Alasdair Brooks, DPhil, Index President’s Corner

28 Pages·2011·8.19 MB·English

Winter 2011
Alasdair Brooks, DPhil, Newsletter Editor, School of Archaeology and Ancient History,
University of Leicester, United Kingdom
Index President’s Corner
President’s Corner .......................................1 William B. Lees
2011 SHA Election Results ..........................2
This is my last column as SHA President. report that things are going smoothly due
Images of the Past .......................................3
It also marks my retirement from 13 years not only to the work of the board, but also
Opinion & Debate .......................................4
of service on the board of directors, which to the dedication of committee chairs and
Race & Society for Historical
includes the past 10 years plus a prior stint members, as well as the dedicated work of
Archaeology .............................................4
of 3 years between 1992 and 1994. The past SHA Executive Director Bill Scott and the
Archaeology at Contaminated Sites .......6
10 years have included 2 terms as newsletter staff of our headquarters office.
Books Available for Review .......................9
editor and the terms of president-elect and One challenge that is perennial comes
Current Research .........................................10
president. It has been the greatest honor of from SHA’s awkward position as a
Canada-Atlantic ......................................11
my career to serve you in this capacity and moderate-to-small-sized organization. We
Continental Europe .................................12
I am most appreciative for having had this are way too large to operate entirely as a
Mexico, Central & South America .........13
opportunity. volunteer organization. For this reason we
Underwater (Worldwide) .......................14
In looking at SHA over the past decade have since 1978 retained a business office
USA-Central Plains .................................14
or so, one of the most exciting changes provider. At first, this was one of our own,
USA-Gulf Coast ......................................15
has been the resurgence in the number of Mike Rodeffer, who ran a one-person, part-
USA-Mid-Atlantic ...................................16
students participating in the society and in time SHA business office. We have since
USA-Midwest ..........................................19
particular in the conference. This not only moved to retain the services of professional
USA-Northeast ........................................21
speaks to the health of historical archaeology association management firms such as our
USA-Pacific West ....................................23
as a relevant profession but also to the current provider, Management Solutions
2012 NPS Prospection Workshop ...........23
relevance of SHA and our conference to the Plus.
Amended SHA Constitution & Bylaws ....24
emerging professionals of our discipline. Although we are too large to be an
Contemporary Archaeology in Australia ..26
Over the past year, the board has been all-volunteer organization, we are way
Forum Archaeologiae Post-Mediaevalis ..27
interested in becoming more accessible too small to be able to operate without
to the membership and especially our substantial volunteer efforts. We could not
students and young professionals. We want provide the level of membership services
to know your opinions and we want you and benefits that we do without, for
to become involved in society committees example, a significant cadre of volunteer
Start planning now and governance. President-Elect Paul editors and editorial assistants and without
Mullins and I, along with other members a local conference committee. Without
of the board, will be holding “open office these volunteers we would either have
for hours” in Baltimore in an attempt to make to raise dues and conference fees (and I
it easier for you to engage with the board mean REALLY raise dues and conference
in an informal setting. I hope this becomes fees) or we would have to cut back on our
standard at future conferences. programs. Cutting back on programs would
With the perspective of time, it is seriously diminish or destroy the value of
also clear that SHA is constantly facing membership and the contribution of SHA
challenges that are in many ways invisible to the profession of archaeology; this is
to the general membership. They are not an option. We will therefore continue
invisible because of the excellent work to need member volunteers to help with
and wisdom of the board, who address our publications programs, conferences,
issues before they reach crisis level. The and the broad and interesting work of our
board works with the best interest of the committees. For those of you already in the
membership in mind, and generally gets SHA volunteer
Continued on Page 2
it right. As I leave office I am pleased to ranks, thank

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 1
President’s Corner, Cont’d from Page 1 on the RPA board because of our position from a membership organization to a
as one of RPA’s four sponsor organizations professional registry, and sponsorship of
you. For others, and especially students (the others being the Society for American this registry by the major archaeological
and young professionals, we welcome your Archaeology, Archaeology Institute of organizations in North America, has
participation. America, and Archaeology Division of the resulted in RPA achieving a measured
As I write this I am returning from a few American Anthropological Association). degree of success.
days in Albuquerque, New Mexico where RPA was established in 1998 as a registry The work is not done, however, and by
I attended a strategic planning meeting of professional archaeologists who hold convening the board for strategic planning
of the board of directors of the Register of at least a master’s degree and who agree the goal was to identify actions to take RPA
Professional Archaeologists (RPA). I was to be held accountable to a code of ethics the rest of the way. The day-and-a-half
invited to participate in this process by and standards of research performance. planning session, facilitated by Terry Klein,
RPA President Ian Burrow because of the In addition, registrants agree to abide executive director of the SRI Foundation
insight that I provided as a past president by a grievance process through which and former SHA board member, resulted
of this organization. I served as the last complaints about breaches of the code and in the reaffirmation of the original goals
president of the Society of Professional standards can be addressed, and where of RPA. The actions identified during the
Archaeologists (SOPA) and the first of censure or revocation of registration are Albuquerque planning session are true
RPA. Other former presidents present were potential outcomes. Although registration to the original goals of RPA. The details
Jeff Altschul and Teresita Majewski (Terry is voluntary, the goal is for registration to of the plan, which is couched in a five-
is also a past president of SHA). At this become a standard professional credential year frame, will be announced in the near
meeting was Amanda Evans, who has been in addition to graduate degrees. Although future by RPA, <www.rpanet.org>. When
appointed by the SHA board to fill a seat SOPA had similar goals, the transformation announced, I encourage currently registered
archaeologists and those who are not to
study the details. I believe you will see in
this strategic plan an organization that is
Published Quarterly
dedicated to moving RPA forward to serve
Subscription Rate: Individual: Regular ($135), Student ($80), Retired ($80)
the needs of the profession by addressing
Adjunct ($45), Friend ($175), Developer ($250), Benefactor ($400), Life ($3,600).
some issues that are held over from the
Organizational: Institution ($215). All U.S. funds.
formation of RPA and by aggressively
pursuing goals that have held true from
Newsletter Editor: Alasdair Brooks, DPhil
the start and that remain clearly essential
Copy Editor: Daniel McNaughton.
today.
