Welcome to the Minnesota Archaeological Society Website

Welcome to the Minnesota Archaeological Society Website!

  • Get your knees dirty on an exploratory dig of a 1,000-year-old Indian village, or an 150-year-old pioneer cabin.
  • Find out about the latest archaeological discoveries and theories in Society publications, lectures and informal talks.
  • Lend a hand in the lab, helping to analyze pottery sherds, stone tools, animal bones and other artifacts.
  • Meet others who share your passion for the past at a Society social event. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

      Updated 10/15/08

      UPCOMING EVENTS:

      Fall Lecture: People of the Sea-- The Archaeology of Complex Hunter-Gatherers on the Northern North Pacific Ocean by Brian Hoffman, Hamline University. Tuesday October 21, 2008. 7pm Fort Snelling History Center Auditorium.

      Click here for more info!

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      Recent Events:

      Mille Lacs Kathio Archaeology Day. Saturday September 27th, 2008. 10am - 4pm.-- Demonstrations will include flint knapping, primitive bow making, spears and spear-throwers, pottery making and children's activities. Displays include artifacts, books and pamphlets from the Minnesota Archaeological Society, archaeology research by the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Cloud State University and the Office of the State Archaeologist. The public is invited to observe a small excavation in progress, where previous work revealed artifacts and the floor of a house from A.D. 1200. Films about archaeology will be shown continuously at the park's interpretive center.

      Flintknapping on the Cannon Valley Trail -- Rod Johnson will be flintknapping this Summer on the first Saturdays in June (7th), July (5th), and August (2nd) at Welch Station on the Cannon Valley Trail. A table with info about the MAS, Minnesota archaeology, and the Red Wing area will also be on display.

      Elliot Park Neighborhood Archaeology Excavation opportunity, Wednesday August 13th - Sunday August 17th, from 9am - 5pm each day in downtown Minneapolis.

      MAS Annual Meeting -- Friday April 18th, 2008 7pm Hamline University, Sorin Hall. This year's speaker will be Dr. Mark Muniz, SCSU, speaking on the Hudson-Meng site in Nebraska.

      MHS Archaeology Fair -- Saturday 10a-5p and Sunday 12-5p May 3-4, 2008 Fort Snelling History Center.

      MN Archaeology Week -- Friday May 2nd - Sunday May 11th, 2008 Various events will be occuring around the state. Click here for details.

      MAS Winter Lecture -- Free lecture coming this Tuesday February 19th, 7pm at Fort Snelling History Center. Archaeology of Whiskey Row (Two Harbors, MN): Tim Tumberg, MHS Archaeologist will present his work on this site. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

      MAS NEWSLETTERS:

      Read the current MAS Newsletter SUMMER 2008 - Elliot Park Archaeology, calendar, class info and more!
      You'll need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free download) installed on your computer.

      The Minnesota Archaeological Society (MAS) invites you to share with us exciting discoveries from Minnesota's past. The Society, established in 1936, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and study of archaeological resources in the Upper Midwest. All persons with an interest in archaeology - those just beginning to explore the field as well as avocational archaeologists and professionals - are welcome.

      MAS is a doing organization. Members volunteer their time and energy to participate in Society programs, helping to protect Minnesota's rich heritage and learning something about themselves in the process. Society activities include:

      • Slide lectures on current fieldwork and research in archaeology, anthropology and history. Past topics have included Minnesota's Old Copper Culture and ethnoarchaeology in East Africa.
      • Classes in fieldwork methods and artifact analysis, taught by professional archaeologists from government and private organizations.
      • Opportunities to take part in field projects sponsored by MAS and other Minnesota organizations.
      • Field trips to important archaeological sites, such as Jeffers Petroglyphs in western Minnesota and Effigy Mounds National Park in Iowa.
      • Participation in special events such as Minnesota Archaeology Week and the Midwest Archaeological Conference.
      • Social events - potluck dinners, brown-bag lunches, informal get-togethers - that allow you to share your experiences and insights with other members and working archaeologists.

      The inscriptions on the left are from a 1,000-year-old pot that was discovered in 1957 near Red Wing, Minnesota by an MAS member. The thunderbird motif is representative of Middle Mississippian iconography.

      Disseminating knowledge is a vital part of the Society's mission. All members receive The Minnesota Archaeologist, an annual journal containing illustrated articles on ancient Native American culture, the history of European settlement and the latest archaeological techniques. MnArch, found in the libraries of dozens of respected cultural institutions in the U.S. and Canada, has been continuously published since 1936.

      The MAS Newsletter and regular mailings keep you informed about current digs and research projects, volunteer opportunities, upcoming lectures and field trips, and the activities of fellow members.

      The Society also publishes books on Ojibway and Dakota culture, major excavations, archaeological methodology and other topics.

      On this website you will find:

      • The MAS Board of Directors: This page lists the members of the Board of Directors, their positions, and their contact information.
      • Calendar of Events: This page has a calendar listing upcoming meetings, social events, classes, field trips and other event of interest in the next few months.
      • Meeting and Events Information: This page has information about the upcoming meetings/events and where they will be held and the topic to be discussed.
      • Member Information: This page has information on becoming a member, as well as an application for membership.
      • Photo Archive: This page has several pictures from MAS past events and meetings.
      • MAS Reflections: This page is dedicated to the history, thoughts and other reflections of MAS members.
      • Links: This page has a list of links related to archaeology and anthropology.


      Last Updated: September 21, 2008
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