to 4:00 PM daily.
Contact: Doug McLearen at (717) 772-0925 or dmclearen@state.pa.us
Description:
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission will once again introduce
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Archaeology Month with the City Island
archaeology program.  The program, which is located in the North Parking Lot
on City Island in the City of Harrisburg, will have its opening day on
Wednesday, September 18th. Following the opening day ceremony, tentatively
scheduled for 1 p.m., the program will run every day from September 19th
through Friday, October 4th.

This year's activities will again include: the site excavation; school
tours;  sales; Agency Day; Penn DOT Day, and experimental archaeology.  The
site excavation will continue in Excavation Block "C", which was partially
excavated last fall. Excavation in the deep end of that block was not
completed due to flooding that slowed down work intended to uncover the
deepest artifact-bearing levels.  Higher in the profile, however, a number
of Late Archaic features were defined and mapped and mapped during this last
season.  The largest of these features, a massive fire-cracked rock cluster
interpreted as a splayed out hearth, was fully uncovered, photographed, and
mapped, then carefully covered in two layers of bubble-wrap and buried.
This year, the hearth rocks will be removed, areas beneath them will be
examined, and squares that surround the hearth will be excavated.

The experimental work this year will focus on using stone tools and looking
at wear patterns that can be compared to those on actual archaeological
examples.  In addition, the pottery-making experiments, which have been
refined from years before, will also be featured. For the lithics
experiments, we intend to procure some high-grade material, such as jasper,
which shows wear patterns clearly.

In conjunction with the Londonderry School, we will again look at high-tech
imaging of artifacts and replicas. This season, rather than generalized
demonstrations of the imaging equipment and applications, however, we will
utilize the technology in focused experiments.

Pennsylvania Archaeological Council Essay Contest
Event: PAC Essay Contest Award Ceremony.
Location: City Island archaeological site (see above).
Date: Saturday, 28 September.
Time: TBA
Contact: Valerie B. Perazio, 570-421-9525 or

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Bald Eagle Chapter 24
Event: Activity to be scheduled.
Date: TBA
Time: TBA
Contact: Mary Alice Graetzer (814)-238-5239 or Melissa Diamanti
(814)-466-6607, State College.

West

McKean House Museum, Kittanning, PA.
Event: Kenneth Burkett (Carnegie Museum Field Associate) will present a
program entitled "Native American Petroglyphs of the Middle Allegheny
Valley".
Date: Sunday, 6 October
Time: 2 PM
Location: Carriage House of the McKean House Museum, 300 N. McKean St.,
Kittanning, PA.
Contact: Information at (814) 257-8152

Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh
Event: Public Presentation - "The Search and Discovery of Our Earliest
Ancestors," by Dr. Meave Leakey, Paleoanthropologist and Zoologist.
Date: Thursday, 17 October.
Time: 7 PM
Description:
Dr. Meave Leakey is the standard-bearer of a family of paleoanthropologist
who have dominated their field since the beginning of the 20th Century. >
Spend an evening listening stories regarding her research and field
expeditions in Africa that have uncovered clues to the origins of our
earliest ancestors.

Tickets: $15. To order tickets: 412.394.3353 or www.proartstickets.org

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Somerset Chapter 20.
Event: Archaeology Lab Workshop
Date: Saturday, 26 October.
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Contact: Brian L. Fritz  814-893-0179 or bfritz@shol.com
Description:
Learn what happens to artifacts after they are discovered and removed from
the ground. Participants will help sort, catalog, label, photograph, and
refit artifacts that were found in local archaeological excavations. If not
too cold out we may also process archaeological soil samples through a soil
washing apparatus called a flotation tank. Artifacts to be processed will be
from the Consol site, Lions Park Site, and McCoy Pottery site. There will be
no charge for this event but bring your lunch and drinks. This Archaeology
Lab Workshop will be held at the home of Brian L. Fritz near Stoystown, Pa.
Call for directions. Large groups, please call ahead so we can better plan
this event.

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology - Ohio Valley Chapter No. 22
Event: In conjunction with the Butler Ethnic Festival, the Ohio Valley
Chapter will have an excavation at the Shaw House in Butler, with displays,
flint knapping demonstration, membership forms, and members available to
explain the procedures to visitors.
Date: Saturday, 14 September.
Time: 10 AM 'til 3 PM
Contact: Amanda Valko 724-654-2744 or email: avalko@mbakercorp.com

Other Activities: In October:  A field school at Camp Lutherlyn on Rt. 422
West. Date - 26 & 27 October. Details will be advertised in local newspapers
and on the SPA website as well as the chapter's website .
www.ohiovalley22.homestead.com ,

We are also planning to hold joint meetings with the Butler County
Historical Society and will be using the excellent video created by Bill
Tippins. This will also be advertised throughout the area.

