Past Events

Elizabeth Reetz, Strategic Initiatives Director, University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Formerly a Cultural Resources Management fieldwork director, Elizabeth now focuses on archaeology education, communications, and making archaeology accessible to all ages.

Mary De La Garza, Research Technology Director, University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Mary is a Systems Administrator who uses her technical skills in the digital archaeological realm. She is a licensed drone pilot and produces and analyzes aerial lidar and thermal data collected from archaeological sites by a UAS.

Ervan Garrison, Professor Emeritus, Geology & Anthropology, University of Georgia. Ervan currently conducts geoarchaeological research using drone and ROV-hosted geophysical sensors.

This webinar is designed for those participating in the 2025-2026 FIRST® LEGO® League UNEARTHED^TM season focused on archaeology. Our expert panelists will discuss the various challenges archaeologists face with logistics, research, excavation, fieldwork, artifact analysis, storage, and more! We'll address common questions that archaeologists receive and will answer questions from attendees. Coaches and students are invited to attend, but an adult must be the one to register on behalf of their team. No matter what point your team is in preparations, this session will help you brainstorm the ways that new innovations can address real-world archaeological challenges.

This webinar is designed for those participating in the 2025-2026 FIRST® LEGO® League UNEARTHED^TM season focused on archaeology. 

Dr. Ervan Garrison, PhD, RPA, University of Georgia

Dr. Garrison has recently retired from the University of Georgia where he taught geology and archaeology for 32 years. Archaeological sedimentology played a central role in his teaching and research, which encompassed the study of both terrestrial and lacustrine/marine sediments. From 1990 to 1992 he worked as a Marine Archaeologist at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and served as research faculty at Texas A&M University from 1979 to 1989. Dr. Garrison received his PhD. from the University of Missouri and both his B.S. and M.A. from the University of Arkansas.

A significant portion of any archaeological site is often in the dirt aka “sediments.” Even until the mid-to-late 20th century, sediments were simply discarded and ignored at many excavations. Sediment analysis or sedimentology together with pedology is largely the province of geoarchaeology. The geoarchaeological study of inundated and submerged soils and sediments is a relevant sub-specialty since more and more academic and CRM studies focus on drowned landscapes. This seminar will focus exclusively on “drowned dirt” and how best to use it for archaeological ends. Color, texture, parent material, micro-and- macro inclusions, eDNA will be discussed as well as important laboratory and instrumental methods that assist in our understanding of wet sediments and soils.

1. Learn how to best sample wet sediments and how their study differs from that of subaerial soils and sediments.
2. Learn the basic steps in the collection and characterization of wet sediments.
3. Appreciate the importance of sedimentological/pedological study in archaeology.

Joel Dukes, RPA, USDI National Park Service, Northeast Archeological Resources
Program

Joel Dukes has been an archaeologist with the National Park Service Northeast Archaeological Resources Program based out of Lowell, Massachusetts since 2008. Prior to that he was an archaeologist for the US Forest Service for eight years. As a regional NPS archaeologist he serves as an archaeological advisor for several parks including the Appalachian Trail, Statue of Liberty and Minute Man National Historical Park. Joel has an interest in exploring new archaeological methods for investigating and interpreting battlefields and has led and participated in projects at battlefield parks including Gettysburg, Appomattox, Minute Man, and Saratoga. Mr. Dukes holds an M.A. in Anthropology/Archaeology from the University of Georgia (1993). He is an Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archaeologist instructor and has also served as a Scientific Recovery Expert with the Defense Department POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Joseph Balicki, RPA, Archeological Consultant

Joseph Balicki is an instructor for Advanced Metal Detecting for the Archaeologist and is a graduate of the Catholic University of America (MA). During his career in Cultural Resource Management, the Archeology of Military sites was one of his primary areas of expertise, and he is proficient in conducting KOCOA analysis, primary research, and metal detector surveys on military archeological sites ranging from fortifications, battlefields, winter quarters, and cantonments to front-line temporary bivouacs. His 2011 article “The Watch-Fires of a Hundred Circling Camps: Theoretical and Practical Approaches to Investigating Civil War Campsites” conclusively demonstrated that, at present, metal detection is the most effective method for identifying and examining military sites. He is a strong advocate for the inclusion of realistic metal detection methodologies on all historic sites as these collection strategies will result in a different data set than traditional field methods. Current research interests include conflict theory and best practices for effective metal detection by archaeologists. 

In this seminar, participants will be introduced to the applications, efficacy, and best practices of metal detection in archaeological contexts. Participants will learn the basics of survey methods, detector techniques, data management, and general machine settings. The role of crew experience, metal detector quality, environmental conditions, and appropriate level of effort will be covered. Several case studies that were successful in defining archaeological sites will be discussed.

1). Introduce participants to when a metal detecting investigation is appropriate.
2). Participants will be introduced to a variety of metal detection survey methods and ways to improve performance.
2). Participants will learn the role that experience, quality metal detectors, environmental conditions, and appropriate time devoted to a project have on metal detecting investigations.

To be announced.

Join SAA and ACRA to learn about career options in archaeology and heritage management! Attendees will be able to pick two career paths they want to learn more about and talk to professionals in the field. If you are not an SAA member but are an ACRA member, please head over to the ACRA website to sign up for the event.

• Each breakout room will be capped at 40 people per room.
• Registrants will receive a confirmation email immediately, an email with log in information about one week before the event, and a reminder email the day before. If you do not receive the automated confirmation email, please double-check that you have completed registration.
• This event is FREE to ACRA and SAA members and not available to non-members.

Sarah E Miller, RPA, Florida Public Archaeology Network, Flagler College

Since 2006 Sarah E. Miller has worked for the Florida Public Archaeology Network as Director of the Northeast and East Central Regions. During that time, she developed the Cemetery Resource Protection Training (CRPT) and Heritage Monitoring Scout (HMS Florida) programs. She is a graduate of Cornell College (BA), East Carolina University (MA), and is currently pursuing her PhD in Historic Preservation at the University of Florida. She has served the Society for Historical Archaeology for 10 years as a board member and current Secretary. She is inaugural chair of the Heritage at Risk Committee (HARC) for SHA, as well as on the Climate Change Response and Strategies committee for SAA. Her research interests include public archaeology, community engagement, historic cemeteries, climate heritage, advocacy and preservation.

Rising temperatures, sea level, and number of storms cause an increase in hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, and erosion events that all impact heritage sites around the world. Archaeologists are well poised to respond to the crisis by engaging local communities, working with local governments, participating in transdisciplinary research, and advocating for climate heritage policy. This seminar will discuss heritage at risk as a specialization, climate heritage communities, and various research networks. The workshop will provide case studies from several countries, an overview of research questions employed in current climate heritage research and encourage you to join the heritage at risk effort where you work and live.

After this seminar, participants will be able to:
1) Identify threats to heritage sites that are increasing due to storm intensification and climate conditions
2) Learn about different research approaches to heritage at risk
3) Consider different engagement approaches to assist or respond to communities in need
4) Join committees and research networks to support further development of climate heritage interests