Alumnus Profile: Chris P. ('05) at Fort Benning, GA

After graduating from UE with a BA in Archaeology and History, Chris Parr went on to the University of Arizona to study Classics, and received his MA in 2008. As a student, Chris excavated numerous Native American sites throughout southern Illinois, including Cahokia Mounds, as well as a Roman fort in Menorca, Spain. Now, through a contract with Panamerican Consultants, Chris serves as a Cultural Resource Site Monitor for the US Army at Fort Benning, GA. As a CR Monitor, he is responsible for protecting the installation’s 850 archaeological sites and historic cemeteries from military training and construction projects. In addition, Chris manages Fort Benning’s curation facility (an artifacts and records repository) and participates in consultations with both federally recognized Native American tribes and state historic preservation offices. When not at work, Chris Parr pursues his own research of the Creek War of 1836 in Columbus, GA and the Gilded Age in St. Louis, MO.

Student Michael Koletsos at Nemea, Greece

This summer I traveled to Greece and worked within the Sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea with a team from the University of California, Berkeley. Our team was divided into smaller groups and every three days we rotated into work at the different trenches or the museum. We opened two trenches in the Hero Shrine to determine what occurred there during the early periods of the site. We also opened a trench in search of the hippodrome that was home to the horse racing event held during the Nemean Games. I especially enjoyed creating my own interpretation of what occurred at the site at the end of the season based upon the evidence we discovered. This opportunity was truly a worthwhile experience for me because I learned more about the process of archaeology, visited many sites in Greece, and met other students from around the country with similar interests.

Michael is a junior Archaeology major at UE. More information about UC Berkeley’s excavations at Nemea can be found here.

The Parthenon in a Pickup

The department recently inherited a cardboard model of the Parthenon which was made for our children's school play, Happy Birthday Zeus. Dr. Thomas kindly provided his pick up truck and his labor, while Dr. Strobel's husband (and incoming English Department Chair) Professor Paul Bone assisted in the transition of the temple from Washington Ave to Lincoln Ave. Alas, no Panathenaic procession was held. Little Zeus (aka Wyatt Bone) also helped. Dr. Strobel plans to use the model in her art history survey class this fall. Notice that the Parthenon is currently being stored in the new Archaeology Lab in the basement of Hyde. Many thanks to Dr. Kaiser for letting it stay there for a bit and thanks to Dr. Ebeling for logistical assistance.

Alumna Profile: Maureen M. ('05) in South Florida

I am the crew chief of the Tribal Archaeology Section (TAS) in the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) that works for the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The work occurs on the various Seminole reservations that are located throughout South Florida. While the work we do in TAS is similar to CRM (Cultural Resources Management), it is a unique experience since we complete the archaeological surveys specifically for the Seminoles. We conduct these surveys prior to any new construction on the Seminole reservations. Since the TAS is fully responsible for the archaeology, we also produce all the maps related to the surveys using ArcGIS. Once a project is complete, we also write the reports. My job specifically includes determining the archaeological methodology by researching the environmental and cultural factors of an area, editing the archaeological reports, and helping to make NRHP (National Register of Historic Places) determinations of sites. I particularly enjoy working in South Florida because it is a clear example of the environment playing a significant role in people’s settlement choices. While most people throughout the world settle in areas close to water, all of South Florida was once under water, making the need for dry land critical. Most of the sites in South Florida occur on hammocks, which are tiny tree islands that were once completely surrounded by water. The basic sites on these hammocks are temporary extraction camps that consist of faunal middens, and studying these sites has allowed me to enhance my skills in zooarchaeology. Working for the Seminole Tribe is an enjoyable experience that has allowed me to incorporate spatial analyses of environmental and cultural variables with archaeological fieldwork.

Maureen received her MA in Anthropology from Florida State University.

Student Joanne DeMaio at New Harmony, IN

Joanne ('11) writes about her experiences at the New Harmony excavations this summer:

I helped excavate the site of the Harmonist potter, Christoph Weber, in New Harmony. Weber moved to New Harmony with the rest of the Harmonists in 1814; his son later left the Harmonist society and became a potter himself in Illinois. One of the goals of this season was to find the kiln, and we began by digging in the backyard of a house where one of the old maps indicated the location of the Harmonist kiln. During the first couple of weeks of the dig, we didn't find much other than lots and lots of pottery, kiln furniture, and other kiln-related objects. In week three, we uncovered something that looked to be a wall. We followed the wall through four 1x1 meter units, until we lost it. Confused, we dug deeper and revealed a U-shaped structure that we believe to have been the fire box of the kiln.

More information about this project can be found on the homepage of Professor Michael Strezewski of the University of Southern Indiana.

Student Elizabeth Bostelman at New Harmony, IN

Elizabeth (top) writes in her own words about her experiences at New Harmony earlier this summer:

The five weeks I spent excavating with USI’s field school in New Harmony, IN were amazing. I wish the excavation could have lasted all summer! The field school reinforced skills I already had and introduced me to new types of sites. My favorite part of the excavation was undoubtedly the week I spent excavating with the Indiana State Museum archaeologist Bill Whepler. Under his supervision, I was able to work on a CRM project at the Harmonist Community House #2, as well as a restoration project at the Fauntleroy House. The pace, the time frame, and mandated limits for the extent of the excavation offered a glimpse into the life of a state archaeologist. Complex archaeology and a variety of artifacts meant you had to excavate with care and watch for changes in soil type and color, as compared to arbitrary levels in which excavation is done in 10 centimeter increments. As well as finding a variety of artifacts, I met a variety of people. I met traditional students like myself, non-traditional students, and professionals in the field; we started out as a group of strangers and, by the end of the five weeks, we were friends.

Student Alli Hayden and Dr. E in Haifa, Israel

This summer, senior Allison Hayden is using funds from an Undergraduate Research Grant from UE to finish work she started last year, when she spent a semester at the University of Haifa, Israel.  She and Dr. E are analyzing and publishing the ground stone artifact assemblage from the Middle Bronze Age phases at Tel Ifshar, which is a site on the coast in Israel.  This past Monday and Tuesday they went through several boxes of ground stone tools in an archaeology laboratory at the University of Haifa.  Although it doesn't sound so exciting, it was fun!