Every year, IAS takes people on travel adventures to visit archaeological sites that are far away. One program takes people to Hawaii, and in 2015, we again partnered with Portland Community College to offer an adventure through their Community Education program. Below are images of some of the sites we visited, on the islands of Oahu and Hawai’i Island. Another opportunity will be next February, with sign-ups beginning in early September. Use the contact form on this website to enroll early.
JULY & AUGUST 2015
In July, a limited number of people with an interest in the Ice Age animals of the Willamette Valley will have an opportunity to work with archaeologists and paleontologists. Participants will have an opportunity to try both field and laboratory work. The planned site is in Woodburn, where giant ground sloths with 6” (15 cm) claws, and the remains of a 12,000 year old predator bird the size of a van, have been documented. Ancient horses, camels, and giant bison have also been excavated there.
This opportunity will be offered through the Institute for Archaeological Studies. A $20.00 per person donation is hoped for, but not mandatory. No children, please.
In August, through Portland Community College, the partial remains of other extinct giant animals (megafauna) may also be excavated. This will be at a second site, about one mile from the July excavation. Here, we anticipate locating part of a herd of extinct giant bison (Bison antiquus), and starting their excavation. As we work down to the depths of these extinct animals, we may locate and document evidence of a past human presence, in the form of stone flakes that were produced during the times that these ancient creatures lived in the Valley, and naturally shed human hair from the same time period. This opportunity is offered through Portland Community College. The class always fills quickly, so if you are interested, please contact PCC as soon as enrollment opens, to be added to the list.
These are different parts of the same sites we tested last summer, and some photos are posted on this website.
Date: 01/16/2015
Time: 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Multnomah Athletic Club
Description: Most of us were taught that humans migrated into the Americas at the very end of the last Ice Age, or approximately 11,000-10,000 years ago. The Bering Land Bridge was their single entry point. The story continues that people traveled down an ice free corridor, dispersed throughout North and then South America, and that they came on foot. As it turns out, however, none of this is accurate! In fact, archaeological evidence tells a very different story. Who were these ancient people? Where did they come from, what types of environments did they encounter, and what do we know about Oregon’s ancient people? Presented by Dr. Alison Stenger, Director of Research with the Institute for Archaeological Studies.
If you have questions about this event or registration, please contact Member Events at 503-517-7265 or membereventreg@themac.com.
In July and August, we again participated in investigations of Legion Park and Mammoth Park. These sites are in Woodburn, located close to Salem and Portland. We excavated, mapped, and water screened. We also visited the laboratory where the recovered items are stabilized and cataloged.
In 2015, we again expect to be working at these two sites. If you are a member of the Oregon Archaeological Society, please check with them for dates. The August experience is offered through Portland Community College. Please check their website or catalog for enrollment instructions.
Don’t forget to take a look at the college field work page of this website. Other Woodburn site information is available at Webshots–just google astenger webshots, or http://community.webshots.com/user/astenger, and the link will take you there. The letter report of this project, and the summary of past work, can be accessed through WBHS (1).doc.
People with an interest in paleontology and archaeology will have an opportunity to try both field and laboratory work in August! The planned site is at Mammoth Park, where the excavation of a 11,000 year old extinct giant bison (Bison antiquus) will continue. The partial remains of other extinct giant animals (megafauna) may also be excavated. As we work down to the depths of these extinct animals, we may locate and document evidence of a past human presence, in the form of stone flakes that were produced during the times that these ancient creatures lived in the Valley, and naturally shed human hair from the same time period. This class always fills quickly, so if you are interested, please contact Gary Palmer, at PCC, to be added to the list. This is a different part of the same site we tested last summer, and some photos are posted on this website.
If the flood deposits from winter prevent our accessing this site, then we will work at Mammoth Park, in Woodburn. This is the site of an extinct giant bison (Bison antiquus), as well as approximately a dozen other species of now extinct Ice Age animals.
In past years, we have been able to participate in McMinnville projects. These opportunities are due to a partnership between researchers and volunteers from the Yamhill River Pleistocene Project and those of the Mammoth Park Project. Instruction is provided by professionals from the Institute for Archaeological Studies, with assistance from members of the OMSI paleontology laboratory, and other visiting professionals from the University of Oregon.
These field experiences are open to both adults and students (over 18 years of age), through the Continuing Education program at Portland Community College. A classroom session, discussing the peopling of the Americas and excavation protocols, will precede field work.
This opportunity is thanks to partnerships between the professionals and volunteers of the Yamhill river Pleistocene Project, Mammoth Park, and the Institute for Archaeological Studies. (Be sure to look at the Yamhill River Pleistocene Project website!)
Participants will learn field and laboratory methods, and will be invited to participate in all aspects of fieldwork, from recording the items they have excavated to screening of both dry and wet sediments.
For a video of our work, please take a look at the following, provided by Oregon Field Guide:
friendsofpast.org
sponsored by a science advocacy group that is concerned with presenting facts, and not fiction
oregonarchaeological.org
Sponsored by the Oregon Archaeological Society, a public interest group.
A “public library” stocked with the most recent science, from pathogens to potential cures
http://anthropology.si.edu/
Be sure to look for postings by Dennis Stanford and Betty Meggers (this is the Smithsonian website)
http://www.archaeologychannel.org/about.html
A website for the Archaeological Legacy–great local & international information