Technoarchaeology in Action

Having seen that my posts have been far and few between (few being the key word) I thought I'd give a summary of some "Technoarchaeology" in action and add another post to my name. The field is alive and well as coined by Mike and Scott so long ago. My work the past few months has actually been consumed by it. These are a few of the innovating avenues my company is taking in an effort to get archaeology up to speed with the rest of the technological savvy world.

All data collected from surveys, monitoring, etc. related to the Las Vegas office are captured and stored electronically. Each crew member on survey is given a pocket pc. For those unaware, I don't think there are any, but Pocket PC’s are palm pilot size but windows based. All IMACS, field notes, maps and etc. are recorded on these. The process for digitizing everything begins with us (meaning me, in this case) in the office. First, I create an Access database based on State site form requirements, research design, etc. and next I design Visual Basic programs for pocket pc’s.

The Access database is the key to whole process. The database not only stores and organizes all information collected in the field, but feeds data into any query or report imaginable. Our database prints out IMACS forms, as well as feeds into SPSS (our stats program).

The Visual Basic programs capture data that we would normally record on an IMACS form while in the field. Data such as flake size, vegetation, landforms, etc. These VB (Visual Basic) programs ensure accuracy and consistency. They are “dummy” friendly and require little, if any, actual user input. The program consists of a handful of forms. These forms contain combo and list boxes that are populated by items that we would expect the user to record. For example, the drop down box for a combo box labeled “Site Type” lets a user select “Lithic Scatter, Quarry, Habitation, Camp, Rock Shelter, Agave Pits, Rock Art.” Thus, all the field crew must do is point and click! Sites are recorded in minutes. The VB program saves the information that a user selects into comma-delimitated text file. The files are automatically saved with a date stamp, ensuring that all data is organized by day and section surveyed. At the end of each field day the files are attached to an email and sent to me in the office. All I have to do is back the files up on the serve and import them into the Access database. Quick and painless; we waste no time transferring data from paper to electronic form.

This is still in the works but we are writing a program that allows site sketches and artifact sketches to be recorded on the handhelds and saved in a format able to be imported into Pathfinder office and/or Arc View as a shape file to be added to concurrently collected GPS coverage.

This same process can be replicated by anyone having knowledge of Access and a little code writing experience. Code is difficult to learn at first but after a few months of editing code on previous programs I’ve actually been able to write my own without too much difficulty. Starting next Monday we begin a project in Arizona. My boss let me go on this one and gave me the responsibility of designing and writing the VB programs solo. I have a little left to finish before Friday but when the guys show up to leave for survey, all we have to give them is a laptop, a few pocket pc’s, a GPS receiver, and they’re ready to go!!

Its refreshing to know that some companies like this are pursuing more efficient and consistent means of recording sites. As we all venture off to various places, it’ll be exciting to hear how other companies/institutions are embracing the new field of Technoarchaeology!

What makes a Fremont - a thesis excerpt

In a sense, seeking a definition of the Fremont is a moot point. The dominant theoretical perspective claims it is impossible, and the dissident minority insists that doing so isn’t useful. What the two factions do seem to agree on is the need for a rough definition of the Fremont as an archaeological culture, a “constantly recurring assemblage of artefacts which are assumed to be representative of a particular set of activities carried out at a particular time and place” (Darvill 2002:109). Madsen (1989:67) proposes that the term “Fremont” should be applied as an “umbrella” to include a diversity of human behavior. Four relatively distinct artifact classes are identified as the material manifestations of this behavior: one-rod-and-bundle basketry, the “Fremont” hock-style moccasin, distinctive trapezoidal anthropomorphic figures in rock art and clay figurines, and distinctive grayware pottery. The umbrella concept is declared “useful” by Janetski and Talbot (2000a:7), particularly in its rejection of bounded models of regional variation. To Madsen’s list of common physical objects they add architecture and socio-economic emphases.

With a macroscalar approach, general material patterns among the Formative people north of the Colorado River can be delineated. The Fremont were fairly sedentary pithouse dwellers (Talbot 2000a, 2000b) for whom maize was a major food source, though an assortment of wild food resources were also exploited (for a summary of Fremont subsistence see Janetski and Newman 2000). A distinctive style of basketry, moccasin, pottery, and art distinguish the Fremont from their neighbors (Adavasio 1986; and Madsen 1989). These fairly egalitarian people, with four known exceptions, also buried their dead without preserved objects (Madsen and Lindsay 1977; Roberts 1991; Janetski and Talbot 2000a).

