OKPAN QUARTERLY
Volume 1 (Issue 3)
Spring 2019
3 Letter from the Director
13 The Continuous Path: The Publication of
A piece highlighting the importance and necessity of including Native voices in scholarly articles and publications.
6 Spring Events Calendar
28 OKPAN Faces
Ongoing series highlighting OKPAN staff, volunteers, interns and advisory board members
27 Oklahoma Anthropological Society
7 Community Spotlight - The Overholser Mansion
18 OKPAN Initiatives: Your Guide to Everything OKPAN
Collaborative Archaeologies
Ongoing series highlighting OKPAN staff, volunteers, interns and advisory board members.
(Cover photo: Canyon in Caddo County, Oklahoma by Susan Penn Dragoo)
The latest events and news from OAS.
Delaney Cooley interviews Museum Coordinator Lisa Escalon about this historic home.
26 Highlights from the To Bridge A Gap Conference
5 Letters to the Editor
IN THIS ISSUE
A letter introducing the spring issue from our executive director, Dr. Bonnie Pitblado.
A forum for community members to share their opinions and perspectives with the Oklahoma Quarterly readership.
Our spring events calendar for all things archaeology-related in Oklahoma.
OKPAN take-away on the 2019 To Bridge A Gap Conference.
Curious about what we're up to at OKPAN? A comprehensive guide to current and upcoming initiatives.
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(Spring Wildflowers at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Elise Smith, CC BY 2.0) 6
Dr. Bonnie Pitblado
Hello fellow members of the OKPAN Community, Spring has sprung, and archaeologists in Oklahoma and beyond are gearing up for their summer field seasons. Our fall 2019 issue of OKPAN Quarterly will showcase what Oklahoma archaeologists have been up to, wherever their field work takes them. With this current spring issue of OQ, we introduce you to OKPAN’s core initiatives and share ways you can get involved with those that interest you. The more of you we can recruit to partner with us to make our activities a success, the more fun we will all have! Options, as you will see, range from helping out in classrooms and developing archaeology curricula, to hosting (and/or attending) an “Oklahoma Archaeology Month” event in October, to joining the “Gang of Oklahoman First Americans Researchers” (GOFAR) in the field and helping build a site stewardship program…and more! Discerning readers will notice that editorial writer Amber Vinson leveraged her opinion of OKPAN into a job with us when she starts her freshman year at the University of Oklahoma this August! This issue also features a piece by archaeologists Sam Duwe and Robert Preucel that describes how they have collaborated with members of Pueblo communities in New Mexico to conduct richer archaeological projects than they could have completed alone. They explain why collaborations with descendant communities—those with ties to the people of the past that so interest archaeologists, who are usually NOT indigenous themselves—are the gold standard in archaeological practice…and are far more enriching than archaeology done “old-school”-style. For those interested in the very recent past (by archaeological standards), there is a story here for you, too. Delaney Cooley, OKPAN’s incoming Director of Operations and Outreach, has penned an article about one of Oklahoma City’s historic treasures, the Overholser Mansion. I had heard of this landmark, of course, but have not yet visited. Delaney’s story has motivated to move that visit to the top of my “must do” list. If you’re like me and have not yet visited, I bet that you too will want to remedy that once you read about his fascinating place. As always, you will find a calendar of upcoming events in the following pages, and at the end of the issue, we introduce you to the newest members of the OKPAN team. We all hope you will join us in some—or multiple—OKPAN activities in the months and years to come.
Letter from OKPAN'S Executive Director
incoming Assistant Director of Operations and Outreach, has penned an article about one of Oklahoma City’s historic treasures, the Overholser Mansion. I had heard of this landmark, of course, but have not yet visited. Delaney’s story has motivated me to move that visit to the top of my “must do” list. If you’re like me and have not yet visited, I bet that you too will want to remedy that once you read about this fascinating place. As always, you will find a calendar of upcoming events in the following pages, and at the end of the issue, we introduce you to the newest members of the OKPAN team. We all hope you will join us in some—or multiple—OKPAN activities in the months and years to come. Bonnie Pitblado OKPAN Executive Director , Robert E. and Virginia Bell Professor of Anthropological Archaeology, OU
Bonnie (at the podium) leading a forum called "Establishing Best-Practices Guidelines for Archaeologist and Artifact-Collector Collaborators" at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, April 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of Giovanna Peebles.
