2020 International Archaeology Day

October 24, 2020

In keeping with our annual tradition, the denizens of the Center for New Mexico Archaeology (CNMA)—the Office of Archaeological Studies (OAS), the Archaeological Research Collections of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC), and the Friends of Archaeology (FOA)—are celebrating International Archaeology month. Adapting to the pandemic, this year’s celebration will include online interactive events with CNMA staff, the release of new videos, and the debut of kid-friendly downloadable activities.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CNMA would open its doors to the public on the third Saturday of October. Visitors could mingle with the scientists, analysts, educators, and artists of OAS in their laboratories, could throw spears and shoot arrows at the atlatl field, watch ancient lifeways demonstrations (flintknapping, pottery, and yucca), and tour MIAC’s archaeological collections. The virtual world isn’t quite as much fun, but we hope to return to in-person celebrations in future years—stay tuned!

What is International Archaeology Month?

International Archaeology Day is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery. Each October, International Archaeology Day is celebrated with a series of events across the U.S. and Canada as well as abroad to raise awareness of archaeology and provide opportunities for the public to participate in archaeological activities.

Schedule of events

Ask An Archaeologist
Saturday, October 24, 2020  10:00 am—11:00 am

Please join through this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/93749576514?pwd=elZZT1NtOVJnLytVTXh6MXJHcjBCQT09
Passcode: 7865
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +12532158782,,93749576514#,,,,,,0#,,7865# or +13462487799,,93749576514#,,,,,,0#,,7865#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099
Webinar ID: 937 4957 6514
Passcode: 7865
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/amuxHmd9m

In this online Zoom event, the MIAC Archaeological Research Collections Staff and archaeologists from OAS will try to identify and interpret images of objects submitted by the public. Prior submissions are encouraged!

To submit a picture of an object to Ask an Archaeologist, email it to CNMA.AskAnArchaeologist@gmail.com or comment on the Facebook post accessible at https://www.facebook.com/CenterforNewMexicoArchaeology/.

Making and Breaking Pots Summer Camp in a Box 2020 
Saturday, October 24, 2020  11:30 am—12:45 pm

Join WebEx meeting: https://jmksolutions.my.webex.com/jmksolutions.my/j.php?MTID=m89cb5c5a7b47c4a505183fbe3bec1169
Meeting number (access code): 126 355 2263
Password: PQf67MGKwJ4 (77367645 from phones and video systems)

Join by phone:+1-415-655-0001 US Toll

Global call-in numbers: https://jmksolutions.my.webex.com/jmksolutions.my/globalcallin.php?MTID=m85d68eb992b0d115513fdf2590a7589f
Meeting number (access code): 126 355 2263
Password: PQf67MGKwJ4 (77367645 from phones and video systems)

In this online interactive event, Mollie Toll (OAS ethnobotantist and outreach educator) will answer live questions about OAS's contribution to the Department of Cultural Affairs Summer Camp in a Box. OAS staff and FOA volunteers created 200 kits that were distributed to children throughout the state by the New Mexico State Library. Each box included five days of kid-friendly activities that explored dimensions of pottery in the past and the present. Over only 2-1/2 months from inception to completion, a team of more than 20 volunteers made (and broke) over 400 pieces of pottery along with creating and assembling the other exercises.

Please watch Making and Breaking Pots prior to the Q&A session. For questions contact friendsofarchaeologynm@gmail.com.

Indigenous Collaboration: New Insights in Pueblo Perishables
Saturday, October 24, 2020  1:00pm—3:00pm

Please join through this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/92779687182?pwd=cFpaWjhyR09uNVFRcjY0YUI4S2E4Zz09
Passcode: 5851
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +12532158782,,92779687182#,,,,,,0#,,5851# or +13462487799,,92779687182#,,,,,,0#,,5851#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099
Webinar ID: 927 7968 7182
Passcode: 5851
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aexW3tv3v9

This MIAC-hosted online panel event brings together knowledgeable scholars and weavers to discuss their own experimental work with Southwest perishables and their current work with the Cedar Mesa Perishables Project. For more information about the project, visit https://www.friendsofcedarmesa.org/perishablesproject/.

Invited panelists include:

 - Louie Garcia (Tiwa/Piro textile weaver)

 - Laurie Webster (Southwest archaeologist and Southwest perishable expert)

 - Mary Weahkee (Santa Clara/Comanche‒OAS archaeologist)

 - Christopher Lewis (Zuni basket weaver)

 - Chuck LaRue (wildlife biologist)

For more and up-to-date details visit https://www.facebook.com/CenterforNewMexicoArchaeology.

Kid-friendly downloadable activities

OAS’s award-winning Education Outreach Program is pleased to debut their newly formatted downloadable kid-friendly activities. These activities combine the content expertise of the archaeologists and scientists at OAS with youth-focused educational fun. Additional offerings will be made available on the Education tab of this website in the coming months, stay tuned!

For inquires please contact Eric Blinmam at eric.blinman@state.nm.us.

Offerings for lower elementary students

Explore Archaeology – English

Fantastic Beasts – English

Offerings for upper elementary students

Explore Archaeology – English

Puzzle Pots – English

Intro to Maps – English

Fantastic Beasts – English

Offerings for middle school students

Explore Archaeology – English

Puzzle Pots – English

Intro to Maps – English

Fantastic Beasts – English

Offerings in Spanish

Explore Archaeology lower elementary – Spanish

Explore Archaeology upper elementary – Spanish

Explore Archaeology middle school – Spanish

Debuting Videos

Caitlin Ainsworth (OAS faunal analyst) introduces animal adaptations in this debuting kid-friendly video that pairs with the Fantastic Beasts activity above.

 

Mollie Toll (OAS ethnobotantist and outreach educator) recaps the incredible feat of creating 200 summer camp activity boxes for young students around the state in this debuting video that pairs with the live Q&A highlighted above.

 

Mary Weahkee (OAS archaeologist and Santa Clara/Comanche) explains how she collects the organic material from archaeological soils – including charcoal, roots, seeds, and microbotanicals.

Visit OAS and FOA YouTube pages

Friends of Archaeology Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC71Nvwch-5klR4OxiW2nYSw.

Office of Archaeological Studies Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLJdJmLn3Pqe62_zHYzoDyw.

Featuring OAS archaeologists Lynette Etsitty (Diné), Isaiah Coan (Diné/Zuni), Mary Weahkee (Santa Clara/Comanche) and Jessica Badner. Other video contributors include Marlon Magdelena (Jemez), Norma and Hutch Naranjo of Ohkay Owingeh and Santa Clara Pueblo, and Lenora Tsosie (Diné). Topics include: rabbit fur blankets, turkey feather blankets, yucca sandals, traditional farming, arrows and more!