Dept. of Sociology/Anthropology, Edinboro University of PA
Event: Open House, Fort LeBoeuf Museum
Location: Waterford, PA
Date: Every Saturday and Sunday in October
Time: Noon to 4 PM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814) 732-2570
Description:
Archaeological displays at the museum include remains from the beaver trade,
WPA excavations in the later 1930's, and Eagle Hotel excavations conducted
by Edinboro University Archaeological Field Studies from 1975 through 1987.
Of special local interest is a replica of the only known original of
Celeron's lead plate and a highly detailed model of an Iroquois village.
There is no admission charge.

Event: Open House, excavations near the Yellow House, Battles Farmstead,
Museums of Rural Life
Location: Girard, PA
Date: Every Tuesday and Thursday morning in October, weather permitting
(except October 8)
Time: 9:45 AM to 11:45 AM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814) 732-2570
Description:
The public is invited to observe students enrolled in Edinboro University of
PA Archaeological Field Studies as they search for evidence for a smokehouse
and granary.

Event: Lecture - "Studying the Past from Human Mortuary Behavior"
Location: Hendricks Hall 126, Main Campus, Edinboro University of PA
Date: Wednesday, October 2
Time: 3PM to 5:30 PM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814) 732-2570
Description:
The presentation will discuss how archaeologists use human skeletal
materials and burial behaviors to learn about people when they were alive.

Event: Lecture - "The Archaeological Past in Jeopardy"
Location: Hendricks Hall 126, Main Campus, Edinboro University of PA
Date: Tuesday, October 29
Time: 6 PM to 7:15 PM
Contact: Dr. Renata B. Wolynec, (814)732-2570
Description:
The discussion and activities will center around the video "Silent Witness:
Protecting American Indian Archaeological Heritage," narrated by Robert
Redford and Produced by the National Park Service as part of the Parks as
Classrooms Project.

Distinguished Speakers Series

With the assistance of a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission, the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology will sponsor a series
of public presentations by distinguished archaeologists on important topics
in Pennsylvania archaeology during Archaeology Month. Details will be
available at the following web site: www.Quemahoning.com.

Just Outside of Pennsylvania

Event: The Annual Meeting of the Council for Northeast Historical
Archeology (CNEHA)
Date: Friday-Sunday, 18-20 October
Location: Wilmington Wyndam Hotel, Wilmington, DE.
Contact: Wade Catts, 610 436-9000, or wcatts@johnmilnerassociates.com .
More information (hotel and advanced registration, paper abstracts and tour
descriptions) can be found on the CNEHA webpage.
Description:
The CNEHA organization is composed of archeologists working in the eastern
US and Canada, thus providing an international flare to a regional meeting.
People interested in historical archeology should make plans to attend.
Right now there are three concurrent sessions scheduled for all day Saturday
and Sunday morning, as well as pre-and post-conference tours and workshops.
A special one-day registration will be offered for the general public or for
those who can't attend for the entire weekend.
 

The following organizations and businesses have made financial contributions
to the Archaeology Month Fund. Their assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

Michael Baker, Jr., Inc.
Louis Berger & Associates, Inc.
U.S. Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest
John Milner Associates, Inc.
Archaeological and Historical Consultants, Inc.
C.H.R.S., Inc.
Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology
Pennsylvania Archaeological Council
GAI Consultants
Christine Davis Consultants, Inc.
Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc.
Herberling Associates, Inc.
PennDOT
Bureau for Historic Preservation, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission
Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, Mercyhurst College
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
ASC Group, Inc.
KCI, Inc.

There are numerous websites where you can find further information about
archaeology in Pennsylvania. Among these are: Pennsylvania Archaeological Council; 
Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission / Bureau for Historic Preservation

Message from the Treasurer:
Please check the address label on your SPA mail.  The current year for paid dues is in the upper right hand corner.  Please refer to this date before mailing in your membership renewal form.
 

News Release:

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission invites applications for its 2003-2004
Scholars in Residence Program, including applications for collaborative residencies.  The program provides support for full-time research and study in the manuscript and artifact collections maintained by the Commission facility, including the Pennsylvania State Archives, The State Museum of Pennsylvania and 26 historic sites and museums around the state.
Residency programs are open to all who are conducting research in Pennsylvania history, including academic scholars, public sector history professionals, independent scholars, graduate students, educators, writers, filmmakers, and others.  Deadline for applications is January 10, 2003.  Complete information and application materials are available at the PHMC website: www.phmc.state.pa.us.   You may also write: Division of History, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Commonwealth Keystone Building-Plaza Level, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0053 or call 717-787-3034; or email lshopes@state.pa.us.
 

Annual Meeting News
The 74th Annual Meeting of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology hosted by the Bald Eagle Chapter will be held on May 9-11, 2003 at the Ramada Inn, South Atherton St., State College, PA  814-238-3001.  Local arrangements chair: Mary Alice Graetzer. Mark your calendars.
 