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To the Editor, I would like for everyone to know how much I enjoyed reading the Winter issue of OKPAN Quarterly magazine. As a recent graduate from high school, I've always enjoyed history, being outdoors, and traveling, which led me to look into archaeology. Unfortunately, I had no previous connections to archaeology and I was at a loss, but after reading this issue of OQ I now see what great opportunities Oklahomans have. We are able to get involved in archaeoogy in many different ways, and we are all students because there is so much to learn. Before reading this issue, I had never heard of Project Archaeology and I loved reading about it. I feel like it is such a great way to reach students within the community. This initiative will give students ways to connect to Archaeology in Oklahoma, but much earlier than I did. I cannot wait to read the next issue of OKPAN Quarterly! Amber Vinson Owasso, Oklahoma OQ: Hi Amber, We're glad you like what we're doing! Want to come work for us? (For Amber's response, turn to page 29)
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
If you'd like to submit your own letter to the editor, please send it to: okpanquarterly@gmail.com
(Note: To see complete calendar, please scroll down)
Archaeology Trowel, HeritageDaily, CC BY-SA 3.0
SPRING EVENTS CALENDAR
(Photo courtesy of Gerald Franklin) 6
May 8
Experimental Archaeology: Ceramics Workshop Oklahoma Archeological Survey, Norman
Summer Soiree Henry Overholser Mansion, OKC, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
May 10-19
May 18
February 1 - may 31
Oklahoma Anthropological Society Spring Dig Muldrow
April 27
National History Day Boot Camp Oklahoma History Center, OKC, 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
May 4
mARCH 15T- mAY 27
Oklahoma National History Day Contest Oklahoma History Center, OKC
Experimental Archaeology: Ceramics Workshop University of Tulsa, Tulsa
June 21
Archaeological Workshop and 2019 Most Endangered Places Exhibit Claremore Museum of History, Claremore
Living History Season (every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) Hunter's Home, Park Hill
Spiro Mounds Volunteer Day Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Spiro. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
June 15
Archaeological Workshop and Most Endangered Places Exhibit Henry Overholser Mansion, OKC, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Rural Heritage Festival Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, Perry, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Smoke Over Oklahoma: The Railroad Photos of Preston George Exhibit Chisholm Trail Museum, Kingfisher
The Section 106 Review Process: A Workshop for Agency Officials and Cultural Resource Management Consultants Oklahoma History Center, OKC, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Pawnee Bill's Wild West Celebrating Women of the Wild West Shows Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
May 11
July 15-19
Junior Curator Camp Oklahoma History Center, OKC
July 27
April 24-26
Community Art Day Chisholm Trail Museum, Kingfisher, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
May 9
July 25
Oklahoma History and Preservation Conference, presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office Chickasha
Summer Solstice Walks Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Spiro
May 18-19
May 25-26
May 1-2
June 7-8
Working with the National Register of Historic Places (workshop) Oklahoma History Center, OKC, 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
41st Birthday Bash and 14th Annual Archaeology Day Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Spiro
The Overholser Mansion
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Community Spotlight:
(Photo courtesy of Kerwin Moore)
By Delaney Cooley
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aking the first steps leading up to the Overholser Mansion, it’s difficult to understand how anyone could overlook such a home tucked away in a quiet neighborhood on the north side of Oklahoma City. Full of charm, the house stands tall with a Chateauesque facade, stained glass windows, and a nearby carriage house – not to mention an adorable painted bison that sits on the corner of the property. But Museum Coordinator Lisa Escalon says that the home is often an important but overlooked piece of Oklahoma’s history due to its distance from the highway and downtown area. Built in 1903, the mansion is one of the only historic homes in the neighborhood regularly open to the public, and visitors only have to step onto the property to feel as though they are slipping back through time. Original furnishings, stained glass, and ornate hand-painted walls are just some of the details guests encounter. When the home was transferred to the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1972, all of its original contents were left inside including clothing, photographs, and children’s toys that have been on display ever since. Fondly referred to as the “Father of Oklahoma City,” Henry Overholser and his wife Anna Iona married quietly in October of 1889, shortly after the Oklahoma Land Rush. After establishing themselves as prominent community members, the Overholsers purchased land north of the downtown area and constructed their new home in 1903. Initially the only structure on the newly developed landscape, the Overholser Mansion quickly became a focal point of Oklahoma society and the Overholsers frequently welcomed prominent families from the city including the Colcords, Hales, and Hightowers, as well as visiting politicians, scholars, and entertainers. As Escalon guides visitors through the house, a
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The Overholser Mansion in 1904.