Special News Editors: USA-Pacific West: Kimberly Wooten I know that by the time this newsletter
Current Publications: Charles Ewen USA-Southeast: Gifford Waters reaches the membership the Baltimore
Images of the Past: Benjamin C. Pykles USA-Southwest: Michael R. Polk conference will be over, and we will all be
looking forward to the 2013 conference in
Current Research Editors: Editorial Address: The Society for His- Leicester, England. This conference presents
Africa: Kenneth Kelly torical Archaeology Newsletter, c/o Dr. a number of very exciting opportunities for
Asia: Edward Gonzalez-Tennant Alasdair Brooks, School of Archaeol- collaborations between the Americas and
Australasia: Susan Piddock ogy and Ancient History, University of Europe. I will be there for certain, and hope
Canada-Arctic: Henry Cary Leicester, University Road, Leicester to see you there as well!
Canada-Atlantic: Amanda Crompton LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
Canada-Ontario: Jon Jouppien
Canada-Prairie: Jennifer Hamilton <[email protected]>
Canada-Québec: Stéphane Noël
Canada-Western: Rod J. Heitzmann Results of the 2011 SHA Elections
Business Address: 9707 Key West Av-
Caribbean/Bermuda:
enue, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850.
Frederick H. Smith The chair of the 2011 Nominations and
Phone [phone]; Fax [phone];
Continental Europe: Natascha Mehler Elections Committee, Lu Ann De Cunzo,
Email <[email protected]> (New subscrip-
Great Britain & Ireland: has announced the results of the SHA and
tions, change of address, subscription
James Symonds ACUA elections.
fulfillment matters)
Mexico, Central & South America:
Pedro Paulo Funari Elected for SHA are:
Middle East: Uzi Baram President-Elect: Charles R. Ewen
2010 The Society for Historical Archae-
Underwater (Worldwide): Toni Carrell Secretary: Carol McDavid
ology 3rd Class Postage Paid
USA-Alaska: Robin Mills Treasurer: Sara F. Mascia
USA-Central Plains: Jay Sturdevant Board of Directors: Christopher Fennell and
The paper used in this publication
USA-Gulf States: Kathleen H. Cande Della Scott-Ireton
meets the minimum requirements of
USA-Mid-Atlantic: Ben Resnick 2012 Nominations and Elections Committee
the American National Standards for
USA-Midwest: Lynne L.M. Evans At-large members: Audrey Horning and
Information Sciences--Permanence of
USA-Northeast: David Starbuck LouAnn Wurst
Paper for Printed Library Materials,
USA-Northern Plains & Mountain
ANSIZ39.48-1984.
States: Steven G. Baker Elected for ACUA are:
USA-Pacific Northwest: Dave Ball, Amanda M. Evans, and Sarah
Robert Cromwell Watkins-Kenney

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 2
IMAGES OF THE PAST
Benjamin C. Pykles
Do you have photos of previous fieldwork (pre-1990s) stored in dusty albums or tucked away in old site reports? We want to
publish them! The “Images of the Past” section of the SHA Newsletter seeks to highlight the history of historical archaeology by
sharing photos and brief descriptions of past projects. We are especially interested in highlighting projects outside the continental
United States. So, if you’d like to see your picture published in a future issue of the Newsletter, dust off those old photo albums and
site reports and send us your images!
Please send your images to:
Benjamin Pykles
<[email protected]>

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 3
Opinion and Debate
Race and the Society for plan had been put in place to ensure that throughout the 19th and 20th centuries,
women and minorities were given due efforts to recognize and then examine the
Historical Archaeology:
consideration in SHA (Barnes 2011). Over archaeology of racialized populations did
Steps toward Claiming an
the years, gender-related issues stood at not occur until early work on plantation
Anti-Racist Institutional the forefront of the GMAC’s concerns. This slavery in the 1970s (see Orser 2007:15–40),
article seeks to highlight structural issues spurred initially by the black activism of the
Identity
related to race that contribute to the lack time rather than by any internal impulse.
of diversity within our organization, SHA, John Otto (1975, 1984) proposed the idea that
Michael S. Nassaney
and the field more broadly. racial identification was used throughout
Department of Anthropology,
Archaeologists are well aware of the American history to divide the population
Western Michigan University
ways in which our personal and political into two distinct groups, with implications
lives influence our practice and vice versa. for the archaeological record. It was this
Cheryl LaRoche,
Since the 1980s archaeologists have paid type of work that substantively began
Department of American Studies,
increasing attention to the racialization of drawing African American archaeologists
University of Maryland, College Park
the past and how white privilege, white to the profession.
supremacy, and racial hierarchy structured Two articles appeared in Historical
In order to transform SHA into a truly
the material world. Less attention has been Archaeology in 1990 that established race
diverse and welcoming organization,
paid to how these conditions structure and affect as a viable archaeological topic. David
we must address the structural issues—
our practice. Since the discipline remains Babson (1990) posited that ethnicity did
unequal access to education, health care,
predominantly white, it follows that our not account for the harmful social effects of
transportation, childcare, etc.—that
profession supports and reproduces values, racial ideology. Terrence Epperson (1990)
continue to maintain our organization’s
attitudes, conditions, and worldviews that encouraged the study of the historical
white, male, heterosexual, and middle-
privilege whiteness. This lack of diversity construction of race and called attention
class membership and values. The mission
compromises our discipline and makes us to the fact that archaeology cannot remain
of seeking diversity involves all historical
intellectually and emotionally less whole; shielded from present-day politics.
