It’s that time of year again! Next weekend, April 15 – 17, 2016
marks the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology’s (SPA) 87th annual meeting. This
year’s meeting will be hosted by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the SPA (#22) in West
Middlesex, PA. The theme of the conference is Digging Down into Pennsylvania’s Past: Pre-Clovis through Postmodern.
As always, this year’s meeting promises to be enlightening and informative, spanning
a wide range of archaeological topics in the Keystone State.
Friday afternoon, The Pennsylvania Archaeological Council will
hold a symposium on Lithic Quarries in
Pennsylvania: The Archaeology of Tool Stone Procurement, highlighting the
state’s lithic resources and their use by its prehistoric inhabitants. Papers
will be presented by some of the state’s prominent archaeologists including The
State Museum of Pennsylvania’s own Dr. Kurt Carr, who will speak on bedrock
quarries and their uses and distribution based on his own field research and the
records of the Pennsylvania Archaeological Site Survey files. Other papers will
focus on the different types of geological sources available in the state.
The meeting, being held at the Park Inn by Radisson in West
Middlesex is open to the public. Registration at the door is $35 and the cost
for dinner is $32. The SPA is listed as one of our “favorite links” on the
right hand side of the screen. For more information and for the entire program
including abstracts click the link to their homepage.
Presentations throughout the weekend will highlight research by
students and avocational and professional archaeologists. Students vie for the Dr. James Hatch and Dr. W.
Fred Kinsey scholarships by submitting papers on Pennsylvania archaeology. These student scholarships support and
recognize the efforts of the next generation of archaeologists who will
continue to support the activities of the Society. With the assistance of State Museum staff, recipients
of the Kinsey Scholarship have an opportunity to get their paper published in
the Society’s journal, Pennsylvania
Archaeologist.
Past
recipient of award
(photo courtesy of The State
Museum of Pennsylvania)
Saturday evening will feature the banquet, a guest speaker and
awards ceremony, followed by the ever-popular live auction. The keynote speaker
will be Dr. Aksel Casson, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Slippery Rock
University and Co-Director of the Middle East Studies Center. Dr. Casson will
be speaking on the Destruction of
Cultural Heritage in Syria: Thinking Globally and Locally; a timely topic
in view of the recent damage leveled by ISIS in the ancient city of Palmyra and
other places across the country. The auction is an exciting SPA tradition so be
sure to bring a few extra bucks to bid on books, archaeological field
equipment, and gift baskets. Money raised will go to benefit the Elmer Erb
Permanent Fund.
SPA
members enjoying the banquet at last year’s meeting
(photo courtesy of SPA website)
Auction
Items at past SPA meeting
(photo courtesy of The State
Museum of Pennsylvania)
Also, be sure to visit the bookroom and student poster session
throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. Activities wrap up Saturday
night with refreshments and mingling in the Hospitality Suite.
The Society for
Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc. was organized in 1929 to: Promote the study of
the prehistoric and historic archaeological resources of Pennsylvania and
neighboring states; Encourage scientific research and discourage exploration
which is unscientific or irresponsible in intent or practice; Promote the
conservation of archaeological sites, artifacts, and information; Encourage the
establishment and maintenance of sources of archaeological information such as
museums, societies, and educational programs; Promote the dissemination of
archaeology by means of publications and forums; Foster the exchange of
information between the professional and the avocational archaeologists.
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