Electronic Symposia, SHA Conference 2008
The links to conference papers and external links to reports were created for projects presented at the 2008 SHA Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. Please note that the papers and links have not been created and copy edited to conform with SHA style and format.
Symposium 1: Context is everything, or is it?
Symposium 2: Evaluation of Public Archaeology; Principles, not protocols
Symposium 3: Archaeological Science and Historic-era Ceramics: A Conversation about Current Understanding and Emergent Perspectives
Title: Context is everything, or is it?
Chair: Anmarie Medin
Abstract
Historical archaeologists struggle with issues of context - what level is appropriate and how to truly integrate the historic context, previous archaeological research, and historiography into the development of research themes or specific research questions, as well as the interpretation of the site. California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) means of dealing with this issue has been the development of statewide interdisciplinary thematic studies that focus on important research issues (National Register Criterion D) for specific property types commonly encountered on transportation projects. Caltrans produced an agricultural study in-house and commissioned consultant-prepared studies on townsites, mining sites, and work camps, all of which will be presented in this session. The session will include perspectives from Georgia and Pennsylvania on how previously drafted agricultural thematic studies have been implemented in their states. After brief presentations on the various studies, we will discuss the relative merits of thematic studies and research designs.
Papers
Author: Anmarie Medin
Paper title: Thematic Context for Agricultural Properties in California
Link to study posted at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/ser/guidance.htm#agstudy
Authors: Joe Baker, Keith Heinrich, Erik Beaston, A, Kris Montgomery, and Martin Plumer
Paper title: Putting Pennsylvania Farmstead Archaeology in Context
Link to study posted at: http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/Agricultural/?secid=25
Author: Joe W. Joseph
Paper title: A Tale of Two Contexts: Historical Archaeology and Agriculture in Georgia
Abstract: A Tale of Two Contexts evaluates the pros and cons of two different context studies developed by New South Associates in Georgia – one that examined historic agriculture in the state (including, but not limited to, historical archaeology) and a second that looked at all of the historical archaeology in Georgia. This discussion provides recommendations of the uses of each style of context and their strengths and weaknesses. Both contexts are available for download as pdfs. For those interested, the links to the pdfs are provided below.
Link to study posted at:
Historical Archaeology in Georgia:
www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/construction/materials-research/b-admin/research/onlinereports/HistArchrept.pdf
Historic Agriculture in Georgia--Tilling the Earth: http://hpd.dnr.state.ga.us/assets/documents/tilling_the_earth.pdf
Author: Julia Costello
Paper title: California Mining: A Research Design that Might Actually Work
Link to study posted at: http://www.sonoma.edu/asc/publications/HARD/Mining%20Research%20Design_Draft2_web.pdf
Authors: Adrian Praetzellis and Anmarie Medin
Paper title: Thematic Research Design for Townsites
Link to study posted at: http://www.sonoma.edu/asc/publications/HARD/Townsite%20Research%20Design_Draft2_Web.pdf
Author: Mark Walker
Paper title: Work Camps, Research, and Historic Contexts
Link to study posted at: http://www.sonoma.edu/asc/publications/HARD/Work%20Camps_Research%20Design
_Draft2_web.pdf
Author: Thad Van Bueren
Paper title: Are Comparisons Antithetical to Situated Interpretation?
This paper is not available as an electronic file and will be presented at the conference with reference to the following abstract.
Abstract: Interpreting behavior at scales larger than a household involves comparison. Yet comparing behavior among households or even across social groups is in many ways inimical to the situated interpretations favored by many historical archaeologists. When the complexities of social differences and meanings are recognized, generalizations are always suspect. How then can we reach beyond the idiosyncrasies of household behavior to address issues at larger scales? That conundrum must be addressed when creating broad thematic archaeological research designs. Perhaps a middle ground can be found by playing generalizations and situated particulars against each other in an iterative and reflexive manner.
Title: Evaluation of Public Archaeology: Principles, not Protocols
Chair: James G. Gibb and Carol McDavid
Abstract
While there has been some disciplinary attention to the need to evaluate public archaeology activities, for the most part these have been aimed at developing rules and "do's and don'ts," rather than examining the principles that underlie the development of public programs. This session aims to do that -- to identify the considerations which come into play when undertaking an "evaluation," and to examine what happens if these considerations come into conflict with either inside or outside interests. As such, this session will foster discussion of the ethics of public archaeology work as well as to provide some frameworks for context-sensitive approaches. This will be an electronic session. Papers will be posted to the SHA web site ahead of time, and participants (and attendees, if desired) will read them. During the session, participants will present short summaries, followed by group discussion. The session organizers will moderate the group discussion.
Sponsored by the Society for Historical Archaeology Public Education and Interpretation Committee (PEIC)
Papers
Author: James G. Gibb
Paper title: Archaeology Month: Selling a Discipline
(link to paper will be posted soon)
Authors: Patrice L. Jeppson and Karen Brauer
Paper title: Principles of Evaluation and the Relationship between Materiality and Social
(link to paper will be posted soon)
Author: Kevin M. Bartoy
Paper title: Education in the Context of Public Archaeology: Theory, Method, and Evaluation of Archaeology Education at The Hermitage
Link to Paper (PDF)
Author: Sarah T. Bridges
Paper title: Is there an Ethical Vision for CRM Archaeology?
Link to Paper (PDF)
Authors: Meredith Poole and Marley R. Brown, III
Paper title: Towards a Philosophical Basis for Public Outreach in Archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg
(link to paper will be posted soon)
Authors: Joanne Lea and Nancy A. VanSas
Paper title: Dig This: An Evaulation of Public Archaeology in Canada and Response to the Evaluation
Link to Paper (PDF)
Author: Suzie E. Thomas
Paper title: Archaeologists and Metal Detector Users: Unlikely Bedfellows?