archaeologists and should be our collective
thus we should work toward an anti-racist The discovery and excavation of the
goal as we work to transform our field
institutional identity. What would an African Burial Ground (ABG) in Manhattan
and our organization in an effort to claim
anti-racist, inclusive Society for Historical in 1991 triggered concerns over racial
an anti-racist institutional identity (Barnes
Archaeology look like and how can we identity and the ways in which archaeology
2011).
move toward that goal? reproduced racial hierarchy (LaRoche and
Blakey 1997). It also brought wider attention
Background
Where Did We Come From? A Brief to the archaeological examination of
Since its inception, SHA has devoted
Timeline for Important Events Related to slavery in the North and cast a glaring light
more attention to gender diversity than
Race and SHA on the racial dynamics of our profession.
to issues of racial inclusion. Considering
The Society for Historical Archaeology Descendant communities became involved
the high percentage of women working in
was founded in 1967 at its inaugural meeting and demonstrated how their role in the
the field as opposed to the low numbers
in Dallas, TX (Pilling 1967). Among those project can contribute to knowledge that
of minorities represented, this approach
present were some of the legendary figures both expands the discipline and reflects
fulfilled the greater needs of the organization
of the nascent discipline, including Stanley their interests and experience. Archaeology
but raises a difficult question. How should
South, J. C. Harrington, John L. Cotter, can be an emancipatory practice that
our organization approach issues of racial
Edward Jelks, and Arnold Pilling, among exposes the connections between past
diversity when there are so few minority
others—all but 1 of the 22 original fellows and present. Historical archaeology began
voices and faces amongst us?
were white men from U.S. institutions. increasingly to embrace its ability to expose
Women working in archaeology
Carlos Margain was from Mexico. For much relations of class, gender, ethnicity, and race
founded the Historical Archaeology
of our history we have debated the goals of in subtle yet significant material signatures
Women’s Caucus in 1988 and organized the
our discipline. However, insofar as white but remained largely unreflexive.
Committee on Gender Issues in 1991. The
men created SHA, it was structured to meet In 1994 SHA President Betsy Reitz
two groups reflected women’s attempts over
their needs as members of white society. expanded the Committee on Gender Issues
the years to address issues related to gender
Founded at a time before diversity mattered into the Committee on Gender and Minority
equity in the field of historical archaeology.
in America, our society reflected whiteness Issues (later to be known as the Gender and
In January 1994 SHA President Betsy Reitz
in its personnel; programs, products, Minority Affairs Committee). This came
first expanded the focus of the renamed
and services; constituency; structure; and six years after the SHA Women’s Caucus
Gender and Minority Affairs Committee
mission, particularly in the academy. conducted a survey to document inequities,
(GMAC), only to suggest disbanding it four
During this time period, cultural resource identify conditions that limited women’s
months later, observing that it had fulfilled
management firms inherited most sites access, and attempted to redress some of
its mission, leaving the then-president
related to African American archaeology as these issues by introducing childcare at the
with few ideas for other work to be done
part of the mitigation process, primarily in meetings. Because gender and minority
(Spencer-Wood 1994:222). Although the
the South. issues are often collapsed, minority issues
term “minority” had been added to the
While archaeology was conducted in were less effectively addressed.
name of the committee, no substantive
an unacknowledged racialized context SHA hosted a provocative symposium

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 4
at their annual meeting in 1996 dedicated populations and perspectives? If not, why policies, it is doubly difficult.
to questions surrounding the excavation not, and do you see this as a problem? 3. If African Americans or other
of African American sites and its political 2. Does institutional racism impact our underrepresented groups know about
dimension. The papers, subsequently practice? If so, how? the discipline, they first must overcome
published in Historical Archaeology (McDavid 3. Do racial whites continue to set the cultural and familial resistance and
and Babson 1997), pushed the profession to historical agenda for archaeology? If so, lack of familiarity.
examine itself for the first time. how? 4. Once the person embraces the
Despite the early activity of the Gender 4. Should SHA adopt a formal position profession s/he must pass entrance
and Minority Affairs Committee, it soon declaration on race (or do we prefer to examinations often designed with an
became relatively inactive at the end of remain racially neutral)? Do we want to inherent bias against her/him.
the century. In the mid-1990s there was bend the arc of archaeological practice 5. If the aspirant passes the test, s/he
talk of disbanding the committee since “it towards justice? must be accepted into an institution.
had fulfilled its mission” (Spencer-Wood 5. How can we begin to effectively address 6. If they are accepted, often there is no
1994:222). Since the work on the ABG the racial disparities in our profession? funding that ensures their attendance.
there has been increasing attention paid to 6. How do we begin to claim and put 7. If there is funding, often there is no
the archaeology of race and racialization into practice an anti-racist organizational support to see the person through the
(Epperson 2004; Fennell 2007; Franklin identity? rigors and demands of an advanced
1997a, 2001; Mullins 1999; Shackel 2011). degree.
Yet, there has been considerable less Future Action 8. If there is support the person must still
study of the way in which racism shapes At the close of the sponsored session be able to graduate.
archaeological practice, specifically the in Austin, the panelists and audience 9. If the person graduates and makes
voluntary association we call SHA (cf. participants suggested that a list of it into the profession, s/he is often
Battle-Baptiste 2011; Franklin 1997b; recommendations be brought to the board unable to get a tenure-track position in
LaRoche and Blakey 1997). of directors for their action. The board a major institution.
subsequently referred these concerns 10. If s/he manages to get a tenure-track
The Premises that Inform This back to the Gender and Minority Affairs position, tenure may not be granted.
