__________________________________________________________________________________________
 
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The subject of today’s sermon is renewal. As we look forward to the end of this seemingly interminable winter, thoughts of springtime, rebirth, etc. etc. come to mind. My mental wanderings in this revery, or perhaps nightmare, slowly arrive at the subject of the future of the SPA, its chapters and members. (Please, don’t try to discern any psychological meaning in this progression! It’s simply the result of cabin fever.) My own experience with Chapter 14, and recent reports from several other chapters, point up some potentially serious problems for our organization. I’m sure that it’s no great revelation to many of you that the SPA is undergoing a general ‘graying’ trend. It’s not that there is no recruitment of new members, but we’re certainly flirting with the negative side of ZPG (Zero Population Growth). At the same time, and probably to some degree related, the movement of fresh faces into positions of official responsibility in the organization seems painfully slow. Individuals who have for years carried out key duties at various levels are reaching the point of burn-out. Some have kept on in these positions for longer than they may have preferred due to a lack of potential replacements.

It is almost a truism that in any organization a relatively small proportion of the membership takes on the great majority of the work. This is probably as it has to be. After all, people vary in their ability to carve out ‘disposable’ time from their basic work and domestic schedules. In recent years, the amount of such disposable time seems to have diminished at an ever accelerating rate. I don’t think this is simply a case of longing for ‘the good old days’. Life is simply more full of demands and stresses.

Despite these trends, if the SPA and its constituent chapters are to remain viable organizations and carry out the important tasks of education and preservation that are their core mission, we must find ways of encouraging and motivating people to take on positions of responsibility. Perhaps as part of this process, we should devise ways of making the necessary tasks a bit less onerous. After all, participation in the SPA and involvement in archaeology are voluntary undertakings. Both avocationals and professionals are in archaeology because they love it, certainly not for money or power. If the chores of a position are overly time consuming, find some way of dividing them up into smaller pieces and spreading those pieces amongst a number of people. Now that access to computers and the Internet are so widespread, it should be relatively easy to disperse and reassemble bits of work (mailing lists, gathering information, communication via email, etc.).

With respect to the more general problem, prospects for membership growth are not as bleak as one might think. Surprisingly, given the tenor of our times, there are still young people who discover archaeology and find it interesting. The SPA can provide them with valuable experience and exposure to a tradition of investigation of the past. Remember when you were young and eager to learn. You now have many things to teach those just coming into the field. Teaching is the best way to keep learning! So, let local schools and colleges know you’re there. Offer ways in which your chapter can interact with their students and staff. But be realistic. Better to do one thing well, than to attempt a dozen and do them poorly, or fail altogether.

End of sermon.

 
SPA Collections and Curation Committee Update
As Chair of The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s Collections and Curation Committee, I have been asked to develop a brochure or pamphlet that lends guidance to collectors concerning all aspects of artifact curation.  Curating a private collection begins with record-keeping at the time of artifact discovery and eventually ends with transfer of the collection to a museum or comparable repository, which can provide perpetual care.  The assumption is that prehistoric and historic artifacts, although found by individuals, really belong to all of us.  Such artifacts represent our common heritage.  Many collections are initially cared for by private individuals, who, in turn, donate them to professionally-staffed repositories when they are no longer able to insure their safe-keeping.

At a recent Board of Directors meeting draft brochure text was reviewed and discussed.  The next step is to layout revised text with color graphics, select a publication format, and secure printing price quotes.  A final draft of the brochure will be presented to the Board of Directors at the upcoming annual meeting in State College.  

Because we live in an age where access to electronic media is nearly universal, the Board decided that the publication should also be made available via the Society’s WEB site.  Additionally, we hope to provide a list of Society members who are willing to answer questions about artifact collecting and curation as well as visit private collectors to provide object identifications, promote site recording, and encourage Society membership. 

The Society needs your help.  If you are willing to serve as a collecting and curation resource person, please contact me no later than May 5, 2003.  Thanks for your interest and willingness to participate in this educational project. 

