Alabama Archaeological Society

An exhibit at the newly renovated Moundville Museum, which attendees will tour at the upcoming Winter Meeting (see meeting information at left, photo courtesy of Richard Kilborn).

AAS at work at Fort Tombecbe in April 2010

Members of AAS digging at Fort Tombecbe in April 2010 (photo courtesy of Ashley Dumas).

A late Archaic projectile point (photo by John Richburg)

Dr. Jim Knight (far left) and Dr. Amanda Regnier (far right) were among the artifact experts on hand at the Camden Artifact Identification gathering this past January (photo by Teresa Paglione). See more of Teresa Paglione's photos on box.net. and see Amanda Hill's photos onsnapfish.

Drawing by Erin Phillips of Hemphill style pottery decoration

An AAS grant helped Erin Phillips examine the Smithsonian's collection of Hemphill-style Moundville pottery, which has preserved pre-contact Southeastern Indian images such as this winged serpent (line drawing by Erin Phillips).

Roseland Plantation fieldtrip Summer 2009

AAS members and guests at the Roseland Plantation fieldtrip and dig this summer (photo by Ashley Dumas). See more of this AAS event: Teresa Paglione's photos on flickr.

The brick and stone remains of a salt-boiling furnace at the site of two previous AAS field trips (photo by Ashley Dumas).

The AAS 2006 Public Education Grant helped Ben Hoksbergen construct a full-size replica of a Mississippian house and farm. To find out more about this project and AAS Grants, see the AAS Grants web page.

Pay your dues or send a donation to AAS (a non-profit organization) online! Go to Dues & Donations for instructions for this simple and quick way to be a part of archaeology in Alabama.

Here is an excellent article from Alabama Heritage, Winter 2011, Issue 99, about Alabama's Archaeological Sites and How important they are Click Here

Upcoming Archaeology Events in the Southeast:

New Website and Organization to Help Protect Alabama's History

The Coalition to Protect Alabama’s History (C-PAH) is a non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to protecting Alabama’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. C-PAH's primary mission is to educate citizens and lawmakers about the importance of preserving the unique remains of Alabama’s history found in its archaeological sites, both on land and underwater. Check out the website at http://www.c-pah.org/

This letter was received by the president of AAS, Teresa Paglione, and other members of AAS and AHA. AAS also urges our legislators not to forget to fund our historic and cultural agencies throughout the state. Rather than repeat what is in Dr. Olliff's letter, it is presented here in full. Even though this posting is a little late to influence this year's legislation, we can start now by reminding our 2012-2013 representatives that we are paying
attention to their actions it comes to Alabama heritage!

Alabama Historical Association
April 17, 2012

At the 2012 Alabama Historical Association Business Meeting, Dr. Ed Bridges asked us to act in the interest of Alabama History by urging our legislators to not starve historical and cultural agencies in the state. As you know,
Governor Bentley's General Fund Budget severely reduced or eliminated funding for many such agencies, though the savings are not significant. The House has passed a version of that budget, threatening to leave a number of state agencies adrift.

Certainly we can debate the role of government and the shortfall in the General Fund. But if the state starves these historical agencies, they will die and not return when times get better. State agencies cannot run on the
kindness of private contributions, and they are not commercial enterprises that can sell a product or service. We might offer the AHA as a counter-example, but it took since 1947 to build the current AHA infrastructure and without the significant-and hidden-contributions of state agencies (particularly universities) the AHA would be unable to provide more than a short annual business meeting. A state agency cannot operate this
way; the people would not allow it, and rightly so.

So please contact your legislators. Ask them to support Alabama History by restoring funding or finding alternative funding for those agencies that have seen their appropriations stripped or eliminated.

