VIRTUAL ARCHAEOLOGY’S IMPACT • A MAYA PIONEER • OUR PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS american archaeologyFALL 2003 a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 7 No. 3 The Barton Site: Thousands of Years of Occupation 33> $3.95 7525274 91765 archaeological tours led by noted scholars superb itineraries, unsurpassed service For the past 28 years, Archaeological Tours has been arranging specialized tours for a discriminating clientele. Our tours feature distinguished scholars who stress the historical, anthropological and archaeological aspects of the areas visited. We offer a unique opportunity for tour participants to see and understand historically important and culturally significant areas of the world. Robert Bianchi in Egypt 2003 TOURS SRI LANKA MAYA SUPERPOWERS MUSEUMS OF SPAIN Among the first great Buddhist kingdoms, the island of This exciting tour examines the ferocious political Bilbao, Barcelona & Madrid Sri Lanka offers wonders far exceeding its small size. struggles between the Maya superpowers in the Late October 2 – 12, 2003 11 Days As we explore this mystical place, we will have a Classical period including bitter antagonism between Led by Prof. Ori Z. Soltes, Georgetown University glimpse of life under kings who created sophisticated Tikal in northern Guatemala and Calakmul across the irrigation systems, built magnificent temples and huge border in Mexico. New roads will allow us to visit these OASES OF THE WESTERN DESERT dagobas, carved 40-foot-tall Buddhas and one who ancient cities, as well as Copan in Honduras, Lamanai Alexandria, Siwa, Bahariya, Dakhla & Kharga, Luxor chose to build his royal residence, gardens and pools and the large archaeological project at Caracol in Belize October 3 – 20, 2003 18 Days on the top of a 600-foot rock outcropping. Our journey and Kohunlich and Edzna in Mexico. The tour will also Led by Prof.Lanny Bell, Brown University will take us to six World Heritage sites as well as wildlife provide opportunities to see the still-pristine tropical forest sanctuaries, tea plantations, colonial hill stations, in the Maya Biosphere Reserves. Our adventure ends in ANATOLIA (CROSSROADS OF EUROPE monasteries, colorful rituals and festivals giving us an colonial Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. AND ASIA) understanding of Sri Lankan culture and history. Ankara, Hattusa, Cappadocia, Antalya, Pamukkale, MARCH 12 – 28, 2004 17 DAYS Aphrodisias, Sardis, Ephesus, Izmir, Pergamon, Troy, JANUARY3 – 20, 2004 18 DAYS NOVEMBER 12 – 28, 2004 Bursa and Istanbul. FEBRUARY7 – 24, 2004 Led by Prof. John Henderson, Cornell University October 12 – November 1, 2003 21 Days Led by Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne, U. of Peradeniya Led by Dr. Mattanyah Zohar, Hebrew University MALTA, SARDINIA & CORSICA SOUTHERN INDIA This unusual tour will explore the ancient civilizations of THE SPLENDORS OF ANCIENT EGYPT Our tour begins in Bombay and includes the Ellora and these three islands. Tour highlights include immense IN TWO WEEKS Ajanta rock-cut cave temples and Kanchipuram, one of megalithic temples on Malta, Sardinia’s unique Cairo, Faiyum Oasis, Luxor, Dendera, Abydos, Aswan the seven sacred cities of India. We will visit the famous nuraghes, and the mysterious cult sites on Corsica, as and Abu Simbel, with five-day Nile Cruise on the Sonesta shore temples outside Madras and the temples and well as the ancient remains of the Phoenicians, Moon Goddess. palaces of Trichy, Madurai, Mysore, Goa and sail along Romans, Greeks and Crusader knights. The islands’ October 19 – November 2, 2003 15 Days the backwaters of Kerala to Cochin. Ahighlight of the tour wild and beautiful settings and their wonderful cuisines Led by Dr.Hratch Papazian, The University of Chicago will be the extraordinary Vijayanagar ruins at Hampi, a will enhance our touring of these archaeological sites. World Heritage site. We will explore bazaars, sample APRIL 28 – MAY 15, 2004 18 DAYS ETHIOPIA (THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF exotic foods and attend classical dance performances. AXUM) Led by Dr. Mattanyah Zohar, Hebrew University Addis Ababa Gondar, Mekele, Lalibela, Axum, Bahir Dar FEBRUARY9 – MARCH 4, 2004 24 DAYS and the Simien Mountains Led by Prof. John M. Fritz, University of Pennsylvania CHINA’S LIVING LANDSCAPES: November 7 – 23, 2003 17 Days Sacred Mountains & The Yangtze River Led by Dr. Mattanyah Zohar, Hebrew University THE SPLENDORS OF ANCIENT EGYPT This very special tour encompasses one of China’s An in-depth tour of ancient Egypt, begins with six days most sacred Buddhist mountains, Emeishan, and most GUATEMALA & COPÁN in Cairo, a visit to Tanis in the Delta and the collapsed beautiful, Huangshan. Additional highlights include the November 6 – 21, 2003 16 Days pyramid of Meydum and Roman Karanis in the Faiyum Forbidden City in Beijing, the archaeological splendors Led by Prof. John Henderson, Cornell University Oasis. With five full days in Luxor we will have a thorough and terra-cotta army of the First Emperor in Xian, the exploration of the temples and tombs of Thebes, fabulous Dazu grottoes carved with thousands of NORTHERN INDIA Dendera