Initiative Committee and the newly formed Ethics 11. If they become tenured, the move from
As social archaeologists we are Committee. associate to full professor is elusive.
interested in the ways in which our 12. Since there is one African American
racialized society influences our lives and 1. SHA should develop an ethics who is a full professor in the field of
by extension our archaeological practice. statement regarding racial inclusion archaeology that we know of, we can’t
Our efforts to explore these influences on and diversity. actually predict what the future holds.
our discipline are informed by our work 2. SHA leadership should participate Perhaps distinguished professor/
exploring ways of undoing racism in circles in anti-racism training as a group in emeritus/emerita status will not be
outside of SHA. Much of this work is an effort to transform the institution conferred.
founded on the following premises that if and move it towards an anti-racist
adopted can assist SHA in claiming an anti- identity. In other words, the commitment to
racist institutional identity: 3. SHA should develop a grievance diversity does not end with the admission
procedure for issues related to racial process. It must begin before that process
1. Racism is not of our making yet discrimination. is initiated and must continue long after we
we reproduce it individually, 4. SHA should conduct a self-study that think it should end.
institutionally, and culturally. examines how it is structured to benefit
2. We all have been socialized in a racist white society and how white privilege We must join together as a profession to
society; as a result we carry attitudes of is reflected in its personnel; programs, eliminate this disparity—individual schools
either internalized racial oppression or products, and services; constituency; operating in isolation has not been an effective
internalized racial superiority. structure; and mission. strategy. As a profession we have it within
3. Our society is dominated by a notion of our power to unite as a consortium to create a
white supremacy in which whiteness At the SHA board meeting in June 2011 different dynamic that can transform the racial
is the norm. the board approved a motion in support realities of our discipline.
4. The purpose of focusing on an of three initiatives aimed to encourage
analysis of racism and its place in our diversity in the SHA membership, including References
organization is not atonement for the funding for anti-racism training for the
past, but action for the future. board at next year’s mid-year meeting; Babson, David
a mentoring program; and one graduate 1990 The Archaeology of Racism and
Steps toward Claiming an Anti-Racist student to attend the conference. Ethnicity on Southern Plantations. Historical
Institutional Identity Archaeology 24(4):20–28.
In an effort to transform our practice, The Current Academic Climate in
SHA hosted an invited and sponsored panel Archaeology and the Academy Barnes, Jodi A.
at their annual meeting in Austin, TX (2011) 2011 Gender and Minority Affairs: Why Do
entitled: “Our Practice, Our Lives: What 1. The educational path to professional We Seek Diversity? The Society for Historical
Would an Anti-Racist SHA Look Like?” and academic standing in the field of Archaeology Newsletter 44(2):20–22. <http://
Five panelists were asked to provide their archaeology is daunting. www.sha.org/about/minutes/gender_
perspectives on the following questions: 2. For African Americans or other minority.cfm> Accessed 2 Nov. 2011.
minorities whose aspirations may have
1. Is SHA welcoming and retaining diverse been thwarted by tacit institutional Battle-Baptiste, Whitney

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 5
2011 Black Feminist Archaeology. Left Coast Old South. Academic Press, Orlando. archaeologists and curation facilities in
Press, Walnut Creek, CA. order to provide safety in the field and
Pilling, Arnold R. for future researchers. Unknown and
Epperson, Terrence W. 1967 Beginnings. Historical Archaeology hazardous historical substances can offer
1990 Race and the Disciplines of the 1:1–22. a unique opportunity to understand items
Plantation. Historical Archaeology 24(4):29– made and used in the past. Proper safety
36. Shackel, Paul protocols allow archaeologists to access
2011 New Philadelphia: An Archaeology unique data contained in these items.
Fennell, Christopher of Race in the Heartland. University of One of the unfortunate side effects
2007 Crossroads and Cosmologies: Diasporas California Press, Berkeley. of industrialization is the generation of
and Ethnogenesis in the New World. University hazardous chemicals and substances. The
Press of Florida, Gainesville. Spencer-Wood, Suzanne legacy of industrialization in the United
1994 The Historical Archaeology Women’s States has left us with toxic substances and
Franklin, Maria Caucus and the SHA Committee on contaminated sediments that are frequently
1997a Power to the People: Sociopolitics Gender Issues. In Equity Issues for Women in encountered by archaeologists. For
and the Archaeology of Black Americans. Archeology, Margaret C. Nelson, Sarah M. instance, two hazardous substances often
Historical Archaeology 31(3):36–50. Nelson, and Alison Wylie, editors, pp. 219– encountered in an archaeological context
223. Archeological Papers of the American are asbestos and benzene. Asbestos was
1997b Why Are There So Few Black Anthropological Association, Number 5. widely used for its fire-resistant properties
American Archaeologists? Antiquity and as an insulator from the 1800s until the
71(274):799–801. 1970s. Now, asbestos is known to cause a
form of lung cancer called mesothelioma.
