University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

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. North American Historical Archaeology .

The Seminoles: History and Archaeology of an Unconquered People The Seminole Indians have their origins in the Southeastern United States, but are currently spread out over several geographic regions. Descendants of many Native American tribes, including the Hitchiti, the Oconee, the Upper and Lower Creeks, the Yuchi, and the Yamasee, the Seminoles have a legacy of being fighters. Information concerning the rich history of the Seminole Indians will bring to light how factions of this tribe have been formed in Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Mexico. This lecture will also explore the history of the Black Seminoles and the Miccosukee Seminole Nation. The current status of the Seminole Indians and the numerous factions laying claim to the title of the Seminole Indians will be discussed. Finally, how we know what we do about the Seminole Indians will be touched upon, using the example of current archaeological excavations in Florida. Kristen Fellows

Archaeology of North America Part I: North America Before the Europeans Diverse indigenous groups thrived in North America landscapes thousands of years before European imperialism. This lecture explores just how North America came to be populated and who the first Americans were by examining the archaeological traces that they left behind for us to interpret. Particular attention will be paid to the initial peopling of the Americas, conventional ways that archaeologists classify stages of pre-history in North America, cultural change through time, and the diversity of groups spanning the pre-historic North American landscape—ranging from fisher-hunter-gatherer societies to socially stratified mound-building cultures. This lecture surveys archaeological contexts from the initial peopling of the Americas up to the time of contact and colonialism. Craig Cipolla

Archaeology of North America Part II: After the Arrival of Europeans European colonialism and imperialism meant great change for the people and landscapes of North America. As Native American peoples and colonists interacted each group was transformed—introduced items and concepts were imbued with new sets of meaning and integrated into traditional lifeways, resulting in complex colonial formations. This lecture highlights colonial processes, focusing on the ways in which indigenous peoples interacted with colonists. Particular attention will be placed on the importance of disease and demography during contact and early colonial encounters, material culture from this time period that bears evidence of forms of cultural hybridity, and the outcomes of the colonial legacy for contemporary Native American groups. Craig Cipolla

Articulating History Through Bone As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”. Zooarchaeology is the study of animal bones recovered from archaeological sites. These remnants of past lifeways contain clues to what people ate, peoples’ relations with their environment, and much more. This lecture outlines the ways in which animal bones can be used to speak to each of these issues by examining several case studies from North America. I start by addressing a key controversy of North America’s deep past—the extinction of the mega-fauna—and continue from there into more contemporary case studies dealing with issues from historical archaeological contexts. Craig Cipolla

The Original American Revolution: The Archaeology of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 In 1680, after more than eight decades of Spanish Colonization, the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico rose up in a revolt that evicted the Europeans from what became the United States—nearly a century before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Unfortunately, this important event in American history has long been unexamined and ignored, primarily because written records documenting the years of Pueblo Independence do not exist (or are written exclusively from a European perspective). Through recent archaeological research however, new histories of this important period are being written. This lecture will discuss the archaeology of early Spanish Colonialism in the American Southwest and the Pueblo Revolt period, focusing on Native American resistance to European settlement and seventeenth-century Pueblo-Spanish battle sites. Matt Liebmann

Archaeology and American History When people think of history, it is usually as documentary history. However, archaeologists and historians are discovering the value of the artifacts from the past in telling the story of America. This slide lecture describes the relation of archaeology to American history, using the site of Landingford Plantation on the Chester Creek as an example. The Landingford Plantation houses the oldest continuous standing house in southeastern Pennsylvania. It was built by a friend of William Penn, and then passed through a series of owners from the time of the Enlightenment to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the latter exemplified by Crozer, the founder of the Crozer Mills in Upland, PA. Dr. Mitchell S. Rothman

