Montana Archaeology Month Events
April 2008
Montana Archaeology Month is an annual celebration that encourages Montanans to learn more about the rich cultural and archaeological heritage of our state. Exhibits, lectures, demonstrations, and other activities are scheduled throughout the state at museums, historic sites, state parks, libraries, and universities to celebrate this special month.
Montana Archaeology Month is coordinated by the Montana Archaeological Society and supported by the Montana State Historic Preservation Office.
Each year, Archeology Month has a different theme. The theme for April 2008 is “50 Years of Public Archaeology.” For more information on any of the Archaeology Month events, please contact Crystal Alegria at (406) 994-6925 or calegria@montana.edu.
Public Archaeology in Montana: A Sample of University of Montana Students' Perceptions of Archaeology and Knowledge of Local Sites
Date: Friday April 4, 2008
Place: University of Montana – University Center, room 330, Missoula
Presenter: Helen Keremedjiev
Archaeologists have an obligation to disseminate publicly their research and theories. To do this effectively, they need to know how each public perceives archaeology. A voluntary Institutional Review Board certified questionnaire was given to 606 University of Montana undergraduates and graduates. It included topics on the basics of archaeology and sites in Montana... This project is a pilot program to see how archaeology is understood by non-professionals. Their input will help researchers communicate better their data.
Two hypothese will be tested with this sample. First, individuals who attended high school in Montana have more knowledge and interest in local archaeology. Second, non-anthropology majors have less knowledge and interest in archaeology than anthropology majors. Overall, the responses produced mixed results to support both hypotheses. One cannot predict always that where someone was educated in high school, he or she will be aware more and have a strong curiosity for local archaeology. Though individuals who are specializing in anthropology may be more knowledgeable, they may not be aware or care about all aspects of the topic. Nevertheless, overall this sample had a basic understanding of archaeology and little knowledge of Montanan archaeological sites.
Archaeology of the Boundary Lands, Yellowstone National Park, Montana
Date: Monday April 7, 2008
Place: University of Montana – University Center, Missoula
Presenter: Doug MacDonald, University of Montana, Department of Anthropology
Contact for more Information: douglas.macdonald@mso.umt.edu
Developed by The University of Montana Department of Anthropology and Yellowstone National Park, the Montana-Yellowstone Archaeological Project (MYAP) studies the prehistory and history of the northern portion of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). The initial 2-year research plan entails a comprehensive
survey and evaluation of archeological resources in a ca. 3,000 acre portion of the boundary lands of Yellowstone National Park. The boundary lands are along the Yellowstone River between the Heritage and Research Center (HRC) and the YNP boundary near Gardiner, Montana. During the 2007 field season, the University of Montana archeological team surveyed 700 acres within the boundary lands, identifying 14 archeological sites (eight with historic site components and 11 with prehistoric components). Test excavations at Site 24YE355 yielded evidence of five prehistoric fire features, as well as abundant lithic artifacts and faunal remains dating to between 1600 and 1670 B.P. These radiocarbon dates, as well as associated Rose Springs projectile points, indicate that the site dates to the Tower Junction sub-phase of the Late Prehistoric period. In the historic portions of the site, the MYAP team successfully identified and excavated the former location of Cinnabar, the original Northern Pacific
railroad depot for visitors to Yellowstone between 1883-1903.
CSI Archaeology: Cool Tools for Learning about the Past
Date: Wednesday April 9, 2008
Place: Museum of Mining, Butte, MT
Presenters: Mitzi Rossillon and Ken Dickerson, Renewable Technologies, Inc.
Lean about the high-tech analyses of prehistoric and historic artifacts. Used to identify the sources of obsidian, the types of plants and animals eaten for food, human parasites, and paleo-climate, these analyses have become routine tools to help archaeologists interpret the physical remains at sites ranging in age from 100 to 10,000 years old. Ken will present examples from his recent work on Hebgen Reservoir in the upper Madison River basin, and Mitzi from her work at Butte Chinatown.
The Jocko Fire Salvage Survey, 2007. Locating the Jocko Indian Trail on the Lolo National Forest
Date: Wednesday April 9, 2008
Place: Historical Museum of Fort Missoula
Time: 7:00pm
Presenter: C. Milo McLeod, Lolo National Forest Archaeologist
The Jocko Lakes wildfire started from a lightening strike August 3, 2007 ten miles west of Seeley Lake Montana. Strong winds blew the fire down the Placid Creek valley toward the community of Seeley Lake. The fire burned throughout August and well into September before it was extinguished by suppression efforts and a season ending weather events. The fire burned over 36,060 acres on lands administered by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe (CSKT), The State of Montana Department of Natural Resources (DNRC), Plum Creek Timberlands (PCT) and the Lolo National Forest (LNF).