You can find contact information for your Representatives here:
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.h
tml

And for your Senators here:
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_alpha.html

Marty Olliff, President 2012-2013
Alabama Historical Association

Check Back Soon for Information about Upcoming Digs and Public Archaeology Activities

Archaeology in the News:

After Four Centuries, Portuguese return to Central Alabama

Selma Rotarians recently welcomed a Portuguese exchange group of five women which included a 27 year-old archaeologist Raquel Henriques (with green scarf in center of photo )

Pictured in photo: Selma Rotarians in back, Altson Fitts and John Nettles - L to R, Sofia Martins; Linda Derry, site director; Maria Jose Rodriques; Maria Paula Cortes Tavares and Ana Margarida Gomes .

Raquel’s one wish for her visit to Selma was to visit the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, and her enthusiasm pulled her travel companions along for a special presentation and tour. In an attempt to make Alabama’s history relevant to these special guests, Linda Derry, the site director, mentioned the many Portuguese that accompanied Hernando de Soto on his historic trek through central Alabama. When shown a list of the Portuguese that reportedly joined the expedition, these modern visitors noted that they were very familiar with all the family names. In addition, one of these visitors was a cork farmer from Elvas - as in the Chronicle of the Gentleman of Elvas , which is an account of the trek published in 1557 in Portuguese. Many American archaeologists in the search for sites associated with the expedition have used a translation of this account.

In the visitor center, the women considered a replica of a 16^th century helmet, explaining to the park staff why this would have been Spanish rather than Portuguese. Before the group left Old Cahawba, Linda encouraged archaeologist and historian Raquel Henriques to hunt for yet undiscovered documents about this great historical event in Alabama’s history when she returned home; Raquel, in response, discussed the many archives in her country that might contain relevant historic documents. The women plan to visit Fort Morgan later this spring before returning home to Portugal.

Linda Derry, Site Director

Old Cahawba

719 Tremont St.

Selma, AL 36701

Archaeological Community Protests Looting as Televised Entertainment Programs

Archaeologists are mounting a campaign against two new cable TV shows that they say encourage and glamorize looting of American archaeological sites. On 20 March, Spike TV will premiere a new show called American Digger, while a show called Diggers on the National Geographic Channel made its debut 28 February. Both shows "promote and glorify the looting and destruction of archaeological sites," Society for American Archaeology (SAA) President William F. Limp wrote in a message posted earlier this week to the SAA listserv. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/03/archaeologists-protest-glamorizan.html

Response to Looting Television from Archaeology Southwest

The story of our shared past is best told not by individual objects, but through the understanding that comes from examining these objects in the context of their specific find locations, their relationship to surrounding objects and built environments, and their meaning within a much larger physical and cultural landscape. We believe that removing any ancient or historical object from its resting place must be a carefully considered act-even among archaeologists-and not one done for personal gain or private ownership. The past is not owned; it is shared. http://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/2012/03/01/statement/

Response to Looting Television from the Society for American Archaeology

SAA and other groups, such as SHA, have already prepared and sent strong letters condemning both of these programs to the production companies, networks, and others. Copies of the SAA letters can be found on the SAA website (http://bit.ly/w2MHJM and http://bit.ly/wzT7IA ). The letters provide details on why we are so concerned. Up to this point Spike TV has not responded to the public outcry. Leadership of National Geographic, however, has indicated that, while they are unable to stop the showing tomorrow on such short notice, they will place a disclaimer into the show that speaks to laws protecting archaeological and historic sites. They are also willing to enter into discussions with the archaeological community to determine how to raise awareness of the impacts of the use of metal detectors for treasure hunting.