2001 A Black Feminist–Inspired Asbestos can be encountered by
Archaeology? Journal of Social Archaeology The Legacy of archaeologists in old buildings and in the
1(1):108–125. rubble of demolished structures. Benzene is
Industrialization:
a hydrocarbon byproduct of petrochemical
LaRoche, Cheryl, and Michael Blakey Archaeology at combustion and has historically been used
1997 Seizing Intellectual Power: The Contaminated Sites as a solvent and fragrance. Inhalation or
Dialogue at the New York African Burial consumption of elevated levels of benzene
with Potentially
Ground. Historical Archaeology 31(3):84– can cause cancer in the liver, kidneys, heart,
106. Hazardous Artifacts and lungs. Benzene particles are so small
that they have penetrated nearly every
Little, Barbara, and Paul Shackel (editors) William A. White III location on earth, including the polar ice
2007 Archaeology as a Tool of Civic Project Director, Historical Archaeology caps. Archaeologists are often unaware of
Engagement. AltaMira, Lanham, MD. Statistical Research, Inc. the risks resulting from encounters with
Tucson, Arizona hazardous materials in archaeological
McDavid, Carol, and David W. Babson <[email protected]> sites and it would be valuable to establish
(editors) guidelines to minimize health risks.
1997 In the Realm of Politics: Prospects for Introduction Awareness is the best way to prevent
Public Participation in African-American Historical archaeologists frequently come health risks resulting from exposure to
and Plantation Archaeology. Historical in contact with contaminated soils, artifacts hazardous substances. I became interested
Archaeology 31(3). containing unknown substances, and other in developing guidelines for handling
products of days before Occupational potentially hazardous artifacts and
Mullins, Paul Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) contaminated sediments after the discovery
1999 Race and Affluence: An Archaeology regulations. What should archaeologists of a small brown bottle at the Japanese
of African America and Consumer Culture. do when they encounter potentially Gulch site in Mukilteo, Washington. The
Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press, New hazardous artifacts in the field? How do Japanese Gulch site (45SN398) is associated
York. we protect our health and still collect and with a Japanese workers’ community
curate important archaeological data? inhabited between 1904 and the 1930s. The
Orser, Charles E., Jr. Fortunately, occupational safety and the brown bottle was discovered by Northwest
2007 The Archaeology of Race and Racialization identification of potentially hazardous Archaeological Associates, Inc. (NWAA)
in Historic America. University Press of artifacts are mandated by federal law. during archaeological investigations in
Florida, Gainesville. A basic protocol for encounters with 2007. The cork and contents were intact
potentially hazardous artifacts is not and the bottle was marked “POISON”.
Otto, John Solomon widely used by archaeologists in the United I disregarded the embossing because I
1975 Status Differences and the Archaeological States currently, but can easily be added to believed any hazardous contents had long
Record: A Comparison of Planter, Overseer, existing health and safety rules for CRM since leached out into the surrounding
and Slave Sites from Cannon’s Point companies and research institutions. The sediments. Because the bottle was complete
Plantation (1794-1861), St. Simon’s Island, first step to establishing a protocol is to with contents and labeled as being poison,
Georgia. Ph.D. dissertation, University of provide for the education of employees and it was sealed separately in its own bag and
Florida, Gainesville. University Microfilms testing of unknown substances and artifacts. brought back to NWAA facilities in Seattle.
International, Ann Arbor, MI. Next, safety guidelines similar to those Once the bottle was brought to the lab,
established by OSHA can be implemented. strange things started to happen. The bottle
1984 Cannon’s Point Plantation, 1794-1860: Ultimately, the resulting guidelines should was cleaned. The previously moist cork
Living Conditions and Status Patterns in the be created through collaboration between dried out in a few days and a mysterious

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 6
white powder started to appear around come in contact with these substances at substances because employers are mandated
the bottle’s lip and cork. The artifact was concentrated levels or for long periods to maintain a safe work environment for
placed in a museum-quality curation bag, of time, such as during data recovery employees. Laws vary by state, but the
in the belief that the bag would prevent at certain historical archaeological sites. OSHA Standards listed in 29 CFR 1910.1200
human contact with the bottle’s contents. Archaeologists can minimize their risks App E are an interpretation of federal
Unfortunately, archaeologists working if they are aware of the potential hazards. regulations that spell out the obligations
with the assemblage started to complain Archaeologists and cultural resource employers have towards their employees
about feeling light-headed whenever they management companies need to have regarding toxic and hazardous substances.
were around the small brown bottle. We a site-specific plan in place to deal with It states employers shall provide employees
were concerned that our symptoms were hazards when they are encountered, as with information and training on hazardous
somehow related to the bottle contents so well as a plan to contain or discard polluted chemicals at the time of their initial
the question was eventually posed: what archaeological materials in order to ensure assignment and whenever a new physical
do we do with it? the safety of their employees. or health hazard has been introduced into
If at all possible, we wanted to dispose I learned from the incident at Japanese their work area. The OSHA Standards also
of the contents without discarding the Gulch that many of us archaeologists are state that studies can be used or may need to
artifact. I first contacted the Washington not prepared to handle toxic artifacts or be conducted to determine health effects of
State Toxicology Lab in Seattle. They had contaminated sediments. Until I had the exposure to chemicals. If potential hazards
never encountered this sort of situation. encounter with the mercuric chloride are discovered by contract archaeologists,
The toxicology lab primarily focuses on bottle, I was unaware of the potential risks the proponents of a project are responsible
items as part of criminal investigations. posed by contaminated artifacts. I also did for conducting testing to determine adverse
Therefore, unless the bottle was involved in not know what to do when this item was health effects. Basically, if archaeologists
a crime the state lab could not work with recovered. None of the archaeologists I find a toxic substance the sponsors of
the sample. Had I convinced them to take personally knew and spoke with had any the cultural resources investigation or
the artifact it would simply be disposed of suggestions. Even the state toxicology lab archaeological dig can be held responsible
as hazardous waste with no analysis of the did not know what to do. This document for any additional analysis required by law.
