Archaeologist Discovers New Mound at Poverty Point

May 9, 2014.

Scott Rogers, of TheNewsStar.com, has written an article about the exciting new mound found

 at Poverty Point, a 3,000 year old mound site in Louisiana. 

" During survey work in 2011, Poverty Point archaeologist Diana Greenlee happened upon what she thought was an undiscovered mound created by the prehistoric Poverty Point inhabitants.

Additional research including sediment tests, proved her initial assumption true. Poverty Point has another mound. It was discovered in a remote wooded area of the site and designated now as Mound F."

-Scott Rogers, TheNewsStar.com.

For the full article, click here.

For more information about Poverty Point, 

the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism has produced an online pamphlet, here. 

In January 2013, Poverty Point was nominated to become a World Heritage Site to UNESCO

 (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), for more information, click here. For more information about Poverty Point's nomination, click here. For more information about UNESCO World Heritage,  visit our Frequently Asked Questions tab, here, 

or visit UNESCO's World Heritage Site, here.

Ancient Desert Glyphs Pointed Way to Fairgrounds

Image Courtesy of Charles Stanish and Science NOW.

May 5, 2014.

Sean Treacy, of Science NOW, has written an article about the recent discovery of geoglyphs from the Paracas people who lived in what is now southern Peru from 800 100 B.C.E who preceded the Nazca culture who are famous for their Nazca Lines and Geoglyphs.

"Because each group of geoglyphs pointed the way to a different settlement, Stanish believes the settlements were likely controlled by distinct political or ethnic groups. Each group probably built its own set of geoglyphs in order to draw followers throughout the desert to its own trade fairs and other social events, he says. This discovery not only provides a glimpse of what life was like before the Nazca, he adds, but it also shows the roots of how society developed when the dominant culture had no real government. "

-Sean Treacy, Science NOW.

To read the full article, click here.

Some Museum and Archaeology Career Resources

Archaeology, Museums & Outreach
May 5, 2014.

Dr. Robert Connelly, of the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa, has written an interesting and informative post for those who are interested in a career in museum studies or archaeology. He includes books for career development, museum journals of interest, major publishers, career and listserv links, and other miscellaneous resources.

To see his full post, click here.

Experts' Corner: Image Researching; Library of Congress Magazine

Athena Angelos. Photo courtesy of Shealah Craighead
and the Library of Congress Blog. 

March-April 2014.

Athena Angelos, of the Library of Congress, has written an informative but brief article about her experiences as an image researcher for the Library of Congress. Athena Angelos answers how she prepared for a career in image research, her research process and projects within the Library of Congress, and how technology developments have impacted her career.

The full article can be found on the Library of Congress Blog, here;

 or in the Library of Congress Magazine (Vol. 3 No. 2), which can be found here.

Library of Congress Magazine

"published bimonthly to tell the Library’s stories, to showcase its many talented staff, 
and to share and promote the use of the resources of the world’s largest library."

2014

• January- February: Preserving America's Voices
• Preserving America's Voices: Who's Listening?
• How Can We Use Oral- History Collections to Better Understand Ourselves and Our World?
• Experts' Corner- Elizabeth Peterson
• American Folklife Center Director Elizabeth Peterson Discusses Trends and Challenges in Oral-History Collection, Preservation and Access.
• Rare 18th Century Maps of North America on Display
• March - April: America At Play
• Experts' Corner- Athena Angelos
• Image Researcher for Many Library of Congress Publications, Discusses The Process of Visual Reference Work.
• My Job At The Library- Cheryl Fox
• Providing Access to The Library's Historical Memory is the Job of Cheryl Fox, The Library of Congress Archivist.
• Researching Your Family Tree
• Miguel Leόn-Portilla Receives Living Legend Award
• May - June: CRS at 100
• CRS at 100- Informing the Legislative Debate Since 1914.
• The centennial of the Congressional Research Service is a time to look back on its history and ahead to serving a 21-st century Congress.

2013

• January- February: Presidential Precedents
• March - April: Supporting Congress
• May - June: A Cabinet of Gold
• July - August: A Year Like No Other, 1963
• September - October: Back to Class--- Back to Books; Back to School

2012

• September - October: Then & Now, The Library of Congress
• November - December: The Civil War in America

Meet Native America: Duke Peltier, Ogimaa (Chief) of Wiikwemkoong Anishinabek

"In the interview series Meet Native America, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian invites tribal leaders, cultural figures, and other interesting and accomplished Native individuals to introduce themselves and say a little about their lives and work. Together, their responses illustrate the diversity of the indigenous communities of the Western Hemisphere, as well as their shared concerns, and offer insights beyond what’s in the news to the ideas and experiences of Native peoples today." 
-Dennis Zotigh, NMAI 

Ogimaa Duke Peltier, chief of Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve.
Image Courtesy of Ireva Photography and NMAI.