Response to Looting TV from the Archaeological Institute of America Elizabeth Bartman, AIA President, sent letters to executives at National Geographic and Spike TV to express concern over the content of two new TV shows-Diggers (National Geographic) and American Digger (Spike TV)-that promote treasure-hunting and the unethical digging of archaeological sites. Below are the letters that were sent to the two organizations. http://www.archaeological.org/news/aianews/8256

Florida Public Archaeology Program Provides an Educated Alternative to Reality Television

Their goal is to help our citizens become advocates for the heritage sites and the artifacts collected from them. In recent weeks, the city's heritage has been threatened, and perhaps damaged forever, by treasure hunters and reality TV programs where artifacts become bounty in negotiations with land owners willing to sell these treasures to private interests. The issue of digging historic sites for other than a public purpose has caused a stir on both sides: Property rights versus protection of a community's history through its artifacts. While no one can tell a private land owner what he/she can do with their land or its contents, it is sad that some of our story is lost forever in these type of arrangements.http://staugustine.com/opinions/2012-03-01/our-view-be-advocates-saving-our-heritage-artifacts#.T1QbHfEgeQm

AAS Field Trip in Monroeville News Story Steven Meredith with the Alabama Archaeological Society and members from across the state set up a grid on the property in central Monroe County, and sifted soil dug from each section unit of the grid to find artifacts. Full Story Here!

Students in Macon County bring Artifacts to Light SHORTER -- University of Vermont student Eric Schlosser last week was digging at the site of a Native American village occupied about 700 to 800 years ago when he heard a "tink" sound, the sound of his metal trowel hitting ceramic.He said he slowly dug around the object, found about 20 inches below ground level, and then gently scrapped dirt from a piece of pottery about two inches long and wide, apparently broken from a larger object. Curved lines adorned a brown surface."It is so exciting," Schlosser said. "You're holding something that somebody put a lot of effort into making, which is pretty neat." The pottery dates from about 1250 to 1300 A.D., estimated University of Vermont anthropology professor Cameron Wesson. http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/06/students_in_macon_county_bring.html

Congratulations to Linda Derry! Our own Linda Derry was picked from over a hundred other archeologists nominated for a "spotlight" in non-academic "Careers in Archaeology." Check out "Grassroots and Boots: A Career in Community-Based Archaeology in Alabama's Tall Grass" on page 19 of the "SAA Archaeological Record" (Publications on SAA home page)at http://onlinedigeditions.com/publication/?i=65152&p=21 or click on the attached pdf: SAA Record- LDERRY."

The September AAS dig at the Upper Salt Works. Over 30 AAS members participated on September 18 and 19 at the AAS excavation field trip to the Upper Salt Works. On both days we excavated an area of the site occupied in the Early Paleoindian (Clovis), Middle Archaic, and Late Woodland periods. On Sunday we continued excavations on the prehistoric components while some of us worked on excavation units in the ruins of a Civil War salt furnace. Thanks to Ashley Dumas and Steven Meredith for organizing this trip. The artifacts and records will be curated in the University of West Alabama. The dig was part of ongoing research on Salt production in Southwest Alabama and Paleoindian settlement in the Gulf Coastal Plain. See a video of the dig on YouTube.

Guidelines for authors for the Journal of Alabama Archaeology. The Journal of Alabama Archaeology remains the primary forum for the publication of papers on the prehistoric and historic archaeology of Alabama, however papers on related topics in the Southeast are welcome. Papers from students, amateur, and professional archaeologists are solicited. The guidelines and style guide for authors, a PDF file, is available to download.

AAS is on Facebook! Look for the Alabama Archaeological Society on Facebook and become a fan!

A Confederate cannon from the CSS Alabama is finally coming to Alabama. The Confederate sloop, the CSS Alabama, never made it to Alabama, but one of it's cannons is currently being restored and will soon be on display at the Museum of Mobile. For more information, read the Post and Courier article. Also, see the University of Alabama's Hoyle Museum online digital collection of images of the CSS Alabama.

Letter from AAS Vice-President Richard Kilborn About the Destruction of the Oxford Indian Stone Mound in Oxford, Alabama. The State of Alabama has a rich pre-historic past that in some locations is evidenced by the presence of Indian Mounds...It is the authors‚ opinion that the State of Alabama needs additional laws to afford some degree of protection, preservation or complete controlled excavation when dealing with rare sites of such cultural significance as the Oxford Indian Stone Mound.Read the entire letter here.

