Celebrate Idaho Archaeology Month in May with Bridging the Past Lecture Series

The Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) is celebrating Idaho Archaeology month with a four-part lecture series, Bridging the Past. Every Wednesday evening in May you can catch a free lecture about Idaho archaeology.

Starting on May 6 with “Reconstructing Ancient Foodways in the Central Rockies: The Faunal and Botanical Records at Three Archaeological Sites in Birch Creek Valley, Eastern Idaho” by Dr. Brooke S. Arkush, professor emeritus of anthropology at Weber State University (WSU). Dr. Arkush will describe the work and results from WSU Archaeological Field School, 2012 through 2019, within the Dubois Ranger District of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. Excavations at three prehistoric sites (Bobcat Shelter, Cottontail Shelter, and Sagebrush Spring) revealed abundant, well-preserved faunal assemblages and moderate amounts of culturally-modified plant remains. The recovered sample suggests that within the general study area, bighorn sheep and bison were major animal prey species for the last 8,000 years, whereas cactus, sunflower, and goosefoot/amaranth were important plant foods during this time. Small amounts of charred tobacco seeds were recovered from two of the sites, reflecting Native recreational and/or ceremonial use of this culturally-valued plant.

On May 13, join the IMNH for “Preserving Basque Arborglyphs” presented by Joseph Nigro, Boise State University graduate student. Nigro will present about arborglyphs, tree carvings, that provide insight into the lives of Basque sheepherders while working in isolated mountain ranges across the American West. With changes in grazing practices, increasingly frequent wildfires, and the natural aging of trees, these carvings are at threat of being lost forever. Learn more about the work being done by Lertxun-marrak: The Arborglyph Collaborative to document and digitize arborglyphs across the West, and how you can help locate, document, and preserve these carvings.

Dr. Kyle Freund, Idaho National Laboratory Cultural Resources, will present “Long-Term Patterns of Obsidian Source Use in Eastern Idaho” on May 20. Dr. Freund will present about obsidian, a volcanic glass used for the manufacture of stone tools, and how archaeologists study this unique raw material to better understand past human behavior. Special emphasis is placed on provenance studies that trace obsidian artifacts from their point of discard to their geological origins. This presentation thus focuses on long-term patterns of obsidian source use in eastern Idaho and discusses how archaeologists use these data to reconstruct obsidian conveyance zones and address questions about mobility, directionality, and land use.

Finally, on May 27, Jennifer Finn, Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Office, will join the IMNH to present “BLM Archaeology 101: Caring for Cultural Resources on your Public Lands.” Finn’s presentation will focus on archaeology on America's public land that offers a unique window into the deep human past. As an agency, the BLM  manages these irreplaceable cultural resources while balancing the many uses of public lands including recreation, mining, wildlife habitat, rangelands, fire management, and energy development. This presentation introduces the role of archaeology within the BLM, applicable federal laws, highlights the diversity of cultural sites found across our landscapes, and explains how responsible stewardship ensures these places endure for future generations. Attendees will learn how the public can get involved through volunteer programs and responsible visitation.

This lecture series is free of charge to be accessible to all and to increase our understanding of our shared natural history. Space is limited, registration is requested. Registration information can be found at isu.edu/imnh. 

The IMNH has served Idaho since 1934. To learn more or to learn about other programming please visit isu.edu/imnh or call (208) 282-3168.