"The house is a sermon on beauty. It is uplifting and ennobling as works of art are ever. The taste with which it has been decorated and is being furnished is flawless and shows a praiseworthy mastery of the subject, and the whole Overholser house is an incomparable example of the possibilities of beautiful homebuilding." –Daily Oklahoman, February 28, 1904
First floor sitting room.
she emphasizes that the Overholsers had their finger on the pulse of the city’s social life and a clear view of the growing downtown area. The family and their home were participants in some of the defining moments of our recent history. “Downtown was nothing like we know it today," Escalon explains. "Everything was in its infancy. The house saw [Oklahoma] become a state, World War I, and the Prohibition era.” When Henry Overholser first arrived in Oklahoma, the city was an unrecognizable collection of small buildings, open fields, and flooded streets. To outsiders, Oklahoma appeared to be a remote locale with few opportunities. But Overholver was prepared and arrived with lumber, prefabricated buildings, and enough money to finance his early economic undertakings. He quickly established himself as one of the most powerful and influential men in Oklahoma. The Grand Avenue Opera House and Overholser Theatre are just two of his early accomplishments. He also introduced streetcar lines and lobbied for the extension of the Frisco railroad to Oklahoma City. Overholser was ahead of his time, Escalon notes, and the mansion and all of his projects were “a statement to the rest of the country that there’s prosperity to be had here in Oklahoma Territory.” Overholser was instrumental for the early development of the city, and his contributions are still present in downtown Oklahoma City. Henry Overholser was also a key player in the transition to statehood and the development of Oklahoma City as a center of government, an undertaking that is best revealed through the letters and newspaper clippings displayed
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Second floor landing.
Henry Overholser
newspaper clippings displayed at the Overholser Mansion. As an elected official, he worked to move the capitol of Oklahoma from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. In one letter to his wife Anna, he encouraged her to remind her friends to contribute to “The Fight for the Capitol” and donated his own support to the cause. Eventually, it was Overholser’s bold offer to finance the capitol building that guaranteed that Oklahoma City would be the state’s new capital in 1910. Despite his political involvement, Overholser never held the position of mayor despite running twice. However, his son by a previous marriage was elected to the position shortly before Henry’s death in 1915. The Overholser Mansion witnessed some of the most important social and political events of the early 20th century, and its story deserves to be told. However, Oklahoma City’s urban growth quickly became a threat to the mansion as commercial development led to the demolition of historic buildings. Notably, the Colcord Mansion (built ca. 1903) was torn down in favor of a nondescript office building, and a new boulevard threatened to cut through the heart of the Overholser neighborhood. Escalon considers these events instrumental for what came next. “That’s really what spurred historic preservation after 1969. The neighborhood galvanized together after that mansion was torn down.” With support from recently elected mayor George Shirk, the Overholser neighborhood became Heritage Hills, the first Historic Preservation District in the State of Oklahoma, and was awarded some protection from new development projects. Following the establishment of Heritage Hills, many of the historic homes were listed under the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), an official list authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to support efforts to identify and protect historic and archaeological resources. Listing results in eligibility for grants, tax provisions, and most importantly, it requires that federal agencies allow an advisory council to comment on all projects that have the potential to impact historic properties. To be-
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historic properties. To be listed, properties must qualify under one of the following criteria: A) association with important events in our history, B) association with a significant person in the past, C) embody a distinctive type, period, or method of construction, or D) have the potential to yield more information about our past. The Overholser Mansion met Criteria A,B, and C and was officially added to the National Register in 1970. Following the wishes of the late Mrs. Overholser, her son-in-law David Jay Perry signed over the house and its belongings to the Oklahoma Historical Society just two years later. Today, Preservation Oklahoma, Inc. manages the property through a partnership with the Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office. Recognizing that preservation is critical for understanding our past. Preservation Oklahoma, Inc. offers guided tours, so that visitors can learn about the Overholser family and the early development of the city. The organization also commissioned an extensive restoration of the mansion’s exterior in 2008 that led to the repair of the original windows, roof, and chimneys. Funds have also been used to renovate the mansion’s carriage house, which is available for public use.
Left: first floor dining room. Right: formal sitting room.
National Register of Historic Places certificate, 1970.
Since the Overholsers first opened their doors in 1904, their home has been a focal point of Oklahoma society and that tradition continues to this day. The Overholser Mansion is open Tuesday through Saturday and hosts tours every hour from 10:00am to 3:00pm starting at the carriage house. They also host a thrilling Mysteries of the Mansion Tour once a month where they provide an evening tour and discuss the more supernatural aspects of the home. This year, they will also host their annual Summer Soiree on June 15th, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, where they encourage people to learn about the mansion while enjoying live music, dancing, and food trucks.