"Where is your nation located?

The Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve is situated on Odawa Mnis, now known as Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. We are in the middle of Lake Huron, historically known as the Odawa Lake, and we are the largest freshwater island in the world. 

Where was your nation originally from?

From time immemorial, the Odawa Nation controlled Lake Huron and all the waterways flowing from it. The original territory stretched from the Ottawa River through to Michigan. Our island, Odawa Mnis, has always been the spiritual and political center of our nation. Some of Canada’s earliest explorers and the Jesuit missionaries from the early 1600s documented in detail our occupation, interaction in leadership positions with others, and jurisdiction of this territory."

To view the full interview, click here.

Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve's website.

Octagon Open House Reminder

The grounds of the Octagon State Memorial 

will be open to the public

 for general strolling and viewing 

from sunrise to sunset on May 27, 2014. 

Octagon State Memorial

125 N. 33rd Street

Newark, OH 43055

The Newark Earthworks Center will be providing 

guided tours from 1-3 PM.

For more information, or to book a group tour, 

please call 740-345-8224 or email earthworks@osu.edu .

We hope to see you there!

The Museum's Artist Leadership Program Launches a New Collaboration with the Institute of American Indian Arts

Melissa Shaginoff (Chickaloon Village) and Charles Rencountre (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) are the first participants in a prototype Artist Leadership Program for students at the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Image courtesy of NMAI.

March 27, 2014.

Charles Rencountre (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe), Melissa Shaginoff (Chickaloon Village), and Keevin Lewis (Navajo) have collectively written a reflective post for the National Museum of the American Indian's Blog about a new Artist Leadership Program which has been instituted "for students at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

"The Artist Leadership Program (ALP) of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) aims to rebuild cultural self-confidence, challenge personal boundaries, and foster cultural continuity while reflecting artistic diversity. This year, the museum and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe worked together to develop a prototype program within the ALP for IAIA college students from indigenous communities in the United States. The program's goal is to recognize and promote indigenous artistic leadership and, at the same time, enhance the artistic growth, development, and leadership of emerging student artists and scholars. Selection for the program is coordinated with the IAIA and is based on students’ proposed research, public art projects, academic presentations, digital portfolios, resumes, artist statements, and letters of support from IAIA faculty. Participating students register and receive credit for their independent study experience."

To learn more about the Artist Leadership Program, click here.
To read the full post, click here.

Meet Native America: Kenneth Meshigaud, Tribal Chairperson of the Hannahville Indian Community

"In the interview series Meet Native America, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian invites tribal leaders, cultural figures, and other interesting and accomplished Native individuals to introduce themselves and say a little about their lives and work. Together, their responses illustrate the diversity of the indigenous communities of the Western Hemisphere, as well as their shared concerns, and offer insights beyond what’s in the news to the ideas and experiences of Native peoples today." 
-Dennis Zotigh, NMAI 

Kenneth Meshigaud, tribal chairperson, Hannahville Indian Community.
Image Courtesy of NMAI.

"Where is your community located?

Our tribe—a band of Potawatomi—is located in the south central part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It's best described as approximately two hours north of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Where was your nation originally from?

The great nation of Potawatomi once called the areas of southern Michigan, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio our ancestral homelands."

To view the full interview, click here.

Hannahville Indian Community's website.

Big Data, Big Deal: New Data Analytics Major Addresses Major Workforce Need?

April 1, 2014.

Sandi Rutkowski, of the Ohio State University, has written an exciting article about the new interdisciplinary undergraduate major in data analytics available at the Ohio State University this autumn semester designed to address a growing need for data analytics professionals.

" “Expertise in data analytics will be in demand in virtually all areas of human enterprise. Issues of ‘big data’ engender partnerships with diverse business enterprises. Name any major industry—banking, insurance, healthcare, retail, oil and gas, logistics—and there are analytics issues,” March said.

The core curriculum will provide solid foundational footing; students will learn principles of data representation and big data management, software design and programming, and statistical modeling and analysis. Next, students will select courses in an area of specialization that will prepare them for experiential learning opportunities through partnerships with businesses."

