Minnesota Archaeological Society
The inscriptions below 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. Spring 2015 Labor, Leisure, and Smoking: This Issue Tobacco Pipes and French Canadian Voyageurs during the Ft. Snelling Fur Trade Era in North America Inventory Project The 2015 Minnesota Archaeological Society pp.1,5-6 Annual Dinner meeting will held on Friday, April 24 this year, once again at Anderson Hall on the Hamline University campus. Our speaker will be Dr. Rob Mann, St.Cloud State University. Details and registration for dinner can be found on page 7.
Letter from Smoking “une pipe” was more than simply a the President leisurely practice among laboring class French p.2 Canadian voyageurs. Rather, smoking played an active role in the struggle over the terms and conditions of the fur trade workplace. Clay pipes were key material symbols of male French Historical Society Canadian identity and were even celebrated Collaborative in the voyaguer’s chansons—songs used to keep p.3 time as they paddled. Fur trade elites (the bourgeois), however, tended to link smoking with “laziness,” a powerful trope Dates to Remember in capitalist discourse. This paper p.4 examines the practice of smoking among the voyageurs and the role of clay pipes in mediating class tensions and reproducing French Canadian identity.
MAS 2015 Annual Historic Fort Snelling Artifact Meeting Inventory Project p.7 Patricia Emerson
Most people in Minnesota are familiar with Historic Fort Snelling as the earliest permanent presence of the United States government in what is now Minnesota, and as a reconstructed 1820s fort that is actively interpreted for the public. Fewer know about the extensive www.mnarchsociety.org Inventory Project continued on page 5 Spring 2015 Newsletter Metro-Area Historical Society Collaborative Letter from the President Creates Archaeological Liaison Position The letter from the President is intended as a vehicle to inform the general membership of the Min- nesota Archaeological Society of recent Board of Directors activities. The following is a brief recap Ramsey County Historical Society, as lead co- interests and needs of of the events, discussions, and decisions that transpired during the past quarter. ordinator of a four-agency collaborative (Anoka partner organizations. County, Dakota County, Ramsey County, and Scott 5. Providing a Treasure Needed: County), has been awarded a Legacy Partnership simple guide for During the February meeting of the Board of Directors, Paul Schoenhotz announced his resignation Grant for a 12-month pilot program providing developing RFPs and as Treasurer of the Minnesota Archaeological Society, effective in April 2015. Paul has provided an archaeology and cultural resource management out- guidelines on how to outstanding performance of duties since the resignation of our previous Treasurer Paul Mielke. His reach services to local history organizations. This scope archaeological insight on financial matters and business acumen has provided extremely good direction for deci- project will address immediate needs of participat- projects. sions made during his tenure. I, for one, will miss Paul. ing organizations including public programming, 6. Providing pub- data collection, collections care, and staff training, lic programming The by-laws of MAS require that “in the absence of a Treasurer, all materials will be turned over to while additionally providing valuable insights into that presents project the Secretary.” Although this is a good policy and a reasonable safeguard, it does put undue respon- the long-term needs of these local history organiza- results to the constitu- sibility on the Secretary, who is already busy with her own duties. tions. ents of each partner organization as well The Minnesota Archaeological Society is in need of a Treasurer. Anyone interested in taking this The MAHSC has hired Jeremy Nienow, PhD., RPA as presentations to Minnesota museum and local his- position please contact me at the address below. for the archaeological partner in this project. tory fields via appropriate local conferences.
TPT-MAS Collaboration: The list of objectives for this project includes: Ultimately, the pilot project will result in recommen- 1. Providing each county with an archaeologi- dations by the partner organizations and consulting In the Winter Newsletter of 2014 I reported that talks had begun on a partnership between TPT and cal baseline/county level archaeological context archaeologist to MNHS regarding the Legacy grant the Society to produce a video, “Scientific Minnesota Archaeology: What We Know and How We report. program. These recommendations may include Know It” ( a suggested title). Since the initial talks, board member Jeremy Nienow has been com- 2. Undertaking an archaeological assessment of sample fast-track grant application, program modifi- municating with Tom Trow from TPT and has presented the Board with a project proposal that Tom each institution’s holdings, including objects in cations, metrics for evaluating archaeology projects, has put together. Briefly, MAS. and TPT. would collaborate on a 30-minute DVD, high definition their collections as well as county owned/operated and evaluation of how the shared consultant concept video, with closed-captions, about how scientific research is done using archaeological projects as properties. worked, with ideas for how these kinds of projects examples. The video would be aired on TPT and would be promoted on the air and in their maga- 3. Based on the archaeological assessment may be improved and how the grant program may be zine and could be further distributed to classrooms for educational purposes. As the fiscal agent for above, executing two RFPs for additional laborato- modified to ensure participation and success by future the Legacy grant funds to be sought for this project, MAS would own the rights. Watch for further ry knowledge specific to each organizations needs. applicants. developments as we pursue this conversation. This could include AMS carbon dating, pollen and starch analysis, wood and charcoal identification, If you have questions or comments on this program fiber analysis, phytolith analysis, 3D scanning of and how you can get involved in any of its objectives, Rod Johnson: President objects, faunal analysis, and others as needed. contact Jeremy: [email protected] or 651- 4. Developing structured grant options at vari- 295-3744. Nifty Quotes: “There are things that money just can’t buy, like manners, morals, and common ous levels with hypothetical projects tailored to the sense.” (Unknown)