Link to Paper (PDF)
Authors: Maureen Malloy, Patrice L. Jeppson, Carol McDavid and Mary L. Kwas
Paper title: Neither Dilbert nor Dogbert: Public Archaeology and Digital Bridge-Building
(link to paper will be posted soon)
Author: Kelly M. Cooper
Paper title: Continued Traditions, Forgotten Pasts: Maryland Archaeology and the Native Public
(link to paper will be posted soon)
Author: Meagan Brooks
Paper title: “More than just feelings”: Qualitative Evaluation Methods for Descendant Archaeology
Link to Paper (PDF)
Author: John Carman
Paper title: Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is: Mechanisms for Giving the Public Its Archaeology
Link to Paper (PDF)
Title: Archaeological Science and Historic-era Ceramics:
A Conversation about Current Understanding and Emergent Perspectives
Chair: Timothy J. Scarlett
(Additional Session Details)
Abstract
In the past 15 years, historical archaeologists have collaborated in an unprecedented effort to bring the materials scientist's perspective into discussions of ceramic artifacts. Collaboration has brought well-established, "tried-and-true" tools to help expand our understanding of ceramics in the rise of the modern world. The annual meeting provides an opportunity to overview the results of individual and collaborative research programs, reflecting upon progress in what we have learned. What have the material sciences contributed to our understanding of ceramic and pottery traditions in different places? How have the archaeometric efforts related to larger trends in ceramic analyses? What have been our successes? Where are our shortcomings? What do these trajectories indicate regarding our future challenges?
Papers
Author: Timothy J. Scarlett
Paper title: Archaeological Science and Historic-Era Ceramics
Abstract: Same as session abstract.
Link to Paper (PDF)
Authors: M. James Blackman, Patricia Fournier-Garcia, Russell K. Skowronek and Ronald L. Bishop
Paper title:Four Centuries of Production and Trade in Majolica Ceramics
Abstract: Manufacture of majolica pottery began during the late sixteenth century in Puebla and by the end of the century at least three workshops were in production. During the seventeenth century this number had increased to perhaps 60, with at least 100 workshops in production during the eighteenth century. An extensive research program of chemical characterization by INAA of majolica ceramics from Spanish colonial sites in the southeastern U.S., California, and many locals in Mexico has included several hundred pottery samples stylistically attributable to Puebla. This paper will examine variations in compositional groups linked chemically to Puebla with the goal of identifying the products of different workshops.
Link to Paper (PDF)
Author: Allan S. Gilbert and Meta F. Janowitz
Paper title:Technical Considerations in Distinguishing Historical Ceramic Variants in a Global Context
Abstract: Historic sites, especially of the past four centuries, exist within a complex web of worldwide interconnections. Because ceramics can be recovered very far from home, recognizing the extent of their movement, and by implication the commerce or migration that moved them, requires objective standards of comparison (documentary research and detailed descriptions of vessel characteristics) and reliable means of sourcing (scientific studies). Small-scale projects charting the flow of pottery locally or between a limited number of regions have been pursued with relative success, but on a global level, challenges arise due to the greater logistical difficulties and overwhelming commitment to data collection and analysis. Pottery descriptions found in archaeological reports are not always suitable for cross-site comparisons, and variable scientific methods applied by different excavators yield unstandardized, incompatible data. This paper will discuss some of the minimum prerequisites for the kind of international research collaboration that might accumulate information, share it, and effectively use it to obtain deeper insights into trade networks of the largest scale.
Link to Paper (PDF)
Author: Melissa Chatfield
Paper title:Clay Recipes and the Spread of European Kiln Technology in Peru
Abstract: Understanding commerce, both global and local, is a crucial step in tracing the movement of material culture from Europe to the New World. Researchers use excavated pottery to study trade routes by analyzing the geographic distribution of decorative styles, vessel shapes and surface treatments or by determining geological sources of raw materials using petrographic or trace element methods. This study demonstrates the utility of tracking technical knowledge of immigrant potters, who were well-versed in European kiln technologies, and the adaptation of their craft to material resources present in the Americas. By comparing performance characteristics of clay recipes formulated for short duration, low-temperature firing procedures with those suited for long duration, moderate-temperature firings, such as those used for lead-based glazes, it is possible to characterize the mode of firing originally used for archaeological potsherds. Such distinctions make it possible to differentiate between prehistoric and historic strata at indigenous sites.
Link to Paper (PDF)
Authors: Yves Monette and Marc Richer-LaFlèche
Paper title: Southern Québec pottery production from 17th to late 19th Century: Chemical characterization and compositional data interpretation.
Abstract: Over 300 pottery samples recovered on 16 Southern Québec production sites were submitted to ICP-AES for paste chemical analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis has enabled the distinction of compositional groups and production series that can now serve for provenance studies. Moreover, since the pottery was made in ‘terre franche’, the compositional data was interpreted in a novel way using a chemical index of alteration and a normative mineralogical composition software. The calculation of the alteration state of the ceramics clay materials are indicative of the paleoclimatic environment under which the clay minerals were formed; the normative mineralogical composition gives complementary information about the paste mineralogy and enables the distinction of raw material sources. The combination of these complementary data allows a very fine interpretation of pottery compositional data for the determination of chemical groupings and a full understanding of a ceramic paste composition that enables precise linkage of pottery to local geology.
Link to Paper (PDF)