-Sandi Rutkowski, The Ohio State University.

To view the full text, click here.

For more information about the data analytics major, visit here.

Advances in Archaeological Practice: A Journal of the Society for American Archaeology

"a peer-reviewed journal that seeks to share solutions in the broad practice of archaeology. Launched in 2013, the full-color digital journal is published four times per year. The journal publishes original articles that present creative solutions to the challenges archaeologists face in the ways that they approach the archaeological record to learn about the past and manage archaeological resources. “Practice” is defined broadly and topics can include, but are not limited to, innovations in approach, technique, method, technology, business models, collaboration, compliance, process, ethics, theory, public engagement, and training. The journal is a benefit of membership in the Society for American Archaeology (SAA)."

• A Non-Destructive Method for Dating Human Remains by Warren K. Lail, David Sammeth, Shannon Mahan, and Jason Nevins
• Vol 1, Number 2, November 2013. 91-103.
• "The skeletal remains of several Native Americans were recovered in an eroded state from a creek bank in northeastern New Mexico. Subsequently stored in a nearby museum, the remains became lost for almost 36 years. In a recent effort to repatriate the remains, it was necessary to fit them into a cultural chronology in order to determine the appropriate tribe(s) for consultation pursuant to the Native American Grave Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Because the remains were found in an eroded context with no artifacts or funerary objects, their age was unknown. Having been asked to avoid destructive dating methods such as radiocarbon dating, the authors used Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to date the sediments embedded in the cranium. The OSL analyses yielded reliable dates between A.D. 1415 and A.D. 1495. Accordingly, we conclude that the remains were interred somewhat earlier than A.D. 1415, but no later than A.D. 1495. We believe the remains are from individuals ancestral to the Ute Mouache Band, which is now being contacted for repatriation efforts. Not only do our methods contribute to the immediate repatriation efforts, they provide archaeologists with a versatile, non-destructive, numerical dating method that can be used in many burial contexts."

• A Tomb with a View: New Methods for Bridging the Gap between Land and Sky in Megalithic Archaeology by Fabio Silva
• Vol 2, Number 1, February 2014. 24-37.
• "The orientations of European prehistoric structures have been studied independently by landscape archaeologists and archaeoastronomers. Despite their similar interests, the two fields have failed to converge primarily because of their differing epistemologies. This paper argues that archaeology has much to gain by integrating the two fields to provide a fuller and more balanced exploration and understanding of the location and orientation of the European megaliths. It is suggested that prehistoric archaeoastronomy needs to become more grounded on the archaeological record and context of the prehistoric structures it studies. If it is to generate knowledge of value to archaeology it needs to become a “skyscape archaeology.” This paper looks at current archaeoastronomical approaches through the lens of archaeological practice. It identifies some limitations and discusses how landscape archaeology can inform archaeoastronomy on overcoming them. A methodology that attempts this necessary cross-fertilization, by shedding unfounded assumptions and developing a more phenomenological approach to pattern-recognition, is proposed. This methodology is applied to a case study in central Portugal. The emergent narrative, linking a cluster of dolmens to a local mountain range and the star Aldebaran, not only fits the archaeological record, but is mirrored by local folklore, lending further support to the validity of this methodology."

High-School Seniors in Newark Honored for Legislative Victory as 4th-Graders

Congratulations are bestowed on high-school seniors, from left in back, Jai Wen Chen,
Savannah Hottinger, Emily Hanson, Sebastian Pfeffer and Corbin Smith, all 18.
In front are Joann Borgia, left, the mother of teacher Mary Borgia, and Lee Ann Lugar, the students’ former music teacher. Image Courtesy of The Columbus Dispatch.

April 14, 2014.

Lori Kurtzman, of The Columbus Dispatch, has written an informative article about the efforts of the William E. Miller Elementary School Students to help establish the Newark Earthworks as Ohio's Official State Prehistoric Monument.

" “I’m 18, and I helped pass a bill,” one of those kids, Emily Hanson, told a crowd yesterday. “ Who can say that?”

Eight years after they successfully advocated for a bill designating the Newark Earthworks as Ohio’s official prehistoric monument, a dozen students gathered with teachers, family members and historians yesterday to commemorate their accomplishment."

- Lori Kurtzman, The Columbus Dispatch

To view the full article, click here.

