Upcoming Events

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 20^th century, sediments were simply discarded and ignored at many excavations. Sediment analysis, or sedimentology, is largely the province of geoarchaeology. In many European geoarchaeological programs it is the central focus. In U.S. and Canadian geoarchaeological programs sediments are important but not the only focus – stable isotopes, eDNA, etc. – are key elements of study as well the petrographic characterization of lithic materials. This seminar will focus exclusively on the “dirt” and how best to use it for archaeological ends. Color, texture, parent material, micro-and- macro inclusions will be discussed as well as important instrumental methods that assist in our understanding of sediments.

1. Learn what sediments are and how they differ yet make up all soils.

2. Learn the basic steps in the characterization and study of sediments.

3. Appreciate the necessity of sedimentological study in archaeology, writ large.

Laurie W. Rush, PhD, RPA, Cultural Resources Program Manager and Native American Affairs Liaison, Department of the Army, Fort Drum, New York

Dr. Rush has a BA from Indiana University Bloomington, an MA and PhD from Northwestern University, and is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. Her research specialty is Native Americans of the Great Lakes, and she is an Army Archaeologist who serves as Cultural Resources Manager and Native American Affairs Coordinator for the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum. Dr. Rush is a Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution, a University of Pennsylvania Consulting Scholar, and Secretary of
the US Committee of the Blue Shield. She initiated the consultation program at Fort Drum, NY over 20 years ago and is proud of the partnerships the Installation has established with the Oneida Indian Nation, the Onondaga Nation, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

After consulting with Native American Tribes from coast to coast, the US Department of Defense developed the American Indian and Alaska Native Policy in 1998. This consultation policy takes the form of official guidance, but when read carefully, you will find a road map for establishing meaningful partnerships between US government agencies and the other sovereign nations of North America. This course will offer step-by-step instructions for building consultation partnerships based on the policy, with additional details about lessons learned over the course of the last 20 years from establishing government to government and staff to staff partnerships at a US Army installation.

1. Understand how to initiate and implement a meaningful consultation program for your agency.
2. Understand the two levels of consultation relationships – government to government vs staff to staff.
3. Understand the importance of context for effective meetings.
4. Understand the goals for establishing meaningful consultation partnerships.
5. Opportunities to benefit from lessons learned.

Danielle M. Benden, M.S., RPA, Driftless Pathways, LLC 

Danielle M. Benden is owner of Driftless Pathways, LLC, a small museum consulting firm near Madison, WI. She designs new curatorial facilities and renovates existing ones; consults with museum personnel to improve collections care and management; facilitates consultation between Native Nations and other stakeholders on the development of interpretive content and exhibits; and provides professional development training in curation and collections management. Prior to starting Driftless Pathways, Ms. Benden served as the Senior Curator of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she taught museum courses, designed and managed collections facility upgrades, oversaw NAGPRA compliance, and carried out fieldwork in the Cahokian Hinterlands. She has published scholarly articles, book chapters, and reports, conducted preservation assessments of archaeological sites and collections, and enjoys educating the public about the past through presentations and archaeological tours.

Ms. Benden received her B.S. in Archaeology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and an M.S. in Museum and Field Studies (with an Archaeology emphasis) from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She has served on national committees and task forces including as chair of SAA’s Committee on Museums, Collections, and Curation (2016-2019), co-chair of SAA’s Task Force on Data Access and Archiving (2015-2016), co-chair of the Archaeological Collections Consortium (2014-2016), and member of the SAA Archive Committee (2021-present). Her practical and professional experience puts her at the forefront of the national curation discussion.

From large public museums to university anthropology departments, archaeological repositories exist for two main purposes: to preserve and care for collections and to facilitate collections access for a variety of purposes (e.g., public education, exhibition, research, compliance, traditional uses by descendant communities). But how can repository personnel prioritize which collections have the highest potential for
research, education, and exhibition or the most urgent needs like NAGPRA compliance requirements?

Assessing ‘significance’—or put another way, prioritizing collections— in consultation with stakeholders is a powerful tool that can facilitate the use of collections while ensuring that their preservation and compliance needs are accounted for. This two-hour seminar provides a how-to guide for assessing collections. The resulting data informs how repositories can best direct their often limited financial and human resources to collections with the most needs and highest priorities.