 

Program Chairperson: Meli Diamanti, ahcinc@earthlink.net, 814-364-2135 (b) or 814-466-6607 (h) or mail at Archaeology and History Consultants, 101 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall, PA 16828
Please refer to September Membership mailing for presentation requirements.  One session will include thematic presentations on the archaeology of central Pennsylvania as well as two open sessions.  Groups of papers on other topics are also encouraged.
Titles of papers should be in the hands of the program chair by February 10, 2003 with final abstracts to follow on March 1, 2003 
 
 

 The 33rd Annual Meeting of the Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference will be held at the Cavalier Hotel, Oceanfront at 42nd Street, Virginia Beach, VA  from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16. You can contact the hotel at 1800-446-8199 or at their web site. 
PAPERS: 
Individuals or groups wishing to make a presentation must submit paper, poster and/or symposium abstracts to the Program Chair by November 15, 2002. MEMBERSHIP DUES and REGISTRATION FEES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 15 as well. Failure to submit dues and fees by the deadline will result in the disqualification of the abstract. [NO PAY; NO PAPER!]. This applies only to the presenters. 
Abstracts are to be submitted to the Program Chair in as pure text in an email or hard copy and on 3.5" disk in Microsoft Word. Abstract should be limited to 150 words and should include the paper title, the name(s), address(es), phone number(s) and email address(es) of paper presenters. For organized symposia, the Program Chair asks that the Symposia Organizers submit the symposium abstract and paper abstracts as a package. Symposia Chairs should  contact the Program Chair prior to the submittal of a symposium abstract. Registration Fee is to be submitted to the Program Chair. 
Prehistoric Program Chair: George Tolley 
Historic Program Chair: Dennis Pogue
Membership Committee Chair: 
Faye Stocum 
MAAC Membership Committee 
DE SHPO 
#15 The Green 
Dover, DE 19901 
email address: fstocum@state.de.us 
 

Conservancy News

The Archaeological Conservancy is a national organization whose goal is to acquire significant archaeological sites to preserve then from destruction and to invite future systematic investigation.  Donna George is employed by the Conservancy to locate and evaluate sites for consideration.  She also must determine their ownership by visiting county tax offices where ownership records are maintained.  Anyone who knows of such a site in Pennsylvania or nearby states should contact Donna at:  370 MacDonald Drive, North Huntingdon, PA 15642 or Email dlgeorge00@earthlink.net 
 
 

Advance Registration (before Oct. 6)           ______@$22.00     $ _________
Late Registration (after Oct. 6)                    ______@$27.00     $ _________
*Student Registration (before Oct. 15 only)   ______@$20.00     $_________
Banquet (Saturday, Nov. 9) An all-you-can-eat buffet with many choices of entrees. You need not be registered for the meeting to attend. Seating is limited.        ______@$33.00     $_________
Tour of USS New Jersey (Thursday, Nov. 7) will leave the hotel 1:00 PM (limited to 20 persons).
                                                                  ______@$10.00     $_________
                                                        Total Amount Enclosed     $ _________
*Open to students with valid high school or college ID. Must send a photocopy with payment
BANQUET SPEAKER: 
TBA 
Make checks payable in US funds to “ASNJ” and mail to: 
Richard Veit 
ASNJ Treasurer 
2317 Linden Ave 
South Plainfield NJ  07080 
Guest room reservations must be made directly with Wyndham Hotel, 1111 Route 73, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 by October 7 to guarantee the conference rate of $79.00 (single or double). They can be reached at (856) 234-7000
 

State Museum News

New Curation Guidelines of standards for the preparations of archaeological collections designated for curation at the Section of Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania are in place at the PHMC.  Copies of the Guidelines may be requested.

The popular annual series of “Workshops in Archaeology” has been suspended due to the remodeling and relocation of the PHMC, BHP and state museum facilities in Harrisburg. Look for announcements signaling their return in the future.
 

Book News:

Dr. J.M. Adavasio, Ph.D. Principal Investigator of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Founder and Director of the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, is the author of a new book, The First Americans: In pursuit of Archaeology’s Greastest Mystery, published by Random House.

Deadline for the next SPA Newsletter:
December 15, 2002

Information must be received in time 
to ensure timely newsletter publication. 
Thank you.

The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.
P.O. Box 10287
Pittsburgh, PA 15232-0287
 

Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.
Officers for 2002-2003
President:  Philip A. Perazio, P.O. Box 1117, Stroudsburg, PA 18630
   kittarch@sunlink.net
Vice President (1st): Paul Raber, Herberling Associates, 415 Mifflin Ave., 
Huntingdon, PA 16652 
Vice President (2nd): Amanda Valko, 116 Englewood Ave. New Castle PA  16105-2129
Secretary:  Judy M. Duritsa, 301 North Drive, Beech Hills, Jeannette, PA 15644
   andross@bellatlantic.net
Treasurer:  Paul Cowin, 116 Thornwood Drive, Butler, PA 16001-3442
Editor:   Joe Baker, P.O. Box 462, Boiling Springs, PA 17007      joeb
 
 

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