Steve Warfel
Senior Curator, Archaeology
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Tel.:  717-783-2887
Email: swarfel@state.pa.us

 *************************
Field School Listing
Historical Archaeology Field School at Ephrata Cloister

Location:    Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Site:        Ephrata Cloister
Period:    1732-1813 AD; also some prehistoric
Dates:        June 9-August 1, 2003
Sponsors:               The State Museum of Pennsylvania and the
Ephrata Cloister Historic Site
Application Deadline:  April 7, 2003; for application contact the Director or visit www.statemuseumpa.org

Director and Contact:    
Stephen G. Warfel
Senior Curator, Archaeology
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Tel.: (717) 783-2887 - day; (717) 774-5559 – evenings, e-mail: swarfel@state.pa.us

Members News
Pennsylvania Archaeologist-a Status Report
The Society apologizes for publication delays.  The following is the expected publication schedule for the next two issues:  Volume 72 (2) expected print date, April 15, 2003; Volume 73 (1) expected print date, June 30, 2003.  All future editions are expected to return to normal Spring and Fall deadlines.  The editor is requesting manuscripts for Volumes 73 (2) and forward.  A special request from the Editor, in the interest of regional parity, is for articles from places other than southwestern Pennsylvania.  Address manuscripts to: Joe Baker, Editor, Pennsylvania Archaeologsist, PO Box 462, Boiling Springs, PA 17007.  Refer to the journal for submissions guidelines or email the Editor at josebaker@state.pa.us
 
Eastern States Archaeological Federation
Membership:  ESAF will donate 20% of the membership fee to the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. if dues are paid through the SPA.  Membership includes Archaeology of Eastern North America (AENA), and informational announcements throughout the year.
Fees are:  $30.00 Individual membership and $40.00 Institutional.  For postage to foreign countries add $5.00.  Please make checks payable to Treasurer, SPA.  Foreign Checks must be in US funds or drawn on a US bank.  Send to: Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc., P.O. Box 10287, Pittsburgh, PA 15232-0287
 

Annual Chapter Reports have been mailed to the individual chapters.  The report details the chapter activities for the previous year (2002).  The report is a chapter obligation under the SPA constitution.

Please remember to report chapter officers to the Secretary annually.  This report is necessary for maintaining proper contact with the chapters.  Please report officers even if there has not been a change of positions in your chapter.

Please check your address label to determine your dues status.  The last year of paid dues is above your name on the address label.

Annual Awards Notice
Donna George, Awards Chairman, announces that SPA chapter presidents and secretaries will soon be receiving forms for the nominations of members for the Archey, J. Alden Mason, John Witthoft, Francis Dorrance and Shrader/George awards.  The awards are for the following:  Archey – for significant contributions by an advocational archaeologist; J. Alden Mason – for outstanding contributions by a professional archaeologist; John Witthoft - the SPA chapter that recruited the most new state members; Francis Dorrance  – to a chapter that recorded the most sites; and Shrader/George – to any young person, 18 years old or younger, who’s accomplishments significantly furthered the cause of Pennsylvania archaeology.  Additional forms can be obtained from:  Donna George, Awards Chairman, 370 McDonald Drive, North Huntingdon, PA  15642 , email dlgeorge00@earthlink.net

Edmund Dlutowski
Dr. Verna L. Cowin

The Revised SPA Constitution has been reprinted in Vol. 72 (1) of The Pennsylvanian Archaeologist.  The Constitution outlines the purpose of the Society, the duties and responsibilities of the officers, directors, chapters and members.  Please review the document for changes.  This is your personal copy of the SPA Constitution please keep it for future reference.


Jacob L. Grimm IV C14 Award

The Society’s C14 program was designed to help chapters and individual members with the cost of C14 dating.  Individual applying must be a member in good standing to qualify for the funding.  Applications will be review and awards made at the SPA Annual Meeting if applications are received before the meeting date.  In 2003 that would be May 9th.
Please address all requests for matching C14 dating funds to:  James Herbstritt, BHP, Keystone Building, 400 North St.. 2nd Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0093 or e-mail: jherbstrit@state.pa.us
 

Friday, May 9, 2003
12:00 - 6:00    Registration, Book Sales and Exhibits
7:30    SPA Board Meeting
    Hospitality Suite, opens after board meeting

Saturday, May 10, 2003
8:00 - 2:00    Registration
8:00 - 9:00    SPA Business Meeting
9:00 - 6:00    Book Sales and Exhibits
9:00 - 6:00    Silent Auction, in Book Room