Delaney Cooley is the Assistant Director of Operations and Outreach for OKPAN and a PhD student at the University of Oklahoma.
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You can learn more about tours and the history of the Overholser Mansion by visiting their Facebook page and website.
The Henry Overholser Mansion today.
All photos courtesy of the Henry Overholser Mansion
THE CONTINUOUS PATH:
(Pedernal Peak, northern New Mexico, by Kate Newton)
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By Samuel Duwe and Robert Preucel
The Publication of Collaborative Archaeologies
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n the past two decades American archaeology has been transformed by the idea of collaboration. There are now numerous examples of productive collaborations between archaeologists and Native American communities, here in Oklahoma and in all corners of the continent and beyond. This change has been spurred by legal mandates such as NAGPRA and an appreciation of the colonial origins of the field of anthropology, and by extension, archaeology. Scholars are now beginning to engage with Native people on equal terms as co-subjects, who together design and shape the scope of research and actively participate in the process. When we think of collaboration our minds are often drawn to the field, of tribal youth working together with university students, or community elders teaching professors. One area where Native people are poorly represented in the collaborative endeavor, however, is in the publication of books and articles that are read by archaeologists, tribal communities, and the public alike. Native people, although increasingly part of the archaeological experience, are not often included in the final product. Most conference symposia and edited volumes (books of collected chapters from many contributors) are characterized by a group of non-Native archaeologists writing about Native history. Sometimes, they may invite a tribal scholar or elder to comment on the work in the final chapter. This can seem like a counterpoint at best, or an afterthought at worst. In American culture there is power in publication and enormous weight is given to words printed in a book. True collaboration must incorporate Native voices. This is, after all, their history. Also, collaboration can lead to a more accurate and meaningful portrayal of the past. Why theorize Native history through the lens of a dead French philosopher when you have the wisdom of the descendant community? These are not new ideas – collaborative publication has increasingly appeared over the last decades – but unfortunately it remains the exception and not the rule in archaeology. As two Anglo-American archaeologists who study the history of the Pueblo Indian people of the American Southwest we acknowledge that we are outsiders and will never fully grasp the fluid and interconnected relationships between the people, their history, and the land. However, both of us have benefited greatly from our ongoing relationships with Pueblo scholars and elders, and are committed to taking Pueblo conceptions of history and philosophy seriously by rethinking aspects of Southwestern archaeology.
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Participants in the Amerind Session, "Pueblo Movement and the Archaeology of Becoming."
"We wanted to challenge archaeologists to privilege Pueblo philosophical concepts in the interpretation of anthropological data"
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Discussing papers and ideas at the Amerind session.
past. Why theorize Native history through the lens of a dead French philosopher when you have the wisdom of the descendant community? These are not new ideas – collaborative publication has increasingly appeared over the last decades – but unfortunately it remains the exception and not the rule in archaeology. As two Anglo-American archaeologists who study the history of the Pueblo Indian people of the American Southwest we acknowledge that we are outsiders and will never fully grasp the fluid and interconnected relationships between the people, their history, and the land. However, both of us have benefited greatly from our ongoing relationships with Pueblo scholars and elders, and are committed to taking Pueblo conceptions of history and philosophy seriously by rethinking aspects of Southwestern archaeology. One topic of interest to both archaeologists and Pueblo people is movement. In particular, Southwestern archaeology has long been fascinated with the scale and frequency of movement in Pueblo history, from great migrations to short-term mobility. By collaborating with Pueblo communities, we archaeologists are learning that movement was – and is – much more than the result of economic opportunity or a response to social conflict. Movement is one of the fundamental concepts of Pueblo thought and is essential in shaping the identities of contemporary Pueblo people. With this is mind we sought to bring together archaeologists, anthropologists, and tribal community members who are leaders in collaborative archaeologies at the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meetings in Vancouver in 2017. Our aim was to commission a series of papers written collaboratively by both Native and non-Native people that explored Pueblo history and movement and emphasized continuities from ancient times through the present day. We wanted to challenge archaeologists to privilege Pueblo philosophical concepts in the interpretation of anthropological data, and to firmly situate the importance of Pueblo history in the lives of the Pueblos today and in the future. We were delighted with the vigorous discussions at the SAA session (both during the question-answer portion and afterward) and were thrilled to be invited for an Amerind Foundation seminar held in Dragoon, Arizona the following September. What resulted was among the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying experience of our careers.