Mary Borgia at the podium honors her former students at the Octagon Earthworks.
Image Courtesy of Jeff Gill and the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

April 13, 2014

Brad Lepper, of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written a brief post about the April 13th Octagon Open House and his reflections on the Newark High school students who helped establish the Newark Earthworks as Ohio's Official State Prehistoric Monument.

"I was given the opportunity to express my thanks to these young men and women for their dedication and persistence in working through the political process to honor their community’s rich American Indian heritage."

-Brad Lepper, the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To view the full article, click here.

April 16, 2014.

Kellie Locke-Rogers, of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written an interesting reflective post about her experiences with atlatl throwing at the Octagon Open House.

"In the end, we walked away with a better appreciation of early American Indian hunting techniques and how early hunting was not only for the survival of the tribe but also an art."

-Kellie Locke-Rogers, the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To view the full article, click here.

For more information about the Newark Earthworks, 

visit the Ancient Ohio Trail's page; here.

Pre-historic Hunting Structures Found Under Lake Huron

A V-shaped hunting blind on the floor of Lake Huron is shown in a submitted photo.
Image is courtesy of THE CANADIAN PRESS/John O'Shea, UMMAA and The Vancouver Sun.

April 28, 2014.

Bob Weber, of the Canadian Press, has written an interesting article about recently discovered remains of prehistoric hunting blinds under Lake Huron.

" "We found it a little bit by accident," he [John O'Shea] said. "We were doing this scanning sonar work to try to map these other features and this stuff appears in real time on your computer screen as you're mapping and suddenly it's like, 'Oh my God. What is this?'"

In 37 metres of water, just over 50 kilometres from shore, O'Shea was looking at two stone lines forming a lane about 30 metres long and eight metres wide which ended in a corral-type structure. It had hunting blinds built into the sides as well as other lanes and structures. "

-Bob Weber, The Canadian Press, The Vancouver Sun.

To read the full article, click here.

New Ohio Historical Society Name Part of Image Boost

April 21, 2014.

Alan Johnson, of The Columbus Dispatch, has written a well-informed article about the upcoming name change of the Ohio Historical Society into the Ohio History Connection and their efforts to reinvent themselves as an organization.

"The Ohio Historical Society is changing its name for just the second time in its 129-year history, becoming the Ohio History Connection. 

The switch, which takes effect on May 24, is accompanied by plans to update and re-brand the organization, which many Ohioans view as “ exclusive, inaccessible and antiquated,” according to public-opinion research. "

-Alan Johnson, The Columbus Dispatch

To read the full article, click here.

The Age of the Serpent Mound

April 20, 2014.

Robert Fletcher, guest blogger of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written an informative post about the recent investigation efforts at Serpent Mound to date and recognize the "prehistoric occupation sequence on the ridge top".

"Based on the dates, iconography, stratigraphy, and other evidence (including a review of everything in the Ohio prehistoric literature published from 1843 to 1996), all of us came to the conclusion (not without considerable argument) that the Early Fort Ancient period had the best explanatory value as a date for construction. (If anything, the dates were a little disappointing to me – I was secretly hoping for something even earlier than Adena!). "

-Robert Fletcher, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

April 17, 2014.

Noah Adams, of National Public Radio (NPR), has posted a new podcast in his Spring Break series 

of All Things Considered about his experiences visiting the Serpent Mound effigy in Peebles, Ohio.

To listen to the entire podcast, click here.

The Ancient Ohio Trail: Serpent Mound

For more information about the Serpent Mound effigy, visit the Ancient Ohio Trail's page, here.

Seip Earthworks Comes Alive

April 17, 2014. Students and staff of the Paint Valley Schools and McClain High School of Greenfield outlining the earthen enclosures of the Seip Earthworks. Image courtesy of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

April 19, 2014.

Bruce Lombardo, guest blogger of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written a memorable post about an historic April 17th event in which over 1,200 students and staff of the Paint Valley Schools and McClain High School of Greenfield outlined the earthwork embankments of the Seip Earthworks.

"From the ground level however, the effect was awe-inspiring. The enormity of the complex was clearly evident. The original walls must have stretched out as far as the eye could see. On Thursday, from any vantage point in the complex, the students at the far edge were tiny dots in the distance."

-Bruce Lombardo, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

To read the full post, click here.

The Ancient Ohio Trail: Seip Earthworks

For more information about the Hopewell Culture (100 BC to AD 400)
or the Seip Earthworks, visit the Ancient Ohio Trail's 

Earthworks Timeline or the Fort Hill and the Paint Creek Valley Route .

