Clovis-Era Infant Burials Documented in Alaska

Clovis-Era Infant Burials Documented in Alaska
Warning – This article contains images of human remains.
Five years ago, Ben Potter made a dramatic discovery: the partially burned remains of a cremated 3-year-old child, left to rest in a hearth at Upward Sun River, one of the oldest settlements in Alaska. But the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, archaeologist never expected what waited underneath the hearth. More recent excavations have yielded two well-preserved burials, of an infant who likely lived for about 12 weeks and a fetus who died shortly before birth. The discovery provides a window into daily life and burial practices at the 11,500-year-old site, and an unprecedented opportunity to analyze the DNA of some of the Americas’ earliest inhabitants. http://bit.ly/1xLns5l – Science

Related Story – Antler Shafts Found near Burials Reflect Siberian Traditions
Warning – This article contains images of grave goods.
“The grave goods give us a rare window into ideology or belief systems of these ancient peoples,” Potter said. “There is a clear importance ascribed to hunting implements, and they may reflect the importance of terrestrial hunting within the culture.” The four antler shafts are “significantly longer” than others known from this era in North America, averaging about a half-meter in length, and Potter noted that they are similar in size to shafts found in eastern Siberia. http://bit.ly/11bpXRP – Western Digs

Michelle Hegmon and the Archaeology of the Human Experience
If you find archaeological accounts dry and irrelevant, Arizona State University archaeologist Michelle Hegmon has three letters for you: AHE. That acronym stands for Archaeology of the Human Experience. It is a new direction for the discipline, one that is receiving a lot of attention. AHE asks archaeologists to consider what it was really like to live in the past that they study, and to understand the people who populated that past as fellow human beings. That shift in paradigm provides new answers to old questions and is inspiring archaeologists to ask a whole new range of questions that humanize their research. http://bit.ly/11tfLVx – Arizona State University

Mimbres, Mesoamerica, and Macaws at Archaeology Southwest’s Archaeology Café (Tucson)
On December 2, 2014, Dr. Patricia A. Gilman (University of Oklahoma, retired) will present “Mimbres, Mesoamerica, and Macaws,” in which she will examine the ties among the three. We meet on the patio of Casa Vicente, 375 S. Stone Ave., Tucson. Enter through the restaurant. Presentations begin after 6:00 p.m. It is best to arrive before 5:30 p.m., as seating is open and unreserved, but limited. Archaeology Café is free, but guests are encouraged to order their own refreshments from the menu. http://bit.ly/1BGmg7w – Archaeology Southwest

Auction Continues Despite Protest by Mexican Government
Bonhams has carried out an auction of pre-Hispanic artifacts over the objections of the Mexican government. Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History says at least half of the more than 100 pieces are fake. The country says the rest rightfully belong to it and has vowed legal action to reclaim the objects that are genuine. http://yhoo.it/1xuGgY3 – AP via Yahoo News

Lives in Ruins
When you think “archaeologist,” do you think “Indiana Jones?” It turns out the lives of archaeologists are a lot more mundane than the character played by Harrison Ford in the movies. Marilyn Johnson, author of Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble, which was released this week. Marilyn Johnson, author of “Lives in Ruins: Archaeologists and the Seductive Lure of Human Rubble,” which was released this week. http://bit.ly/1wJEHA6 – NPR via WBUR.com

Exhibit Opening – Prescott, AZ
An Essential Relationship: Amateurs and Professionals in Central Arizona Archaeology, at the Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona Ave., Prescott, AZ, December 6th, 1:00pm-4:00pm.  From the 1920’s until today, groups of individuals have pursued archaeological activities in the Central Arizona region. While professional archaeologists can bring a unique level of sophistication to these explorations of the past through the science-based work they perform in the field, in the lab and in the library; amateurs have often led the way in prehistoric research.  Although they often lack the formal education and training possessed by professionals, these amateurs frequently offer surprisingly sophisticated skills and remarkable respect for the past. Plus, what they may lack in traditional credentials is often more than compensated for through innate interest, enthusiasm and, yes, the love they may bring to the work. Through the information we present and the stories we tell, exhibit visitors will see that Central Arizona serves as a particularly good example of how amateur archaeologists working in their own or in conjunction with professionals have made, and can continue to make major contributions to knowledge and understanding of the past. Exhibit runs through May 31, 2015. Contact Andy Christenson at 928-445-1230 with questions or http://bit.ly/11teCgK – Smoki Museum

Lecture Opportunity – Santa Fe
Southwest Seminars Presents Dr. Richard I. Ford, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Botany, University of Michigan (Ret.); Research Associate, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, who will give a lecture Feeding the Spirits: the Ethnobotany of Combustible Plants in Northern New Mexico  on November 24 at 6pm at Hotel Santa Fe as part of the annual Mother Earth Father Sky Lecture Series held annually to honor The New Mexico Environmental Law Center. No reservations are necessary and admission is by subscription or $12 at the door. Refreshments are served and seating is limited. Contact Connie Eichstaedt at 505 466-2775; email: southwestseminar@aol.com http://bit.ly/YhJddr – Southwest Seminars