Fieldtrip to the San Pedro valley, Arizona.
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Pottery by Chase Kahwinhut Earles
collaborative archaeologies at the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meetings in Vancouver in 2017. Our aim was to commission a series of papers written collaboratively by both Native and non-Native people that explored Pueblo history and movement and emphasized continuities from ancient times through the present day. We wanted to challenge archaeologists to privilege Pueblo philosophical concepts in the interpretation of anthropological data, and to firmly situate the importance of Pueblo history in the lives of the Pueblos today and in the future. We were delighted with the vigorous discussions at the SAA session (both during the question-answer portion and afterward) and were thrilled to be invited for an Amerind Foundation seminar held in Dragoon, Arizona the following September. What resulted was among the most intellectually and emotionally satisfying experiences of our careers. The participants were both Pueblo and non-Pueblo, and although we had different backgrounds and life experiences, all were passionate about Pueblo history. Our dialogue, steeped in archaeological language, was guided by the interests and concerns of our Pueblo colleagues. For four days we talked, listened, and learned. Some of this was done in the formal setting of sitting around a big conference table, but much of the real work happened in the quiet moments around the dinner table or in a hike through the beautiful southern Arizona desert. We found that getting to know one another on a personal level allowed us to begin to consider Pueblo and archaeological points of view with equal respect.
Samuel Duwe is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma. Robert Preucel is the director of the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology and a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Brown University.
The Continuous Path: Pueblo Movement and the Archaeology of Becoming can be found through the University of Arizona Press.
Cover
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the formal setting of sitting around a big conference table, but much of the real work happened in the quiet moments around the dinner table or in a hike through the beautiful southern Arizona desert. We found that getting to know one another on a personal level allowed us to begin to consider Pueblo and archaeological points of view with equal respect. The results of our collaboration was a book - The Continuous Path: Pueblo Movement and the Archaeology of Becoming (Arizona, 2019) - based on the themes that emerged from our many discussions. Although our names are on the front cover, this is a mere formality. The Continuous Path represents a true collaborative effort, from the writing and revision of the chapters to constructing the themes that hold the contributions together. While we are proud of the finished volume, we are most excited by the unfinished and ongoing discussions between the archaeologists, anthropologists, and tribal scholars and community members brought together over the course of this project. We hope that our friendships will continue to result in scholarship based on mutual respect and will inspire others to follow the same path.
GUIDE TO OKPAN INITIATIVES
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WHAT WE'RE UP TO, WHY WE'RE DOING IT, AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.
Oklahoma Archaeology Month (OAM) Allison Douglas (Director of Operations and Outreach)
very October is Oklahoma Archaeology Month (OAM), a month full of public outreach events that celebrate and spread awareness of Oklahoma archaeology. These events are held all over the state by numerous types of institutions, from museums and historic properties to groups like the Oklahoma Anthropological Society and student organizations. The goal of OAM is to make the public aware of archaeology and why it matters through fun and interesting events. In past years, OAM events have included everything from activity days for the whole family to special lectures and symposia about archaeological topics. OAM has something for everyone, no matter what part of the state you live in. Each year, OKPAN also partners with the Oklahoma Archeological Survey to produce a poster honoring the occasion. These posters hang in public places all over the state and communicate a different message about archaeology and Oklahoma heritage each year. Most recently, for OAM 2018, the poster celebrated two significant archaeological anniversaries in Oklahoma: the 25th anniversary of initial excavations at the Cooper bison kill site in northwestern Oklahoma, and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. The artistic images of archaeological remains from both Cooper and Spiro featured on the poster were painted by Muscogee (Creek) artist Jon Tiger. As we move forward in OAM, we strive to achieve even more inclusion and collaboration, both in producing the poster and in the number and variety of events that take place. If your organization or institution wants to participate in OAM this year, the event submission form for OAM 2019 is already online at okpan.org. We hope to see as many statewide organizations participate in OAM as possible, making OAM better and better as the years go by. In addition, if you have an idea for a poster theme, want to nominate an artist to create one, or would like to collaborate with us in making the poster, please contact us at okarchaeology@gmail.com.
