Good evening, Kossacks. Today is National Archaeology Day:
National Archaeology Day is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery. Every October the AIA [Archaeological Institute of America] and archaeological organizations across the United States, Canada, and abroad present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests. Whether it is a family-friendly archaeology fair, a guided tour of a local archaeological site, a simulated dig, a lecture or a classroom visit from an archaeologist, the interactive, hands-on National Archaeology Day programs provide the chance to indulge your inner Indiana Jones.
Here in NYC, the AIA sponsored a series of presentations by New York area graduate students called "The Next Generation Speaks Up." Two of our NYU graduate students presented their ongoing PhD research at the session.
Since there are a lot of Kossacks who are also archaeologists, Ojibwa thought it might be a good idea to have a roll call diary for the archaeologists, anthropologists, and archaeology students here at the Great Orange Satan. Follow me below the fleur de Kos, and I will start.
Most of you know me as a pootie poster and IGTNT diarist, but I am an archaeologist in my day job. I have been at it for quite a long time. My first excavation experience was in the UK as part of the Winchester Excavations back in 1971 when I was an undergraduate.
I received my graduate training at the University of Pennsylvania under Professor Bernard Wailes. I went to Penn because I was interested in studying medieval archaeology within a broad, four-field archaeology program. My main area of interest has always been the archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England from the collapse of Roman rule in the early 5th century to the arrival of the Viking in the 850s. My primary expertise is in the area of zooarchaeology, the study of animal bones to reconstruct animal husbandry patterns, hunting practices, and diet. Here is a link to my most recent book, which is not destined to be a best seller. Here is a view of the reconstructed houses at the early Anglo-Saxon village of West Stow in Suffolk. I worked on the animal bones from this site for my PhD dissertation:
Since most of my work has focused on the Old World domestic animals--cattle, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry--I have been able to work in a number of different parts of the world. Here are some pictures from some of the projects I am working on.
I am the zooarchaeologist for the Shengavit excavations in Yerevan Armenia. Shengavit is an Early Bronze Age (Kura-Arax) site dating from about 3200-2300 BCE. Here is a view of the site showing the original, Soviet-era excavations and reconstructions:
I am also the staff zooarchaeologist for the Amheida project. Amheida is the ancient city of Trimithis, located in the Dakleh Oasis in SW Egypt. Here is a view of the city as it looks today. Note all the pottery:
Here are the remains of the villa:
Blue jersey dad and I have also been part of the survey project at the Iron Age site of Dun Ailinne in Ireland. Dun Ailinne is one of the Irish royal sites, and it is traditionally associated with the kings of Leinster. I worked on the original excavations there when I was a grad student in the 1970s.
Dad and I have also been involved in the excavation of the site of Moku'ula which is associated with Kamehameha III and is where the Hawaiian constitution was signed. You can read more about our work here. Here is a picture from the 2010 season:
So here is my invitation to all the archaeologists out these in Kosland. Tell us about your interests and what you are working on.