Genetic Data on Ancient American Populations Points to Single Ancestral Group: For two decades, researchers have been using a growing volume of genetic data to debate whether ancestors of Native Americans emigrated to the New World in one wave or successive waves, or from one ancestral Asian population or a number of different populations. Now, after painstakingly comparing DNA samples from people in dozens of modern-day Native American and Eurasian groups, an international team of scientists thinks it can put the matter to rest: virtually without exception, the new evidence supports the single ancestral population theory. Read more at Sciencedaily.com.

Copper Axe Stolen from Exhibit at Cahokia: It was recently discovered that a copper celt (axe) had been stolen from one of the exhibit cases at Caholia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois. The thieves apparently were able to compromise the security of the case at the "Fiber" display. The artifact was solid copper, 5 3/4" long, 2 1/2" wide, and 7/16" thick. One side had a textile psuedomorph, created by the mineralization of a textile in contact with copper deposited in soil. Although the original textile no longer exists, what remains--its psuedomorph--can provide information of the characteristics of the original cloth or bag in which the axe originally had been wrapped. There was a catalog number on it, "19 x 862". Other than some minor vandalism, this is the first artifact theft at the Interpretive Center since it opened twenty years ago. Please keep an eye out for this axe and if you see it or something similar for sale, please contact: William R. Iseminger, Assistant Site Manager/Public Relations, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, IL, 62234; or via email at cahokia.mounds@sbcglobal.net, or visit theirwebsite.

New methods for dating an archaeological artifact, rock art: Rock art has been difficult for archaeologists to date employing scientific methods commonly used for archaeology. Recently, Marvin W. Rowe, professor of chemistry at Texas A&M, has applied the use of accelerator mass spectrometry, which requires a very small amount of material to be removed from a painting. For more information, see physorg.com, a web-based science, research and technology news service.

A recent news item on a federal listserve: Archaeology Magazine Reports on Drugs and Looting The locus of archeological crime in the American Southwest and across the nation is shifting into the world of guns and drugs, reports Samir Patel in an article in the March/April issue of Archaeology Magazine. A strange synergy is developing with meth that puts every archeological site and collection at risk, Patel notes. Meth provides a surplus of energy that users need to work off, and artifact hunting to get the money for the next high is one way to do it. Meth looters are changing the face of looting in the U.S., and Southeast Asia and Europe may not be far behind. The looting-meth connection is reported by Federal archeologists and law enforcement officers across the nation. The involvement with drugs is problematic for law enforcement officers who pursue cultural resource crime. Once a looting suspect is caught, archeological resource violation laws take a back seat to drug charges. Drug and firearm possession carry much steeper penalties than ARPA violations, under most circumstances. Drug cases can make it easier to recover artifacts, as looters will more readily hand them over when faced with drug charges, especially if doing so will save them from ARPA charges. As a result, there is little risk for drug dealers who want to engage in antiquities trade. The entire article is available on-line at www.archaeology.org.

Norwood Pottery in Mississippi: Archaeologists at the Center for Archaeological Studies at the University of South Alabama have recovered Norwood Pottery in Mississippi, farther west than this type of pottery has been found in the past. More information is available in the upcoming issue of the AAS newsletter, Stones & Bones (see the article).

Fort Mims:The Fall 2007 issue of American Archaeology magazine, published by the Archaeological Conservancy, featured an article about Alabama's own Fort Mims, Clarifying an Historic Event: Archaeologists are working to uncover the details of the massacre at Fort Mims (a 3.5 meg PDF). The Archaeological Conservancy has generously allowed us to provide this digital copy of that article to AAS members. The Alabama Department of Archives and History, theAlabama Historical Commission, Sharon Blair, and the Center for Archaeological Studies, at the University of South Alabama, all contributed photographs for this article and also gave their permission for this digital copy.