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2018 OAM poster.
he Oklahoma Archaeology Conference (OAC) is a biennial conference established as a major OKPAN initiative in 2016. There have been two OAC meetings thus far, in 2016 and 2018, both held in Norman and organized by OKPAN. However, we are delighted to announce that the University of Tulsa has taken the reins for organizing the next conference, and the third biennial OAC will take place in Tulsa in 2020. Mark your calendars now – tentative dates are March 5 - 7, a little less than a year from now. OKPAN founded OAC in 2016 because archaeologists both within and outside of OKPAN recognized that the amazing and diverse archaeological work being done in the state deserved to be shared with one another and the broader community. The two conferences that have taken place so far have been successful in bringing together archaeologists of multiple sectors including academic, government/tribal agency, museum, cultural resource management professionals, as well as avocational archaeologists and graduate and undergraduate students in the field. OKPAN has also always encouraged the public to attend OAC, seeking to fulfill our mission of bridging all stakeholders in the archaeological community. We hope to see continued growth at OAC with every conference, as we continue to develop new ideas to make each meeting the best yet.
Oklahoma Archaeology Conference (OAC) Allison Douglas (Director of Operations and Outreach)
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2016 Oklahoma Archaeology Conference.
he “gang” of Oklahoman First Americans Researchers is a loose conglomerate of individuals united by an interest in Oklahoma’s deep past. You, too, are potentially a “gang” member if you fit that description. We are interested in when people first began living in Oklahoma’s plains, woodlands, and mountainous regions and how they may have differentially used these areas. We want to know how land use changed through time, especially as the climate warmed at the end of the Pleistocene leading to the extinction of many species and reorganization of ecological communities. This effort does not solely rest in the hands of those of us who founded GOFAR, but in the broader citizenry of Oklahoma and neighboring states who might harbor a passion for archaeology and history. We seek input from the community at large, from the crafting of research questions to walking the landscape looking for signs of early human occupation. We will study Oklahoma’s past through a landscape perspective, where we focus not only on excavated sites, but results from archaeological survey and natural landforms that may have been important to past peoples. To do this, we will identify land features that are most likely to yield deposits that date to the late Pleistocene and early Holocene and target these for survey and as necessary, excavation. We have already identified several regions in eastern Oklahoma that have the potential to have archaeological material of the appropriate age. This summer we plan to begin survey in one of these regions. Look for updates in the OKPAN Quarterly and GOFAR’s blog (link on the OKPAN website) as GOFAR’s research program continues. And don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’d like to offer your input on our research design, participate on an archaeological project, or officially sign up as a GOFAR gang member. To contact us, please email Amy Clark at aeclark@ou.edu.
The Gang of Oklahoman First Americans Researchers (GOFAR)
GOFAR Paleoindian Site Density map.
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Amy E. Clark (Director of Research) and Bonnie Pitblado (Executive Director)
Meghan J. Dudley (Director of Education)
Future Oklahoma Site Stewardship Program
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KPAN staff have heard numerous comments from people across the state, expressing their concerns for Oklahoma’s vulnerable archaeological record. Some have said they are worried about erosion of lake shores and river terraces affecting archaeological sites. Others have voiced their concerns about individuals across the state looting archaeological sites. Regardless of who has said it or what they have said, it seems as though a concern for Oklahoma’s past unifies many people and groups throughout the state. Of course, these concerns are not unique to Oklahoma. In other states across the nation, professional archaeologists have turned to citizen scientists to help preserve the past in their communities. Trained by professionals, public collaborators from California to Montana to Florida assist by monitoring sites for damage, recording any changes, and helping to document artifacts in private collections to make the data available to all.The result is more eyes on the ground to help preserve the past through documentation and education. Because other states have created successful citizen scientist programs for preservation, we have considered developing such a program for Oklahoma as well. But, because OKPAN staff represent only the voice of public archaeologists, we firmly believe we cannot be the only ones shaping a stewardship program. To that end, we plan to build such a program collaboratively, with input from everyone who lives in the state, including tribal nations, federal and state land managers, members of the general public, and professional archaeologists. This year we will seek input from everyone by distributing surveys, meeting with partners, and hosting a public forum to talk about what everyone wants from an Oklahoma stewardship program. If you want to get involved, please stay tuned to OKPAN’s social media pages and subscribe to OKPAN’s emails. You can subscribe to emails at okpan.org.
Shoreline erosion, a danger to archaeological sites in Oklahoma.
OKPAN Collaboration
Paige Ford (Collaborative Partnership Liaison)
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Collaboration forum at the 2018 Oklahoma Archaeology Conference. Photo courtesy of Travis Caperton.