This seminar is for collections caretakers and their supervisors who work across sectors: at a tribal cultural center, a government repository, a CRM firm with a related curation facility or a university department, to name a few. Participants will receive a resource guide with practical information for implementing the assessment process.

1.  Provide attendees with a framework for evaluating archaeological collections in the
   repository.
2. Teach participants how to develop an assessment tool for the physical condition,
   intellectual control, and compliance needs of collections.
3. Offer tips and resources for developing meaningful consultation with stakeholders to
   prioritize collections in the repository.

Stefan Brannan, PhD, RPA, PMP, New South Associates, Inc.

Dr. Brannan currently serves as the Director of Archaeology for New South Associates, Inc., a women-owned small business providing cultural resource management services in the southeastern United States and beyond. In his current role, he serves as the administrative manager for the Archaeology Department as well as the project manager and subject matter expert for several ongoing archaeological projects. He has conducted archaeological surveys, testing, data recovery, public outreach, and consultation with and on behalf of private, state, federal, and tribal agencies. He has evaluated numerous archaeological sites for the NRHP under Section 106 and 110 of the NHPA, as well as multiple state registers. His experience encompasses Precontact period and Indigenous residential, monumental, ritual, and mortuary sites; as well as historic domestic, urban, military, and funerary sites. He has conducted projects on behalf of and in consultation with numerous state and federal agencies, including: several state Departments of Transportation, the University of Georgia, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Georgia Power Company. His active research interests include organizationally complex middle range societies, anthropological and archaeological theory, settlement archaeology, regional survey, and the applications of
project management.

This seminar is designed to equip new and experienced archaeologists with helpful tools to excel in today’s competitive job market. It will begin with an introduction on decoding job advertisements, helping participants understand important key words, qualifications, and how to identify the right opportunities. Second, a discussion will follow on crafting standout application materials, including tailored cover letters and polished CVs that highlight an applicant’s unique skills and experience. Third, participants will also gain valuable insights on interview strategies, addressing challenging questions, and standing out to potential employers. Fourth, a portion of the seminar will explore potential negotiation tactics to finalize an offer. The final segment will provide advice on the probationary period, offering guidance on meeting employer expectations and building strong relationships during the critical early days of a new position. Whether participants are seeking their first role or looking to advance, this seminar will provide actionable advice for securing and excelling in your next archaeological position.

Seminar participants will be introduced to:

1. Parsing job advertisements and determining if they are a good fit
2. Assembling application materials that increase the likelihood of an interview
3. Preparing for the interview process
4. Negotiation opportunities once an offer is made
5. Navigating the probationary period

Jeanne M. Moe, EdD, Institute for Heritage Education

Dr. Moe has more than 40 years of experience in archaeological fieldwork and analysis, heritage and archaeology education, and project management. She holds master’s degrees in both archaeology and education and a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on human cognition and constructivist learning theory, and their practical implications for archaeology education. Dr. Moe worked for BLM for 32 years, including directing the National Project Archaeology Program for 24 years, where she developed national cultural resources stewardship curricula and professional development instruction methods. She is one of the founding board members of the Institute for Heritage Education and currently serves as chair of the board. She served as the editor of Journal of Archaeology and Education from 2020 to 2023.

Education may seem simple – just tell people what you want them to know – right? I’m a good archaeologist; I will show them some data and they will get it. It doesn’t work that way. People construct understanding for themselves based on what they already know and how new information fits within existing structures of knowledge. Preconceptions and misconceptions may be difficult to detect and can block new learning. Alarmingly, sometimes our best efforts can actually start new misconceptions about archaeological practice and content.  This seminar explores the basics of human cognition and constructivist learning theory, the foundations of effective educational materials and delivery. Stewardship of archaeological sites, always an important goal of public education, must be based on sound pedagogy and compelling content for both formal and nonformal audiences.   

The Knowledge Series seminars are opportunities to learn from prominent archaeologists as they share their experiences and expertise.