contents. emphasizes unknown bottle contents Also, it is against the law for archaeologists
NWAA had previously worked with but this information can be applied to to dispose of an unknown substance.
the University of Washington’s Department any artifact or item with suspect contents The only way to properly treat these
of Medicinal Chemistry to determine the from potentially contaminated contexts. artifacts is to conduct additional analysis
contents of bottles excavated at another Adequate preparation and accurate to discover the identity of the substance.
site. The Department of Medicinal identification of potentially hazardous Several effective analysis techniques for
Chemistry uses a mass spectrometer artifacts or contaminated sediments are the identification of unknown historical
to profile chemical compounds of the the critical aspects to maintaining safety. substances on artifacts have been reported
unknown substances NWAA has dug up. Regulations developed for working with in the archaeological literature, including
Mass spectral data can be used to identify hazardous chemicals in other industries can gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry
substances to determine if they are toxic. I help archaeologists identify and dispose of (GC/MS), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), and
contacted Dr. Bill Howald, director of the toxic artifacts. instrumental neutron activation analysis
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, and I believe that the archaeological value (INAA).
described our situation. Dr. Howald told me of a site or an artifact is not diminished by If analysis indicates the artifact is
how to store the artifact to prevent further pollution. The research value of potentially hazardous, other regulations may apply.
contamination of our lab and to safely hazardous sites is not diminished by Regulations regarding hazardous waste
transport it to the university. He said that contamination and important information usually operate on a local level, but national
he could examine the contents and safely can be revealed without health risks if guidelines exist as well under the Resource
dispose of them if it was necessary. I took simple precautions are taken. Discovering Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or
the bottle to Dr. Howald and finally learned the nature of contaminated artifacts can the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA).
what was inside. The bottle contained yield invaluable information that can These regulations are useful and necessary
mercury (II) chloride, or mercuric chloride, provide insight into the substances used for the proper transport and disposal of
a very hazardous substance that causes in historic-period households, businesses, hazardous substances. Archaeologists
irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory and industries. A practical guideline for should be aware of regulations regarding
tract. It can also affect the kidneys and encounters with potentially hazardous working with hazardous artifacts in
central nervous system. Mercuric chloride artifacts should use existing regulations; their state and municipality. Some of this
cannot be treated at a wastewater facility provide for risk prevention and artifact information can be learned at a Hazardous
and will disperse into the environment if analysis and curation; and should be Waste Operations and Emergency Response
disposed of in a landfill. There are federal, inexpensive. (HAZWOPER) course.
state, and local regulations for disposing of
mercuric chloride. Dr. Howald disposed Regulatory Context Preparation as Risk Prevention
of the contents properly and returned the A regulatory framework for working Archaeologists must be prepared for
bottle to NWAA. with hazardous materials has already encounters with potentially hazardous
been developed in the United States. This artifacts. This is important for maintaining
Developing Guidelines framework operates on the national, state, safety in the workplace and determining
Some toxic substances can be tolerated at and local level and was developed to what precautions to take while handling
low levels. Due to industrialization, there protect employees in industries where they artifact assemblages. Background
are traces of carcinogens like benzene may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. research about the land-use history of a
and mercuric chloride all around us. In the United States, provisions have been given archaeological site or project area
Problems primarily result when humans made for the identification of unknown is important not only for the context it

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 7
provides, but also for the potential artifact may remain in the sediments. Aside from Both human remains and potentially
classes that may be recovered and any bottles with contents, organic artifacts like hazardous work conditions are covered by
potentially hazardous chemicals that may bone and wood can absorb toxic substances federal and sometimes state law, so clients
be found in sediments. Also, check for other from the surrounding sediments. Additional can be held legally responsible in the event
environmental data that may be available analysis is often required for unknown of their discovery. Being prepared for an
for each project area. This information can substances or sediments that have not unlikely encounter begins with allowing
also be used to assess prospective risks. been proven to be contaminated. The for additional processing in the original
Certain types of sites, such as former identification and treatment of unknown contract, excavation permit application, or
industrial facilities, are more likely to historical substances is also useful for research design.
contain polluted sediments and artifacts. all who work with the resulting artifact The biggest cost to most archaeologists
However, domestic and rural sites can also assemblages. Archaeological field and and cultural resource management
harbor potentially hazardous substances laboratory technicians need to know what companies is the training needed to
because people were not careful with their they are working with in order to reduce gain awareness of potential hazards.
disposal and use of household products in health risks. If an artifact is presumed toxic, HAZWOPER courses can be quite an
the past (Garman 2001:223). Also, many testing should be conducted before any investment for employees who may rarely
products used in the past have been proven archaeologist can work on the assemblage. work with contaminated sites or artifacts.
hazardous today. One of the best sources Additionally, archaeological repositories Hazardous materials training can be
of information is other archaeologists who need to know what kinds of artifacts focused on key personnel who are the most
may have had encounters like this before. If they are housing in their facilities. Once likely to encounter contamination or toxic
archaeologists are ready for the unplanned identified, safe-handling information can substances. These individuals can pass on
discovery of potentially hazardous artifacts, be learned from Material Safety Data Sheets information to coworkers, participate in site-
as they are for the accidental discovery of (MSDS) downloaded from the Internet. This specific safety planning, or prepare safety
human remains, they will be better able will guide future treatment of recovered tool kits for their company. Additionally,
to allocate time and money for additional artifacts. If an artifact is too polluted to be companies can use their experienced,
analysis as well as prevent health risks. handled safely, it may be turned over to highly trained personnel as a marketing
An important point is that polluted a hazardous waste facility for treatment tool to gain further work. A successful
sediments should be treated differently following documentation. track record of handling contaminated
than bottles with unknown contents. Curation facilities become the stewards archaeological sites and a crew of trained
Archaeology in hazardous sediments of archaeological assemblages in perpetuity employees is highly marketable and may
ushers in OSHA and liability concerns that and it is important for them to be aware of help win contracts.
