This week's blog comes from Ian Kerr, a graduate student who is very familiar with Fort St. Joseph:
A number of past and present Fort St. Joseph archaeologists made their way to East Lansing for the 7th annual Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference this past September 17th. Founded by our very own Dr. Nassaney and held initially at Western Michigan University this conference brings together archaeologists from all around the Midwest and beyond to share recent finds and present papers on varying subject matter.
This year Michigan State had the honor of hosting and highlighted their very unique and interesting campus archaeology program in which sites around campus are excavated by Michigan State archaeology students. A number of papers were also given on the future of digital archaeological databases. A representative from tDAR (the Digital Archaeological Record) gave a presentation on the utility and usefulness of using such digital repositories. Interestingly enough, the Fort St. Joseph has entered in a long term partnership with tDAR and as we speak information on Fort St. Joseph is being uploaded to this exciting online database.
A conference wouldn’t be a conference without some food and all attended were treated to unlimited access to the nation’s largest non-military cafeteria. A historic tour of Michigan State’s campus followed and areas where archaeology had been conducted were highlighted. Next year’s conference will be held at Illinois State’s campus in Normal/Bloomington. You can bet a contingent of Fort St. Josepharchaeologist will be there!
A number of past and present Fort St. Joseph archaeologists made their way to East Lansing for the 7th annual Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference this past September 17th. Founded by our very own Dr. Nassaney and held initially at Western Michigan University this conference brings together archaeologists from all around the Midwest and beyond to share recent finds and present papers on varying subject matter.
This year Michigan State had the honor of hosting and highlighted their very unique and interesting campus archaeology program in which sites around campus are excavated by Michigan State archaeology students. A number of papers were also given on the future of digital archaeological databases. A representative from tDAR (the Digital Archaeological Record) gave a presentation on the utility and usefulness of using such digital repositories. Interestingly enough, the Fort St. Joseph has entered in a long term partnership with tDAR and as we speak information on Fort St. Joseph is being uploaded to this exciting online database.
A conference wouldn’t be a conference without some food and all attended were treated to unlimited access to the nation’s largest non-military cafeteria. A historic tour of Michigan State’s campus followed and areas where archaeology had been conducted were highlighted. Next year’s conference will be held at Illinois State’s campus in Normal/Bloomington. You can bet a contingent of Fort St. Josepharchaeologist will be there!