The End of the Rainbow: The Story of the Alaskan Gold Rush! "GOLD! GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!" screamed the July 17th extra edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, "68 rich men on the steamer, Portland. STACKS OF YELLOW METAL!" The news of the strike in Alaska caught the nation in the grip of a feverish obsession. By the end of the week scores of inexperienced and ill-prepared people left their jobs, sold their possessions and set out to prospect for gold in the Yukon. In the end 100,000 people, many outfitted for everything except what they would need, were caught in a stampede. This talk illustrated by period photographs, will tell the story of the Alaskan Gold Rush. It will show how the press and the general frustrations and obsessions of the period contributed to one of the strangest events in our history. Ms. Ann Guinan

Archaeology in Your Backyard When one thinks of archaeology exotic locations and swashbuckling adventures come to mind. People are often surprised to find out that archaeologists work everyday in every state of the Union. This lecture examines the work of some of these local archaeologists and what they are searching for. The presentation is arranged as a tour of several prehistoric and historic archaeological sites in the northeastern United States. The prehistoric sites visited include a ten thousand year old hunting station and a Native-American summer camp in Cape May, New Jersey. Historic sites include a colonial Dutch farmhouse, several African American gravesites, a Civil War era railroad roundhouse, a doctor's privy, and a 19th-century pottery kiln. Also discussed are local archaeological activities which you can get involved in and some of the dangers which confront our archaeological heritage. Dr. Richard Veit

Architectural Treasures from the Keystone State Every building has a story to tell. The rich architectural heritage of Pennsylvania is explained with slides of banks, barns, churches and houses from all over the state. Learn to look for the special features and styles that make old buildings worth preserving. Mr. Steve Abrams

Mastodons and Moundbuilders: The Archaeological Adventures of Four 19th Century Antiquarians The foundations of American archaeology were laid during the 19th century. Two burning issues challenged the scholars of this time: when did the first people arrive in the Americas, and who had constructed the enormous earthen monds which dotted the Ohio and Mississippi valleys? Four Philadelphia scholars made important contributions to these debates: Montroville Wilson Dickeson, Charles Conrad Abbott, Henry Chapman Mercer, and Clarence B. Moore. This talk examines the lives, careers, and adventures of these four interesting and eccentric early American archaeologists. Dr. Richard Veit

Stranger Stop and Cast an Eye Far from being spooky and depressing places, historic graveyards are rich sources of information for historians, genealogists, anthropologists, and folklorists. This lecture examines the colonial gravestone carving traditions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Gravestone designs and inscriptions as well as their meanings are all discussed. Also touched upon are the insights into ethnicity, health, religion, and the historic economy which these mute stones can provide. Dr. Richard Veit

Archaeology and the Mormon Church The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (sometimes better known as the Mormons) is one of the world's few religions that assigns great significance to specific places of historical import. Indeed, in the same way that the Holy Land embodies key principles of Jewish theology, numerous sites stretching from upstate New York to southern California objectify fundamental concepts of Mormon doctrine. This is why the Mormon Church invests great resources into the preservation and restoration of its numerous historic sites, a process that necessarily involves archaeological investigation. With an insider's perspective, Mr. Pykles not only introduces these sites within a historical context, but also explains their significance to the Church's theology. Benjamin C. Pykles

Growing Up Amish: The Joy of Working Together This slide lecture presents everyday Amish life, from infancy to old age, with particular emphasis on childhood, the annual cycle of farm work, the different roles of men and women, and the values of faith and family in the Amish community. The Amish ideal is peace and harmony in the home, within their community, and with their “English” neighbors. Although they usually do not celebrate religious or national holidays, their lives are joyous. With illustrations from Amish folk art paintings and photographs of Amish country in Ohio and Pennsylvania. An age-appropriate version is available for young audiences. Dr. Jill Furst

Sweet, Delicious Stimulants: A Brief History of Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate This slide lecture discusses the introduction of coffee, tea and chocolate into the Western world. By the 18th century, Europeans and Americans had established—or rejected—the rituals of drinking these beverages, and had developed specialized utensils and implements for fixing and serving them. Within a country, use of one or the other beverage depended on class, race, politics, and gender. Illustrations from art from the 17th through the 19th centuries, and of implements, utensils, and houses. Dr. Jill Furst

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