must be treated differently than unknown the context where archaeological materials
bottle contents. If a site is suspected to were recovered. Bottles with contents Case Study: The Teager/Weimer Site
be contaminated, it is best to notify the are rarely recovered in an archaeological An example of using general guidelines
proponent of the project and steer away context. More frequently, curation facilities to prepare for encounters with potentially
from the site until a site-specific health and come in contact with artifacts removed hazardous artifacts is the archaeological
safety plan is developed. from polluted sediments. While most bottle excavations conducted by NWAA at
Another step towards preparation is the contents are relatively benign and can the Teager/Weimer site in Arlington,
creation of a simple tool kit of hazardous be safely stored for many years, it is still Washington. The Teager/Weimer site was
waste equipment for use in the field and important to know if a repository is willing a turn-of-the-20th-century archaeological
the training of crew members in its use. to store them and, if so, how they would like site that consisted of a sheet of domestic
Since most archaeology field crews are not them packaged. It is also important to make material culture and an intact privy feature.
hazardous material technicians and would sure they are aware that porous artifacts The site was going to be destroyed by the
not be expected to work in extremely toxic may have absorbed chemicals following expansion of a nearby wastewater treatment
environments, the necessary tool kit should deposition. Substances that are considered facility. Following identification, the privy
be an extension of first aid equipment. safe now may not be in the future. It is the feature was considered the most important
An assortment of gloves and clean, sterile responsibility of archaeologists to help part of the site and was subjected to data
glass jars or curation-quality plastic bags to repositories safely curate these collections. recovery excavations in early 2008.
contain dubious artifacts is the minimum. Included in the archaeological
Respirators may also be necessary depending Inexpensive Health and Safety excavation permit was a clause stating
upon the project. It is best if this tool kit is Precautions that any potentially unknown substances
created by an archaeologist who has taken Perhaps the most important aspect of would be subjected to mass spectrometry
the HAZWOPER 40-hour training course safety guidelines is funding. How can analysis for identification. Any hazardous
(Garman 2001:229). Training in prevention archaeologists pay for the additional materials encountered would be disposed
can also be considered an extension of analysis of artifacts and their disposal, of according to Washington State law.
first aid education for the crew. Potential if required? Unknown substances in a Because the data recovery excavations
hazards can be communicated during a site bottle buried for 100 years are not always would be focused on the privy, field
meeting before a project begins. hazardous to human health and additional technicians were required to have tetanus
analysis can be expensive and time- and hepatitis immunizations before they
Identification of Unknowns consuming. I suggest that a way to provide could work at the site. Crew members were
Once archaeologists are aware of the additional funding for analysis is to add a told about potential bacterial and chemical
potential hazards associated with a project, caveat to the contract or research design for hazards and were required to wear nitrile
they can plan to avoid them. For instance, any project that may encounter hazardous and vinyl gloves while digging.
archaeologists digging in an industrial artifacts. This can be done similar to During excavation nine bottles were
zone should be aware of the potential the way provisions are made for the recovered with unknown contents. Because
petrochemicals and industrial solvents that inadvertent discovery of human remains. of my previous experiences at the Japanese

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 8
Gulch site, the bottles were stored on the mass spectrometry scan were given to the also owe my former NWAA supervisors
roof of the NWAA building in separate museum. Christian J. Miss and Lorelea Hudson a
bags. The bottles were prepared for analysis debt of gratitude for providing me with
at the University of Washington and were Conclusion the opportunity to work at these sites and
photographed before they left our facility Archaeologists and cultural resources having the funding and insight to use mass
in case they never returned. Each bottle practitioners encounter a number of spectrometry on bottle contents that were
was triple bagged in curation-quality situations where activities conducted in the previously rinsed down the drain without
plastic bags and placed in sterile glass jars past have left behind hazardous wastes. a second thought.
with metal caps before being transported to Guidelines for encounters with potentially
the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. I hazardous substances will become References and Recommended Reading
provided the university with a background increasingly important as we continue
of the contexts these bottles were recovered to identify and work with contaminated Garman, James C.
from and a mass spectrometry scan of the sites in the future. Archaeologists should 2001 A Final Forewarning: Practical
contents was conducted. Funding for the develop protocols for dealing with potential Steps to Providing Archaeologists with
mass spectrometry analysis was provided chemical hazards in order to provide for Safe Working Environments. In Dangerous
for in the excavation permit and paid by their own safety and the safety of their Places: Health, Safety, and Archaeology, David
the City of Arlington. Other potentially coworkers. Historic bottles with contents A. Poirier and Kenneth L. Feder, editors.
hazardous items like zinc-cored batteries are a rare and important find. They have Bergin and Garvey, Westport, CT.
were photographed, documented on great research potential to provide essential
archaeological excavation forms, and left data from a wide variety of analytical National Institute of Occupational Safety
at the site after notifying City of Arlington perspectives. Most archaeological and Health
officials of their discovery. assemblages are benign or, at most, mildly 2007 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
In this case, none of the bottles were toxic, but sometimes hazardous substances Hazards. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication
toxic or hazardous. All contents were are discovered. Archaeologists need to No. 2005-149. Department of Health and
common medicines used during the early plan for these encounters. Fortunately, Human Services, Centers for Disease
20th century and were made with natural analyzing unknown substances is covered Control and Prevention, National Institute
oils and resins. Additional research by federal and state law. This analysis is not for Occupational Safety and Health.
indicated that the medicines could be used only valuable for the resulting data, but for Washington, DC.