The people that shared these archaeologically observable characteristics may have recognized a variety of group affiliations among themselves. They may have shared a common language, but they just as likely could have spoken a variety of distinct languages or dialects. Some may have not even recognized an affiliation between their own kin group and other prehistoric farmers with the characteristics listed above. Regardless of how Fremont groups organized themselves socially and politically, the material culture traits shared across the Fremont area are meaningful, indicating some sort of commonality. The nature and meaning of this commonality are beyond the scope of this research, and I recognize that this is a difficult subject to address with archaeological evidence. I argue, however, that the subject is an important one that demands further investigation. Rather than seeing the Fremont material culture complex as some sort of indicator of a pan-Fremont identity, I interpret these shared characteristics as the material manifestation of participation in an agricultural-based regional system north of the Colorado River (Janetski and Talbot 2000a) that archaeologists have identified as “Fremont.”

Fremont mortuary practices - where the H are they?

Cady and I were talking today about Fremont mortuary practices. After digging for 4 years in Escalante, we didn't find one Fremont burial. Does that strike anyone else as strange? Similarly, in the 10 years of digging that UCLA did in the Parowan Valley, they found maybe 10-15 burials, of which only a few were "formal" internments. We really don't find too many burials at all do we? Were there even any found in all of Clear Creek?

What if the Fremont were burying most of their people outside of the residential sites, you know, maybe just out in the woods or something. Here's how it could be tested.

1. Compile a database of known Fremont burials, Yoder style. I bet there are less than 200 known, it wouldn't be that hard to do. The most important field would be "burial context" (i.e., house floor, midden, etc).

2. Calculate a per capita ratio of people buried in village contexts / number of residential structures.

3. Do the same calculation for some contemporary PII sites. Include some big pueblos as well as some unit pueblos.

4. Compare the two figures.

Essentially, we'd have a rough idea of how many Fremont and Anasazi folks were buried within their settlement per household. The Anasazi numbers are going to be through the roof when compared to the Fremont. We think that per household, there were far fewer individuals buried within the village, and that they had to be buried somewhere else. Ideas??

Do YOU want to become a Friend of the Fremont?

If you've been lurking, waiting, yearning to join us in our friendship with and investigation of the Fremont, here is your opportunity to join. Post a comment on this thread about why you'd like to join us, and we'll consider adding you to the team. We'll need your email address, which you could forward to an existing member (if you don't want it on the internet) or just leave it in your comment. Please keep in mind that if you're deemed a non-participant, you'll be booted! We welcome contributors, and kick out the loads! Holly is pretty much almost kicked out, so let her be a lesson to the rest of you.

Aaron's Blog

Hey, this is actually a quick note for Aaron. I tried to post a comment on your blog, but am not a "team member", so I wasn't allowed to post. Maybe you could take that filter off. I promise I won't SPAM you. For those who have not visited, it is quite a thrill. Aaron has posted some sharp ideas that may cut you to the core. No puns intended...just really bad humor.

http://www.toolreplication.blogspot.com/

Peace in the Middle West

My First Hohokam Paper

Here in the Phoenix Basin, there exists a "sacred" map of the prehistoric Hohokam settlements made by Omar Turney in the 1920s. This map is almost always taken at face value, even though some of Turney's informants were known to be full of it.

I have decided to evaluate the plots of these sites by plotting the map over ALL of the CRM projects undertaken in the Valley. I will code each site for the presence/absence of buried features and tag all of the confirmed canal locations to see which plots are correct and which ones may be dubious. Most of this information is contained in the City of Phoenix archaeological database. I have a meeting with the City of Phoenix archaeologist next week to discuss the research.

KIVA here I come!