KPAN is making a concerted effort to build long-term trusting and respectful relationships with the many descendant communities in Oklahoma. These relationships are vital in archaeology for many reasons, one of the most important being the opportunities to listen and learn from each other. Collaboration with descendant communities is essential to what we do as researchers of the past, because it emphasizes the perspectives of those with a direct connection to that past. Learning from and working with people who have that knowledge is what makes archaeology meaningful. Artifacts are just objects without an understanding of their contexts, stories, and meanings, which is knowledge that the members of descendant communities keep and protect. By building and strengthening our ties to one another as well as to the past, we can strive to write a story of the past that is inclusive, meaningful and worthwhile. We aim to make open, honest, and reciprocal partnerships with descendant communities that will facilitate purposeful collaboration between the many storytellers of Oklahoma’s past. OKPAN is currently developing our Collaboration Forum Series, which will seek to provide opportunities for open discussions of archaeological topics that are important to and determined by descendant groups. This series continues conversations that are already happening in local, regional, and national archaeological communities and aims to the bridge gaps in communication between diverse storytellers of the past. Through the discussions that manifest in these forum settings, we hope to emphasize the many perspectives of descendant communities on topics like cultural heritage, stewardship, and ethics. We actively seek partners in these collaborative endeavors. By building relationships and bridging our communities through our shared passion for archaeology, we can come together and write meaningful stories of the past. If you are interested in this work or partnering with us, please contact Paige Ford at paford@ou.edu.
Sarah Luthman teaches a workshop on artifact curation at the 2018 Oklahoma Archaeology Conference. Photo courtesy of Travis Caperton
Archaeological Skills Workshop Series
KPAN’s Archaeological Skills Workshop Series began in October 2017 and will conclude its second round of workshops this spring. OKPAN facilitates three workshops each academic year – one in October, one in March, and one in May. Each workshop covers a new topic, with the goal of teaching participants some of the nuts and bolts of doing archaeology. These skill workshops have drawn interest from professional archaeologists, avocational archaeologists, and students (practical skills are often not taught in college courses, so the Archaeological Skills Workshop Series provides those experiences for those who want them). In its first two years, OKPAN’s workshops have covered a variety of topics from geoarchaeology and zooarchaeology to skills like operating a total station or illustrating artifacts. Workshop instructors send an application to OKPAN, and we supply and facilitate approved workshops. We always welcome new instructor applications. Although workshops for the academic year 2019-2020 have already been designated, you may always submit an application for future consideration. Archaeological skills workshops are open to all, but in some cases, you may want to complete some background reading depending on your prior experience. Regardless, we strive to help instructors make workshops fun and informative for all. Upon completion of a workshop, participants receive a certificate acknowledging their participation. Participants will also be acknowledged at the Oklahoma Archaeology Conferences for achieving new status levels, depending on the number of certificates earned (bronze for 5 workshops, silver for 10, etc.). The Archaeological Skills Workshop Series continues to grow, and its success is due to enthusiastic engagement from workshop instructors and participants alike. We encourage all to attend an upcoming workshop to see what it is all about! To propose a workshop you would like to teach, please click here and fill out the required form. To view or register for an upcoming workshop, please click here.
Allison Douglas (Director of Operations and Outreach)
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roject Archaeology is one of the oldest continuous producers of quality K-12 supplementary curricula. The organization comprises a national network of teachers and archaeologists dedicated to teaching scientific and historical inquiry, cultural understanding, and the importance of protecting archaeological resources. Project Archaeology staff work to make archaeology education accessible to students and teachers nationwide. Their lessons give students a basic understanding of how archaeology works, and it teaches them to respect and protect archaeological sites. With financial support from the Bureau of Land Management, OKPAN is currently adapting one of Project Archaeology’s most popular curricula, "Investigating Shelters," specifically to Oklahoma. Students will learn about other cultures by exploring how people seek shelter and make a home. Our module explores the Two Sisters achaeological site and teaches students about the Antelope Creek people, who lived in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles between A.D. 1150 and 1450. Students will also read about the geography of the panhandle and how this kind of shelter was likely built. They will then participate in hands-on interaction with replicas of artifacts found at the site, including locating where these were found in relation to other features, to interpret how people used such a shelter. OKPAN will assist Scott Brosowske and Courson Archaeological Research (based in Perryton, Texas) later this spring when they reconstruct a house at the Two Sisters site. We will record this process so students can see how people in the past may have built this kind of shelter. OKPAN will also be partnering with descendant communities to build curricula that incorporates and respects their perspectives on the past. Stay tuned for information on the experimental reconstruction, and be on the lookout for the release of Project Archaeology’s new Investigating Shelters unit in Oklahoma in 2020!
