This Coming Saturday The Archaeological Conservancy’s many regions will be busy celebrating and educating on International Archaeology Day. If you are in the area please come and join us! Not near us? Search for an event near you! International Archaeology Day is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery. Every October the AIA and archaeological organizations across the United States, Canada, and abroad present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests.
In Our Western Region:
The San Diego County Archaeological Society (SDCAS) will be celebrating California Archaeology Month and International Archaeology Day on Saturday, October 15th as part of our annual Arch in the Park event. The event will be held at the Los Penasquitos Ranch House at 12122 Canyonside Park Drive, San Diego, CA 92129. Our goal is to educate the public about archaeology, and to provide information on various career and volunteer opportunities with local archaeological companies and organizations. There will also be activities and games for kids. Join SDCAS for a fun-filled outing! More Info Here: http://www.sandiegoarchaeologicalsociety.com/
In Our Southwest Region:
A celebration of World Archaeology Day will be held at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology, 7 Old Cochiti Road in Santa Fe, on Saturday, October 15. The Archaeological Conservancy will be joining the staff of The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology and the Office of Archaeological Studies, along with the Santa Fe Chapter of AIA for the annual celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event celebrates 12,000 years of cultural heritage of the State of New Mexico. Please Joins us for this great family friendly way to learn about Southwestern Archaeology!
Guests may tour the working archaeological laboratories of the Office of Archaeological Studies, meet with professional archaeologists, and see demonstrations of pottery firing and coiled basketry making. Take a try at throwing an atlatl – an ancient hunting spear – and shooting a bow and arrow while you learn about archaeology and the history of the people of New Mexico. Guests may also tour New Mexico’s archaeological repository, which is one of the largest collections research facilities in the American Southwest. Ceramic vessels, stone tools, basketry and other objects will be on display for the public to view, along with materials that explain how people made and used these items in the past.
The theme of this year’s celebration is maize (corn), with the opening of the exhibit “The Miracle of Maize: A Catalyst for Change in the American Southwest” in the Center’s lobby, and an accompanying film, “She Brings Life: Maize, a Sacred Sustenance.” Maize, more than any other food, has great cultural significance in the American Southwest — it led thousands of Native Americans to congregate in large villages in the past, providing a stable crop that led to an overall increase in population, and has become a source of cultural identity and veneration for many Native Americans. Today it is still at the heart of many Native diets. Beyond that, it has spread to all continents, dominating cuisine in many parts of the world. Maize could play a significant role in sustaining world populations in the future, all stemming from the ingenuity of Native Americans’ ancestors, who recognized the potential of maize’s small, grass-like ancestor, thousands of years ago.
The exhibit discusses the early development of maize, illustrating farming techniques Native Americans developed to deal with the Southwest’s arid climate, as well as other technologies developed over thousands of years. Examples of items that illustrate the integration of maize into objects of daily life, such as pottery that exhibits motifs of the maize plant, are also included. Native people painted images of maize on vessels for thousands of years, as well as images of water and the flute player, all connected to rain, fertility and a successful harvest.
The Center for New Mexico Archaeology (CNMA) is a central facility for archaeological research, curation, and education in the state of New Mexico. The CNMA has created a safe and secure curation environment for New Mexico’s unique and irreplaceable archaeological heritage, including nearly 10 million artifacts from all the time periods and cultures. The Archaeological Research Collection (ARC) is actively used for research and education. The CNMA also houses the offices and labs of the OAS, which has provided not-for-profit cultural preservation services to state, federal, municipal, and private clients since 1952. The CNMA’s highly qualified staff provides a full range of archaeological services. Ancestral Native American artifacts constitute the majority of the ARC collections. ARC collections remain accessible to Indian religious leaders and artists who use the collections for the maintenance of cultural beliefs and practices. For more information visit:http://nmarchaeology.org/
In Our Midwest Region:
Digging Up the Past- 30 years of Ohio Archaeology, an alumni event for Ohio University Alums including tours and talks. If you are an Alumni, check out the info here https://www.ohio.edu/alumni/newsletter-images/SociologyAnthropology/2016/0183-ReliveTheDig/0183-ReliveTheDig_092916.html
In Our Southeast Region:
We begin our archaeological tour Peoples of The Mississippi Valley. Beginning in Memphis and following the Mississippi River south to Natchez, our journey travels through more than five thousand years of history – from ancient earthen mounds to Civil War battlefields. As early as 3500 B.C. and for the next five thousand years, rich and complex moundbuilder cultures developed along the fertile Mississippi River Valley. But in the 1500s Spanish invasions led to a drastic decline in the native population. Amidst the charm of the Old South and the magic of one of the world’s greatest rivers, our trip explores the region’s fascinating cultures. Want to join us on another tour? Check out our upcoming tours !