and Abydos before a five-day Nile cruise on the Buddhas, the newly installed Shanghai Museum — plus Agra, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Sanchi, Udaipur, Jodhpur, deluxe Oberoi Philae. The tour concludes with three four magnificent days on the Yangtze River, sailing from Jaisalmer and Jaipur days in Aswan, the Nubian Museum and Abu Simbel. Chongqing to Wuhan through the famous Three Gorges. October 30 – November 23, 2003 25 Days Led by Prof. John Fritz, University of Pennsylvania NOVEMBER 4 – 23, 2003 20 DAYS MAY2 – 22, 2004 21 DAYS Led by Prof. Lanny Bell, Brown University Led by Prof. Robert Thorp, Washington University KHMER KINGDOMS FEBRUARY6 – 25, 2004 Myanmar, Thailand, Laos & Cambodia Led by Dr. Robert Bianchi, Egyptologist ADDITIONAL TOURS December 28, 2003 – January 19, 2004 23 Days Cyprus, Crete & Santorini; Bulgaria & Romania; Tibet; Led by Prof.Richard Cooler, Northern Illinois U. BYZANTINE TO BAROQUE Silk Road; Scotland; Sicily & So. Italy; Coastal Turkey & As we travel from Assisi to Venice, this spectacular tour No. Cyprus; Peru; Portugal, Caves & Castles...and more 2004 TOURS will offer a unique opportunity to observe the MALI WITH BURKINA FASO development of art and history in both the Eastern and Our West African tour introduces the art, architecture and Western Christian worlds. We begin with four days in cultures of the ancient kingdoms that flourished along the Assisi, including a day trip to medieval Cortona. We Niger River. We will visit Mopti, Djenné and Timbuktu, then continue to Arezzo, Padua and Ravenna, ending medieval trade cities renowned for their spectacular mud with three glorious days in Venice, gateway to the architecture, the legendary Kangaba griots and the Orient. Throughout we will experience the sources of Dogon’s cliff-perched villages. Additional highlights visual inspiration for a thousand years of art while include three days in Burkina Faso, a boat trip on the sampling the food and drink that have enhanced the Niger and special dance performances. Italian world since it was the center of the Roman Empire. MARCH 3 – 14, 2004 12 DAYS DECEMBER 27, 2003 – JANUARY 12, 2004 17 DAYS NEW Led by Prof.Trevor Marchand, SOAS, U. of London Led by Prof. Ori Z. Soltes, Georgetown University american archaeology a quarterly publication of The Archaeological Conservancy Vol. 7 No. 3 fall 2003 COVER FEATURE 20 COVERING THE GAMUT OF PREHISTORY BY DAVID MALAKOFF Evidence of thousands of years of occupation has been found at the Barton site in Maryland. 12 A POTENTIAL THREAT TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES BY ELAINE ROBBINS Though most metal detector users are law abiding, some have used these increasingly sophisticated instruments to loot archaeological sites. 18 AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY’S PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS 26 OLD SITE, NEW INFORMATION BY NANCY S. GRANT Annis Village was first excavated more than 60 years ago. The current investigation of Annis is revealing information about this small Mississippian site as well as highlighting the differences between archaeology then and now. 33 A PIONEER IN MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY BY CHAR SOLOMON 48 new acquisition In the mid-20th century Maya archaeology was exclusively a man’s game. Then Tatiana Proskouriakoff came along. RARE ROCKSHELTER PRESERVED Archaeologist’s family donates the site that he 38 THE VIRTUES OF VIRTUAL ARCHAEOLOGY purchased and researched. BY MICHAEL BAWAYA Virtual technology could have a tremendous 49 point acquisition impact on archaeology. EXAMINING THE LATE PITHOUSE PERIOD 44 new acquisition A site in southern New Mexico could offer THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRES important information about the Mogollon. ITS FIRST SITE IN VI RGINIA The Conover site offers evidence of the state’s prehistory. 2 Lay of the Land 45 new acquisition 3 Letters DEVELOPER DONATES IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 5 Events Village mound site is one of very few remaining along the Sacramento River. 7 In the News 46 new acquisition Rare 16th-Century Mexican Manuscript PROTECTING A MOUND COMPLEX Rediscovered • NASA Advances Maya The Page site in Kentucky is home to unusual mortuary mounds. Research • Changing Thinking About 47 new acquisition the Folsom? THE MYSTERY OF SACRED CIRCLES The Conservancy obtains an Adena site with great research potential. 50 Field Notes COVER: An excavator screens dirt to capture small artifacts at the 52 Reviews Barton site. Photograph by Rick Kozak 54 Expeditions american archaeology 1 Lay of the Land Making Good Use of Technology odern technologies can be of them to find metal objects on im- both a boon and a bane to portant archaeological sites that Marchaeology. In this issue we heretofore were beyond their reach, tackle the benefits and problems pre- and this is causing increasing prob- sented by modern metal detectors. lems around the country. Hobbyists When properly used, they can help are also lobbying for a relaxation of archaeologists map a site and identify rules protecting parks and other pub- what is far underneath the ground lic property.