By early October many of the respective landowners began salvaging the burned timber while it still retained commercial value. The Lolo National Forest began looking for salvage opportunities on their lands and initiated analysis for the environmental assessment, including a heritage resource inventory of the proposed harvest units. The Lolo NF Heritage staff has conducted inventories in this area for numerous undertakings since 1975. One site (24MO0135), a culturally modified tree, was located in past inventories and the historic “Jocko Indian Trail” was reputed to have followed Placid Creek over the divide into the Mission valley. McLeod assisted by graduate students from the University of Montana Department of Anthropology Justin Moschelle and Anya Minetz conducted heritage resource inventory for the Jocko Lakes Fire Salvage Project October 10 through November 8, 2007. In many areas the Jocko Lakes Fire had burned extremely hot consuming all of the downed woody debris, forest litter and duff. Ground visibility was excellent and these conditions led to the identification of several historic properties including a 1870 era fur trade site, a prehistoric lithic scatter, segments of the Jocko Indian trail tread and several prehistoric isolates
The Lolo NF heritage staff shared this information with the CSK Tribal Preservation Office November 15, 2007. The following presentation will show the unique prehistoric and historic site types located in 2007 along the Jocko Indian trail.
Archaeology Day
Date: Saturday, April 12th
Place: Matthews Recreation Site – Valley Road East, Miles City
Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Presenter: Doug Melton, Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist, Will Hubbell, Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist and Robert Mitchell, NRCS
Atlatl and flint knapping demonstration at the BLM Matthews Recreation Site, 9 miles from Miles City. For more information, please contact Doug Melton at (406) 233-2847
Big Timber Chinese Community
Date: Tuesday, April 15th
Place: University of Montana, University Center, room 333, Missoula
Time: 7:00 pm
Presenter: Justin Moschelle, University of Montana Anthropology Graduate Student
Mr. Moschelle will be discussing the experience of Big Timber's Chinese population, dating from 1880's to roughly 1940. Key points he will discuss are the history, artifacts found, knowledge learned, and future work and results.
Before Billings: 7,000 Years of Pre-contact Life on Alkali Creek
Date: Thursday April 17th, 2008
Place: Western Heritage Center, 2822 Montana Ave., Billings
Time: 6:30pm
Presenter: Steve Aaberg, Aaburg Cultural Resources
Mr. Aaburg will discuss the results of archaeological excavations carried out in the summer of 2007 at the Alkali Creek Site (24YL1607) located on the south bank of Alkali Creek not far from Metra. Radiocarbon dating has documented repeated human occupation of the site from about 1000 years ago to about 5300 years ago. An undated archaeological component lay about 50 cm below the 5300 year old component and this deep cultural layer is estimated to be about 7000 years old. Bone from a variety of animals including bison, deer, antelope, and grouse were recovered from the site along with a variety of stone tools. Several fire hearths and a stone-boiling pit were also discovered.
The Archaeology of Fort Owen: Oasis in the Wilderness
Date: Tuesday April 22, 2008
Place: University of Montana – University Center room 332, Missoula
Time: 7:00pm
Presenter: Don Merritt
Fort Owen is an important historical site for the state of Montana and the Northwest region in general. The site has many “firsts” in it history including the first white settlement and the first commercial grist mill of the region. Fort Owen was not a military fort; rather it was a trading post and commercial center among the Native Americans, fur trappers, settlers from the Oregon Trail, and settlers for the Bitterroot Valley. The talk will cover the history of Fort Owen as we know it today, including the initial archaeological excavations done at the site from 1957 through 1961, as well as information collected through the 1980s. From there, information relating to what we can learn in the future from Fort Owen will be discussed
The Chinese in Montana: History and Archaeology
Date: Wednesday April 30, 2008
Place: University of Montana – University Center, Missoula
Time: 7:00pm
Presenter: Christopher W. Merritt, Ph.D. Student
Thousands of Chinese immigrants who came to Montana in search of economic security indelibly etched their imprint upon the vast landscape of the Treasure State. By providing the bulk of the labor to Montana's first railroad systems in the 1880s and helping to prolong the vitality of many mining districts through dedicated and painstaking labor, Chinese immigrants formed an integral role in shaping modern Montana. Unfortunately, most of these contributions have been lost within the written pages of Montana history and the state's collective memory, and Chinese heritage has yet to be incorporated into local identity in most communities.
April 18, 19, and 20, 2008
Billings, Montana
This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Montana Archaeological Society. The meeting will be held on April 18, 19, and 20. Please join us for a fun-filled weekend of archaeology and history!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Friday April 18
8:30-10:30 Committee Meetings, Elks Lodge
10:30-12:30 Board of Directors Meeting, Elks Lodge
1:00-4:00 Technology Workshop, College of Technology, Room A034
1:15-5:00 Conference Registration, Elks Lodge
7:00-9:00 MAS Social and Auction, Elks Lodge
Saturday, April 19, Elks Lodge
9:00-12:00 Conference Registration
9:00-11:40 Presentations
11:40-1:20 Lunch Break (on your own)
1:20-4:00 Presentations
4:00-5:00 Business Meeting and Election of Officers
6:00-8:00 Banquet
8:00-9:00 Banquet Keynote Address
Sunday, April 20
8:30-12:30 Field trip to Castle Butte, meet at the BLM Office, 5001 Southgate Drive