OSU Student Adventures in Collections: Part 8

Sunwatch Indian Village/Archaeological Park.
Image courtesy of the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

April 17, 2014.

Lauryn Platt, guest blogger on the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written another post in the series of OSU Student Adventures in Collections telling about her experiences as an Anthropology student at the Ohio State University and analyzing an assemblage from the Proctorville Village Site through her laboratory class with Dr. Deanna Grimstead,

of the Ohio State University Department of Anthropology.

Lauryn Platt has written three other posts in the series; Part 2, Part 4, and Part 5.

"While I concluded that the Fort Ancient people didn’t need nails for building (as I will explain in a little bit), OHS has confirmed that nails were in fact European introduced. The presence of nails suggests that there may have been an old building on the site that was being excavated."

- Lauryn Platt, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog

To read the full post, click here.

Ohio Earthwork Saved by Social Media Campaign

Pictured is part of the privately held Native American cultural site near the intersection
 of Plyley's Lane and Belleview Avenue. Image courtesy of The Newark Advocate.

April 29, 2014.

Brenda Barrett, of the Living Landscape Observer, has written an interesting and informative article about the recent sale and preservation goals for the Junction Group Earthworks.

"In the meantime, the Junction Earthwork will be developed into a public park and nature preserve offering simple mowed trails through the ancient earthworks site and providing hiking trails. The plan is to have these trails open within two years. The former cornfields will be reseeded with a native prairie mix designed to sustain Ohio’s diminishing grassland birds. While work is underway with the National Park Service for long-term management of the site, for now the managers will be a coalition of partners. The Arc of Appalachia will be the owner of the three woodland tracts, and the Archaeological Conservancy will be the owner of the earthworks tract with the Arc of Appalachia holding a conservation easement."

-Brenda Barrett, Living Landscape Observer.

To read the full article, click here.

To learn more about the Junction Group Earthworks and their recent sale, visit our past posts: 

• Help Save the Junction Group Earthworks! (March 10, 2014)  
• Junction Group Earthworks Acquires New Ownership and a Promising Future (March 27, 2014)

OSU Student Adventures in Collections: Part 6-7

Image courtesy of the
  Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

April 2014.

Lauren Hammersmith, guest blogger on the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog, has written two more posts (Part 6, Part 7) in the series of OSU Student Adventures in Collections telling about her experiences as an Anthropology student at the Ohio State University and analyzing an assemblage from the Proctorville Village Site through her laboratory class with Dr. Deanna Grimstead,

of the Ohio State University Department of Anthropology.

 Lauren Hammersmith has written two other posts in the series; Part 1 and Part 3.

"In my research I have found several factors that can contribute to changing ratios of small and large animal remains in any given archaeological site, and I am interested to see how the Proctorville site compares.  This question is an important one to ask because it gives insight to how prehistoric humans had an impact on their environment, and is telling about their subsistence habits."

-Lauren Hammersmith, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog

To read the full post, click here.

"As promised, I have my results for my project! As a little recap, I was looking at the relative abundances of small to medium-large unidentifiable mammal bones in the Proctorville assemblage. Based on my sources, there are several reasons the abundance of medium-large mammal remains would decrease over time. These include resource depression, increased diet breadth, increased dependence on small mammals, over-exploitation of large mammals, the environment/climate."

-Lauren Hammersmith, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog

To read the full post, click here.

Ohio Historical Society Distance Learning

Mound Building Cultures Promotional Video from OHS Distance Learning on Vimeo.

"The Ohio Historical Society is home to one of the nation’s premiere providers of Distance Learning content.  Our award-winning program offers interactive, informative and engaging experiences that bring history to life while reinforcing the importance of the past with real-life experiences.

Our catalog of more than 20 live, interactive programs cover everything from Ohio’s geologic history and prehistoric Native American cultures through the Civil War and into the issues facing our country today.  Formats vary from game show formats like our “So You Know” series, to first-person interpretation and question-and-answer sessions with experts in the field, and each show is customizable to the age and content standards needed to reinforce learning in a unique, fun way."

For more information go to the Ohio Historical Society's Distance Learning Project Catalog here, 

call (800) 640-7679, or email the Distance Learning Program at dl@ohiohistory.org.