Project Archaeology in the classroom.
Sarah Luthman (Public Archaeology Education Coordinator)
Project Archaeology in Oklahoma
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“To Bridge a Gap is always a unique experience, and this year was no different. We focused on building relationships by making people aware of our organization and its programs, as well as listening to their stories about why collaboration is important to them and to the future of archaeology. You can learn so much just by listening to others, and at To Bridge a Gap we gained knowledge about collaboration that will help us in our careers and in the future of OKPAN.” -Paige Ford
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Meghan Dudley at the 2019 To Bridge A Gap Conference .
Reflections on the 2019 To Bridge A Gap Conference
Paige Ford fielding the OKPAN table .
"OKPAN staff were pleased to attend our second ‘To Bridge a Gap’ conference in April, co-hosted by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and the U.S. Forest Service in Wyandotte. This annual conference is designed to foster better communication between tribal nations and Federal agencies and to close the gap between the two on land management issues. We met many old friends and made new ones. We also presented several initiatives we are working on and received valuable feedback and insight. All said and done, we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, listened a lot, and look forward to returning to the conference in 2020!" -Meghan Dudley
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2019 OAS SPRING DIG
Please stay tuned to the OAS Facebook page for updated information on the dig, including potential cancellation or delay due to inclement weather.
Top: Flyer for Spring Dig Bottom: OAS Membership form
THE OKLAHOMA ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY NEWS AND EVENTS
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Join the Oklahoma Anthropological Society for the 2019 Spring Dig in Muldrow, Oklahoma! OAS is returning to the Andrews site, a possible Pre-Columbian hunting camp, contemporaneous with Spiro Mounds. Dates for the dig are Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 19, 2019. All dig participants must be OAS members. Anyone may join OAS for a modest fee. For more information, contact OAS dig chairman Ray McAllister at okla.anthro.society@gmail.com
OKPAN FACES
We have some new faces joining the OKPAN crew! We want to extend a special welcome to these three talented people and introduce them to our community. You will undoubtedly see much more of them in the months and years to come!
Delaney is a Ph.D. student at the University of Oklahoma. She has a B.S. in Anthropology from the University of Iowa and an M.A. in Anthropology from OU. Her research focuses on cultural contact and the ties people forge with the landscape, and Delaney is passionate about sharing her love for archaeology with the public. As Assistant Director of Operations and Outreach, she looks forward to facilitating OKPAN’s events and creating connections with people across the state.
Assistant Director of Operations and Outreach
Delaney Cooley
Charons Garden Wilderness #2, Larry Smith, CC BY 2.0
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Amber Vinson
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Ella is sophomore Anthropology major at the University of Oklahoma, with a focus in Archaeology and Museum Studies. She has spent three semesters interning at the Sam Noble Museum, two creating an inventory of the legacy collections, and one working on NAGPRA projects. She has also interned for one semester at the Oklahoma Archeological Survey in the bison lab with Dr. Lee Bement. She will also participate in Dr. Pitblado's field school this summer. Ella loves how so much can be learned from archaeology and that it is relevant not just to academics and researchers, but to everyone. She looks forward to helping OKPAN realize its mission.
Amber Vinson is an incoming undergradute student at the University of Oklahoma and will be majoring in anthropology with a focus on archaeology. Originally from Owasso, Oklahoma, she has a lifelong passion for history and traveling but did not know until recently that she could pursue a career that incorporates both so well (see her letter to the editor on page 5). This summer, she will attend her first field school based in the Colorado Rockies. She is excited to start a new adventure and to work toward her goal of becoming an archaeologist. She is so grateful to be a part of the OKPAN community.
Ella Crenshaw
OKPAN Student Intern
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Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and visit our website, okpan.org!
Special thanks and congratulations to Susan Penn Dragoo, our Spring issue cover photo contest winner! Susan is a native of Okmulgee and a resident of Norman. She works as a freelance writer and photographer who focuses on historic travel in the American Southwest and Oklahoma. Susan took her beautiful photo in Caddo County, Oklahoma.
OKPAN's Mission Statement: Bridging communities with a passion for the past through public education and outreach, research and teaching partnerships, and professional development opportunities.
OKPAN Quarterly Staff: Kate Newton - Editor-in-Chief Allison Douglas - Assistant Editor Delaney Cooley - Assistant Editor