9:15 - 9:30       Barbara J. Shaffer and Mark D. Shaffer  They are not dead who live in the hearts they leavebehind’: The Contributions of Dr. Dorothy A. Humpf
9:30 - 9:45        Ira C. Beckerman   Pre-contact Settlement in the Bald Eagle Valley  Some Thoughts
9:45 - 10:00      Paul A. Raber   The Early and Middle Archaic at 36Ju104: A Preliminary Report
10:00 - 10:15    Patricia Miller   Recent Excavations in Area 2 of Site 36AL480, a Stratified Site along the Ohio River at Leetsdale
10:15 - 10:30    Noël Strattan and Christina Fingleton Lieb   Pennsylvania's Burial Laws and Policies: The Steven's School Site and Other Examples
10:30 - 10:45    Break
10:45 - 11:00    Kurt W. Carr, Stanley Lantz, and Gary Fogelman   An Inventory of Fluted Projectile Points in Pennsylvania: Preliminary Results
11:00 - 11:15    Andrew Wyatt, Francine Arnold, and Barbara Shaffer  Prehistoric Lithic Reduction Sequencing and Historic Farm Life at the Snook Farm (36BD217) and Other Sites in Bedford County, Pennsylvania
11:15 - 11:30    Joseph Baker, Elaine Branigan, John Branigan, Sara Clark, Rich Petyk and Elizabeth Wagner   A Gap in Time
11:30 - 11:45    Barbara J. Little   Archaeology and Public Outreach
12:00 - 1:00    Lunch

1:00 - 1:20    Mark A. McConaughy   It’s Time to Draw the Line on the Middle Woodland in Western Pennsylvania
1:20 - 1:40    David Rue   Early and Middle Woodland Occupation at a Site in the New Cumberland Army Depot along the Susquehanna River
1:40 - 2:00    Robert Oshnock   The Meyer Site, 36Wm478, a Late Woodland Village
2:00 - 2:20    Bernard K. Means   Time Enough at Last? Chronological Conundrums and the Monongahela of the Somerset Plateau
2:40 - 3:00    David J. Sorg   Linguistic Affiliations of the Massawomeck Confederacy
3:00 - 3:20    Nancy Herter   The Canadian Connection: Exploring a Southern Ontario Iroquoian Migration into Western New York
3:20 - 3:40    Amanda Valko   Excavations at Captain William Vicary's Mansion
3:40 - 4:00    James T. Herbstritt  “To Be or Not to Be:”Monongahela Houses with Separate Walls and Roofs

4:00 - 6:00    Open House at Matson Museum of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University
 
6:00 - 6:30    Cash Bar and Silent Auction
6:30    Banquet Dinner
 Address by Dr. David Webster, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University

Sunday, May 11, 2003

9:00 - 9:20    Daniel N. Bailey and Gregory M. Katz   Taking a Closer Look at Penns Creek Chert: An Archaeological and 9:20 - 9:40    Paul Nevin   The Safe Harbor Petroglyph Recording Project
9:40 - 10:00    Beverly Chiarulli, Christine Lasser, Amanda Shafer, Kelly Coates, William Caramana, and Alicia Ebbitt   The Use of Magnetic Susceptibility Analysis to Identify Buried Cultural Horizons
10:00 - 10:20    Susanne Haney   Site 36Cr129, an Upland Middle/Late Archaic Colluvial Site in Carbon County
10:20 - 10:40    Gary E. Stinchcomb   Geoarchaeological Investigations at the Rivercrest Site (36MG112): Particle-Size Analysis as an Interpretive Tool in Upland Geological Investigation
10:40 - 11:00    Brian L. Fritz   A Path out of Prehistory: Evidence of a Prehistoric Precursor to the Raystown Indian Path at the John Bridges Tavern, Site 36Wm902
11:00 - 11:20    Nicole C. Minnichbach   Late Woodland Ceramics at Mytuk Rockshelter, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania:  Cultural Use and Activity in an Upland Rockshelter
11:20 – 11:40    David L. Weinberg   [* Title to be determined *]

LOCATION:  The Bald Eagle Archaeological Society (BEAS) Chapter 24 will host the annual SPA meeting at the RAMADA INN, 1450 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801.  For reservations, phone (814) 238-3001, and specify "Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology" (not just SPA) to guarantee a reduced rate of $69 (+8.5% tax) for a room with a king or two double beds.  Make reservations by April 9, 2003 to insure room availability.

DIRECTIONS:  If coming from the south, take Business Rte. 322 (S. Atherton Street) into State College.  The hotel is on the left side before reaching center of town.  If coming from east or west on I-80, take Exit 161 (old Exit 24) to the newly opened section of US Rte. 220, toward State College.  Take Exit 74, Innovation Park, then take left fork to Penn State, Go 3.3 miles (along Park Ave.) and turn left onto Business Rte. 322 (Atherton St.); go 2.0 miles, hotel on right.