Their Programs Include:

• Ask the Archaeologist
• "The staff and professionals of the Ohio Historical Society are at your disposal in this interactive, question/answer presentation.  Spend time talking with a member of our Archaeology staff about the science of archaeology, recent discoveries and conclusions, and a day in the life of an archaeologist."
• Mound Building Cultures
• "Explore the mound building cultures of ancient Ohio in this presentation hosted by Dr. Bradley Lepper, Curator of Archaeology for the Ohio Historical Society.  Students will learn about the various types of mounds, how mounds were built, why mounds may have been built, what daily life might have been like as a member of these cultures, and how these cultures evolved as they experience a virtual tour of various mound sites in Ohio and across the nation."
• Picture This: Interpreting the Past with Photographs
• "Students interact with an archivist as they learn to interpret and analyze photographs stored in the Ohio Historical Society's photographic collection"
• Pieces of the Past: Introduction to Primary Sources
• "In this program students will learn the difference between primary and secondary sources and be able to distinguish between the two.  A museum curator hosts the program and provides real-life examples of primary sources.  In addition, the students will visit curators in our archives, our collections facility and our sites to learn more about the variety of primary sources including archival material (newspapers, photographs, scrapbooks), collections items  (historic Civil War battle flags) and sites (prehistoric earthworks and artifacts)."
• Show Me, Tell Me: The Impact Europeans Had on American Indians
• "This presentation looks at American Indians and their transition from the prehistoric period to the historic period (European Contact) around AD 1650 - 1700."
• So You Know Ohio?
• "This highly interactive game show tests your students’ knowledge of Ohio history through 10 different categories, and is customizable to meet grade-level curricula and content standards."
• You Can Make History: How Do We Get There?
• "we’ll explore the circumstances that lead Arbuckle’s family to move to Ohio. We’ll discuss the different forms of transportation used to make their journey from the East Coast and the challenges that accompanied cross-country travel during those days."
• You Can Make History: What Shall I Do Today?
• "students will explore daily frontier life, gender roles, chores and responsibilities, along with leisure time activities."

Show Me, Tell Me About When Cultures Meet: The Impact Europeans Had On American Indians Promotional Video from OHS Distance Learning on Vimeo.

Equinox, a new Cree teen superhero, joins DC Comics lineup

Video courtesy of CBCnews.

March 28, 2014.

CBC News has written an exciting article about a new Cree teen superhero, Equinox, in the DC Comics, Justice League United series.

"An interest in Canada's First Nations stories and a desire to share a different perspective than typically shared in general society and the media played a major part in Lemire's vision.

The result: along with the Justice League's Canadian relocation comes the brand-new heroine Equinox: a 16-year-old Cree teen from Moose Factory named Miiyahbin, whose power stems from the Earth and changes with the seasons.

"Creating a teenage female superhero was interesting to me because, generally, most superheroes are white males. We need diversity and we need different personalities," Lemire said."

-CBC News.

To read the full article, click here.

Reading the Stories of Ancient Lives Written in Teeth

Map showing the distribution of First Nations populations of the Great Lakes, prior to disruptions associated with European contact. Labels in CAPS indicate broader language groups of the region. Image courtesy of Figure 1 in the paper by Pfeiffer et al. (2014) and by the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog.

April 6, 2014.

Brad Lepper, of the Ohio Historical Society, has written both an article within the Columbus Dispatch and a blog post on the Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog about the important information which can be found in American Indian teeth, in this particular case from "northern Iroquoian communities of southern Ontario between the 13th and 16th centuries".

"In southern Ontario, there was a complex mix of Iroquoian and Algonquian-speaking groups beginning in the Late Woodland and continuing into the historic era.

Pfeiffer and her team are working with modern Canadian First Nations communities to learn how these ancient groups interacted with one another as well as how their diets changed over time. The results were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. "

-Brad Lepper, The Columbus Dispatch
To read the full article, click here.

"Pfeiffer and her team note that “among First Nations descendant communities, interest in ancestral populations is growing” and “permission to study the remains of archaeologically discovered ancestors is often granted.” They argue that preserving something even as small as a single tooth would allow scientists the opportunity to continue to learn the stories hidden within the ancient bones"

-Brad Lepper, Ohio Historical Society Archaeology Blog

To read the full post, click here.

Stable dietary isotopes and mDNA from Woodland period southern Ontario people: 

results from a tooth sampling protocol., 

Journal of Archaeological Science., Vol. 42, February 2014, 334-345.

Authored by: Susan Pfeiffer, Ronald Williamson, Judith C. Sealy, David G. Smith, Meradeth H. Snow.

To read the full report, click here.