James Adovasio and pre Clovis

Last night James Adovasio came and gave a guest lecture on the current changing views of Clovis and info on pre-Clovis groups. It was pretty darn good. He talked about some of the reasons that Clovis has always been seen as a big game hunting culture and how excavations in the past 20 years have really been changing this view. It's looking, he says, more and more like Clovis subsistence and settelment was much more like the Archaic than anyone wanted to recognize. Then he went on and talked about his Meadowcroft Rockshelter excavations and the old dates he got out of there (in addition to Clovis dates he had some as early as 14,000). Finally he wrapped up discussing some current sites with dates ranging from 20,000BP on up into the Archaic. He says the the archaeologists working on these sites have been really careful and he believes the dates. It was really interesting. I'm pretty sure North Creek Shelter is going back at least into the 20,000's! Adovasio got his degree from the good ole University of Utah. We went out to dinner with him before the lecture and he talked a little about Jennings. And let me say this, although he was the man, the more I hear about him the more I'm glad I wasn't around the same time he was. Sounds like a tough dude. Anyway, so there's your dose of daily Paleo info. (Paleo info, cool...say it again Paallleeeoooo iinnnnffffoooo)

Praise for blogs and praise to the man..(Chris)

Joseph still deserves praise, but Chris deserves a little for being so ahead of the game...

This afternoon I was sitting in the department waiting for some copies to finish and picked up "The Chronicle of Higher Education"(one of those throw-away rags that sits on the table so that people can read through it).

Interestingly enough, I found an article inside called "The Blogoshpere as a Carnival of Ideas".
In which the author, Henry Farrell (a professor of political science) discusses the validity of blogs in the academic world.

I include some excerpts, but if you want the whole article, let me know. I'll be happy to copy it and send it off to anyone interested.

This is a summary of some of the things he said:

Farrell begins by mentioning the general fear that many academics (especially those in the job market or non-tenured ones) have of blogging due to their fear of discipline for expressing controversial or original views.

Farrel argues that blogs serve several purposes, he says:

"Academic bloggers differ in their goals. Some are blogging to get personal or professional grievances off their chests or, to propose non-academic interests. Others, perhaps the majority, see blogging as an extension of their academic personas. Their Blogs allow them not only to express personal views but also to debate ideas, swap views about their disciplines, and connect to a wider public. For these academics, blogging isn't a hobby; it's an integral part of their scholarly identity. They may very well be the wave of the future."

Farrell provides some statistics for poly-sci and law majors at George Washington University. He said that 130 law professors have active blogs and that those who don't read blogs or maintain blogs of their own are cutting themselves out of important discussions.

He suggests that blogs have been slow to enter areas like the social sciences but believes that they will enter and expand soon.

Farrell believes that blogs can be exciting and free forums of discussion and idea sharing without the nasty grant proposals, project approvals, and publishing reviews which often slow the flow of ideas. Blogs provide a nice area of conversation around and between articles and monographs.

Blogging also provides a flexibility and freedom that publishing does not allow. Farrell considers the vast amount of time it takes to publish in a peer-reviewed journal, stating that years can pass by between a first draft and a publication....(cough...Spotten Cave..cough). He also considers the fact that years may go by while other academics are publishing reactions to a publication. In the blogosphere, these publications and reactions can take minutes.

In addition to rapid results, blogs provide new academics or blossoming students a chance to make their voices and opinions heard. Blogging provides students, academics and amateurs semi-equal footing to enter into a forum to discuss ideas. Farrell says, "This openness may be discomfiting to those who are attached to established rankings and rituals-but it also means that blogosphereic conversations, when they're good, have a vigor and a liveliness that most academic discussion lacks."

Farrell concludes that blogs allow academics to reconnect with the public. Blogging makes intelectualism more democratic, and an academic (with some good ideas and some self-promotion) can enter into public debate quickly. He also notes that while blogging will not replace publishing anytime soon, it provides an excellent environment for the exchange of ideas.


Sorry this is so long, but the article was very well written and seems to be in keeping with the main intent of this blog. I think Chris has done an excellent thing here by creating such a forum, the type that is garnering praise from a nationwide academic newspaper (throw-away or not).
I think that FoF, provides us all with an excellent opportunity to not only keep in touch with one another, but to also kick around ideas about our archaeological pursuits.

So, well done Chris.

If any of you would like a copy, send me an e-mail, and I'll send one off.