PAC:  Business meeting will be Fri. morning, followed on Fri. afternoon by a symposium that is open to all.
SPA:  Board of Directors will meet on Fri. evening.

PAPERS:  There will be a session in honor of Dorothy Humpf.  To present a paper in the two general sessions, contact Melissa Diamanti at 814-364-2135 (day) or 814-466-6607 (home) or ahcinc@earthlink.net.

OPEN HOUSE will be held on Sat. afternoon at the Matson Museum of Anthropology, Penn State.  Exhibits include worldwide archaeology and contemporary cultures.  The curator will be available to answer questions.

MEALS:  The Saturday evening banquet will be a buffet, preceded by a social hour with cash bar.  Buffet will include beef, chicken, and vegetarian entrees.  Please register for the banquet in advance, because there will only be a limited number of tickets available at the door.  The hospitality room will be open Fri. & Sat. evening.   Chapter representatives can meet for lunch on Sat., to discuss shared issues.  Contact Mary Alice Graetzer to reserve a place.

SPEAKER:   Saturday banquet, Dr. David Webster, Professor of Anthropology at Penn State, will speak on recent research in Mesoamerica.

AUCTION:  The auction to raise funds for the SPA will be held in two parts.  Most items will be placed in a silent auction, held during the day on Sat. in the Book Room.  A few items will be in a live auction after the banquet. 

BOOK AND EXHIBIT ROOM:  To reserve space for publication sales or research exhibits, contact Steve Sywensky at 814-237-0405 or sywensky@aol.com.

COORDINATION:  For other questions, contact Mary Alice Graetzer at 814-238-5239 or rxg8@psu.edu.

REGISTRATION:  Please submit advance registration no later than April 24, 2003.  Registration is $21 in advance or $24 at the door, with a reduced rate of $15 for students (indicate school under Affiliation).

Name                                                                                                        Affiliation                                                     .

Address                                                                                                                                                                        .

Phone _________________________________     Email  ___________________________________________                                                                                                   

Advance Registration for SPA meeting    ($24 at door)        @  $ 21  x               persons  =  $                         .
Student Registration for SPA meeting      ($15 at door)        @  $ 15  x               students =  $                         .
Banquet Registration for Saturday evening                            @  $ 23  x               dinners   =  $                         .
 (A limited number of banquet tickets will be available at the door at $25 each)         TOTAL $                         .

Make checks payable to BEAS and mail by April 24, 2003 to:  Melissa Diamanti, Bald Eagle Archaeological Society, 101 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Centre Hall, PA 16828

A Brief History of the Chesapeake Bays, Jeffrey Halka, Maryland Geological Survey

Archaeological Impacts in a Landscape Sculpted by Wind and Water: The Relationship Between Geology, Climate, Environment, Ecology, and Prehistoric Societies Living in the Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain,
 Darrin Lowery, Chesapeake Watershed Archaeological Research

Sea Level Rise and Changing Landscapes at the Holland Point Site (18DO220), Jesse Walker, Temple University

Recasting the View: Excavating the Historic Landscapes of Mount Calvert, Mike Lucas, MD-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Chesapeake Waterscapes: The Oyster Industry and the State Fishery Force, Rick Ervin, Maryland State Highway Administration

For additional information or directions contact Elizabeth Ragan at (410) 548-4502 or earagan@salisbury.edu.  This is a 2003 Maryland Archaeology Month event.  For information on other Archaeology Month events, or the Archaeological Society of Maryland, Inc., visit our webpages at www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net and www.smcm.edu/asm.
 

 


Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.
Officers for 2002-2003
President:                     Philip A. Perazio, P.O. Box 1117, Stroudsburg, PA 18630
                                    kittarch@sunlink.net
President-elect:             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                                
                                    joebear81@aol.com


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


Newsletter Deadline:
September 1, 2003
Send information to the Secretary at: 301 North Drive, Jeannette, PA 15644 or email.

SPA on the web: www.Quemahoning.com
MAAC on the web: www.maacmidatlanticarchaeology.org
ESAF on the web: http://esaf-archology.org

The Society for American Archaeology                    
68th Annual Meeting
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April 9-13, 2003
Htpp://www.saa.org
      
 

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