to treat a variety of ailments and contain the safety of all who come in contact with
effective ingredients still in use today. This potentially hazardous contents. Poirier, David A. and Kenneth L. Feder,
provided insight into the type of ingredients editors
used in medicines around the turn of the Acknowledgments 2001 Dangerous Places: Health, Safety, and
century and what illnesses they treated. This work could not have been completed Archaeology. Bergin and Garvey, Westport,
We decided to keep the liquids inside the without selfless assistance from a few key CT.
bottles for future research because the individuals. I would like to thank Dr. Bill
contents were nontoxic and were made Howald and the University of Washington’s Wiehagen, William J., Donald W. Conrad,
from natural ingredients. In order to curate Department of Medicinal Chemistry for and James M. Baugher
the bottles with their contents inside, I their work scanning each of my samples. Dr. 2006 Job Training Analysis: A Process for
consulted with the collections manager at Howald was particularly instrumental in Quickly Developing a Roadmap for Teaching and
the Burke Museum of Natural History and providing insightful comments concerning Evaluating Job Skills. Information Circular
Culture and the Department of Medicinal what these mystery medicines might be 9490. Department of Health and Human
Chemistry at the University of Washington. and how to safely handle artifacts like these Services, Centers for Disease Control
The bottles were corked with black rubber in the future. Dr. Terry Cook also deserves and Prevention, National Institute for
stoppers and placed in curation boxes with heartfelt thanks for urging me to use mass Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh
cardboard supports that would keep them spectrometry on unknown bottle contents Research Laboratory. Pittsburgh, PA.
held upright. Each bottle with contents in the first place and helping me deduce
was placed in the box and the results of the some of the compounds in these bottles. I
SHA Books Received: Cochrane and Gardner (Eds) Behavioral Archaeology: Principles and
Practice - Schiffer
Need Reviewers
Numismatic Finds of the Americas: An
Inventory of American Coin Hoards, An Archaeology of Desperation: Exploring
Contact SHA Reviews Editor Charles
Shipwrecks, Single Finds, and Finds in the Donner Party’s Alder Creek Camp -
Ewen (<[email protected]>) to offer
Excavations - Kleeberg Dixon, Schablitsky, and Novak
to review a book on this list.
Handbook of Postcolonial Archaeology -
Persistent Memories: Pyramiden – A Soviet Lydon and Rizvi (Eds)
Mining Town in the High Arctic -
Andreassen, Bjerck, and Olsen Anabaptist Faience from Moravia 1593 – 1620
- Pajer
The Plurality of Power: An Archaeology of
Industrial Capitalism - Cowie Africa and Archaeology: Empowering an
Expatriate Life - Posnansky
Evolutionary and Interpretive Archaeologies -

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 9
Current Research
Please send summaries of your recent research to the appropriate geographical coordinator listed below. Photo-
graphs and other illustrations are encouraged. Please submit summaries as Word or text-only files. Submit illustra-
tions as separate files (.jpeg preferred, 300 dpi or greater resolution).
AFRICA
Kenneth G. Kelly, University of South Carolina, <[email protected]>
ASIA
Edward W. Gonzalez-Tennant, <[email protected]>
AUSTRALASIA AND ANTARCTICA
Susan Piddock, Flinders University, <[email protected]>
CANADA-ATLANTIC (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)
Amanda Crompton, Memorial University of Newfoundland, <[email protected]>
CANADA-ARCTIC
Henry Cary, Parks Canada, <[email protected]>
CANADA-ONTARIO
Jon K. Jouppien, <[email protected]>
CANADA-PRAIRIE (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Yukon and Nunavut)
Jennifer Hamilton, Parks Canada, <[email protected]>
CANADA-QUÉBEC
Stéphane Noël, Université Laval, <[email protected]>
CANADA-WEST (Alberta, British Columbia)
Rod J. Heitzmann, Parks Canada, <[email protected]>
CARIBBEAN AND BERMUDA
Frederick H. Smith, College of William and Mary, <[email protected]>
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
Natascha Mehler, University of Vienna, <[email protected]>
GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
James Symonds, University of York, <[email protected]>
MEXICO, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
Pedro Paulo Funari, <[email protected]>
MIDDLE EAST
Uzi Baram, New College of Florida, <[email protected]>
UNDERWATER (Worldwide)
Toni L. Carrell, Ships of Discovery, <[email protected]>
USA-ALASKA
Robin O. Mills, Bureau of Land Management, <[email protected]>
USA-CENTRAL PLAINS (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska)
Jay Sturdevant, National Park Service, <[email protected]>
USA-GULF STATES (Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas)
Kathleen H. Cande, Arkansas Archaeological Survey, <[email protected]>
USA-MID-ATLANTIC (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia)
Ben Resnick, GAI Consultants, <[email protected]>
USA-MIDWEST (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin)
Lynn L.M. Evans, Mackinac State Historic Parks, <[email protected]>
USA-NORTHEAST (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont)
David Starbuck, <[email protected]>
USA-NORTHERN PLAINS AND MOUNTAIN STATES (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming)
Steven G. Baker, Centuries Research, <[email protected]>
USA-PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Idaho, Oregon, Washington)
Robert Cromwell, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, <[email protected]>
USA-PACIFIC WEST (California, Hawaii, Nevada)
Kimberly Wooten <[email protected]>
USA-SOUTHEAST (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)
Gifford Waters, Florida Museum of Natural History, <[email protected]>
USA-SOUTHWEST (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah)
Michael R. Polk, Sagebrush Consultants, <[email protected]>
CURRENT RESEARCH BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE

Volume 44: Number 4 Winter 2011 Page 10