Three Corners Conference

So Saturday was the first ever “Three Corners Archaeological Conference” (look, I'm using colored text like Cady) held here at UNLV. A great number of papers were presented, by a good mix of academia and contract archaeologists. Since Karen Harry kind of arranged the thing, and I’m her GA, I was roped into providing a little technical assistance during the session she presented in. BYU was well represented by Jim Allison, who presented some C14 data he’s currently working on. Rich Talbot and the Sand Hollow Project was mentioned by at least one of the CRM folks. In fact, a large project that they did was heavily based off of the Sand Hollow work. They gave high praise to BYU and the thoroughness of the work done. I wanted to say, “Damn straight. That’s Rich K. Talbot your talking about” but refrained. A special treat for all was the comments of two discussants at the end of the conference: Margaret Lyneis and Claude Warren, both big wigs in their own right. After the conference I got to hang out and talk with both of them and Allison, as Lyneis and Warren had some questions about Allison’s work. Throughout the conference I was trying to think of ways I could somehow get a Fremont paper in the next one of these they hold. I remember reading somewhere that some Fremont looking petroglphys have been found as far south as the Las Vegas Valley…......Let the Northern Periphery Rise Throughout The Land!

Classroom in the Desert is gone...

Those of us who frequently check byu.edu noticed that for weeks, a Mark Philbrick (sp?) photo graced the homepage. There was also a link to the "mentoring story" with the photo of Dr.J teaching a Maren(last name?) how to dig, etc.

The photo was a nice one. It showed Mr. Craig Freeman and Mrs. Erika Holje measuring a rock art panel.

Sadly, the photo has now been changed to pimp the library. It was a good few weeks for archaeological awareness though...I think.

Cannon revised?

I stayed up late into the night reading the Capitol Reef Report, and it prompted me to propose a revision to the Friends of the Fremont cannon.

Fremont Farmers : The Pearl of Great Price (It's short, but full of important, foundational doctrine)

Clear Creek Canyon: The New Testament (Like the Bible, deals with the Fremont of the east. Excavated in recent times)

Capitol Reef: The Book of Mormon (Recounts the western Fremont)

Forthcoming PVAP monographs: The Old Testament (Excavated in antiquity. Stuff is important but often unclear. Also eastern Fremont)

The Doctrine and Covenants: Everything else.

The Legend of Ian Robertson

The following is an excerpt from an email I just sent to Ian.

I'm taking Keith's Intrasite Research Strategies class this semester, and because I was new and hadn't taken the pre-requisite class several of my fellow students were curious as to where I had learned my statistics. I explained that I had taken a class from you while you were visiting at BYU.

A reverent hush fell over the assembled students as they stared at me with mouths gaping. After an extended silence, one brave soul finally ventured to speak.

"Did he he ever talk about it?"

I'm afraid I wasn't quite sure what "it" was.

"You know, the Bayesian?"

Were they talking about your work at Teotihuacan?

"Of course that Bayesian!" was their disgusted reply.

Apparently, Ian is a legend in his own time, at least among the current crop of ASU grad students.

Cheers, sweet cheers...

The Dave Madsen Commemorative Pin

So I'm listening to X96 this morning and they are promoting a new commemorative pin from Hard Rock Cafe, SLC. Every Friday, X96 invites this guy named Dave to help them with their show. Dave is a little slow and has a speech impediment (it's great for radio). They found out about him becuae he sells flowers and other things to make money, and he has hit up x96 DJs to by his flowers.

Hard Rock Cafe, SLC found out about Dave and have decided to make a commemorative pin in his honor. All proceeds go towards helping him out.

As I mentioned in the subject heading, this guy's last name is Madsen. This is not a pitch to buy a pin for some guy none of us know, this is a chance to own something with the name of everyone's favorite Great Basin Archaeologist on it. Imagine--showing up to the GBAC or some other conference with a stack of these pins...The University of Utards would snatch them up and I bet we could put Simms down for 5 or 6...

Spammers posting nasty comments...

Hey Guys,
It seems that some spammers have been posting comments to messages that have contained some pretty bad content. We can't specifically block them from posting comments, but as administrators, Chris and I can make it to where only members of this blog can post comments. If everybody agrees, we can set it up that way. Let us know what you think and we'll keep deleting the junk people post until then.

A little Thal on the way...

Recently, I talked to Sean Thal and he mentioned that he and Erika are going to have a baby. I told him that this is information he should post on this site. His exact words to me were "You guys still do that? I haven't been on that site for months"

Yes, Sean we still post on this site.

Anyway, I told him to post the good news on this site. That was two weeks ago. So, I'm doing it for him.

I've walked the narrow strip of land...

Thought all you Book of Mormon Tour enthusiasts may want to know about this conference. Notice the last line in the story...

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/56774

You think John Clark is going to miss this one?

Peace in the Midwest.