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For comments or suggestions, send a letter to President: Minnesota Archaeological Society, Ft. Snel- ling Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55111 or email [email protected]. Minnesota Archaeological Society
2 www.mnarchsociety.org www.mnarchsociety.org 3 Inventory Project continued from page 1 National Park Service’s 2015 archaeological excavations that were conducted at Archaeological Prospection the Fort between 1957 and the 1980s as part of the Join the Minnesota Archaeology Society Workshop USA Canada Current Archaeological Prospection Advances for Non- process of researching its history. Fewer still know Standard: $30.00 (one person) Standard: $40.00 (one person) Destructive Investigations in the 21st Century of the extensive collections of archaeological mate- Household: $40.00 (two or more) Household: $50.00 (two or more) May 25-29, 2015 rials retained from those excavations. Tobias-Thompson Complex sites, Rice County, Kansas Senior: (65 plus) $15.00 Institution: $70.00 Eight sites showcase the Little River Focus of the Great Today the Fort Active student: $15.00 Bend Aspect dating from 1500-1700 AD. The sites have Snelling col- Institution: $60.00 been related to the historic Wichita and may have been Both USA and Canada among the villages visited by Coronado in Quivira in 1542. lections occupy Sustaining: $100. (Receive free MAS mugs.) Co-sponsors include the National Park Service’s Midwest over 600 cubic Benefactor: $250. (Receive free MAS mugs plus a seat at the annual dinner meeting as Archeological Center and the National Center for Preserva- feet of storage an honored guest.) tion Technology and Training, the Department of Anthro- space in the pology at Wichita State University, and the Archaeological curation facility Hair tonic bottle. The embossed letters •If you receive your newsletter by email and do not know when you renewed your membership, Division of the Kansas State Historical Society. This will at the Minne- read “KATHAIRON” and the adjacent please let me know. be the twenty-fifth year of the workshop dedicated to the sota History side reads “FOR THE HAIR”. Katha •Getting the newsletter by snail mail or by e-mail? Prefer the other? Let me know. use of geophysical, aerial photography, and other remote Center. Be- powder is a brown hair dye made from sensing methods. The workshop will present lectures on Thanks so much. Anna Morrow, [email protected] cause they were tree bark that is still used in hair prod- the theory of operation, methodology, processing, and ucts today. Hair dyes and restoratives interpretation with on-hands use of the equipment in the excavated and were apparently popular with soldiers field. Registration is $475.00. Application forms for this cataloged in the Send your MAS news & notices to the Editor: Deborah resident workshop are available at
Inventory Project continued from page 5 Minnesota Archaeological Society Annual Dinner The goals of the Fort Snelling Collections project are to create digital records for the artifacts, update stor- age conditions, and identify artifacts that can contribute to new interpretations of the long history of the The 2015 dinner meeting will held on Friday, April 24 this year, once again at Anderson Hall on the Hamline University campus. Our speaker will be Dr. Rob Mann, St.Cloud State University, whose presentation, to begin confluence of rivers that became home to Fort Snelling. In the 18 months that have passed since the project at 7:30 will be began, over 275 boxes of artifacts have been inventoried, comprising an estimated total of 79,000 artifacts. The pictures below show some of the objects that have come to light. Labor, Leisure, and Smoking: Tobacco Pipes and French Canadian Voyageurs during the This metal cut-out is a toy soldier, reflecting Fur Trade Era in North America the presence of sol- MAS members and their friends are invited to once again spend an evening of fellowship and shared inter- Spongeware was a diers’ wives and chil- popular early to mid- dren at Fort Snelling. est at Hamline University. Meet old friends for appetizers and a cash bar, followed by a delicious dinner 19th century type of It appears to be a man and a delightful discussion of the customs of our voyageur past. Come early and stay late, and don’t forget ceramic decoration. It dressed in a Revolution- to let us know you are coming by returning the form below. There will be accommodation for students and ary War-era uniform. was extensively pro- others who are not dining after 7:00 pm. duced in England. Many spongeware pieces do not carry maker’s marks 6:00 Registration and mixer, cash wine and beer bar so their exact origin can’t be determined. 7:00 Buffet Dinner 7:15 Business meeting 7:30 Lecture
Location: Dinner Menu Fragments of a Anderson Hall Rm. 111, Hamline University stoneware bottle 774 Snelling Ave. St. Paul, 55104 London Broil with Roasted Potatoes that contained Nie- A concentra- and Whole Green Beans tion of Pre- der Selters mineral Heated underground parking garage, entrance water imported from Contact ar- off of Englewood. $1.50 per hour. Take the Asparagus Shiitake Pasta Roll tifacts was Germany. The wa- Pear and Nut Salad ter was advertised as a cure for everything from elevator up to the 1st floor and Room 111 is just discovered behind the restrooms and information desk. Red Velvet Cake Dessert during the ex- asthma to scurvy. The name Selters was the origin cavation of of the word “seltzer” as a term for sparkling water. 1820s buildings at Fort Snelling. This side-notched point is one of about a dozen stone tools in the assemblage. This handpainted plate reflects improved ceramic manufac- Minnesota Archaeological Society turing techniques at Please reserve ______places for the MAS Annual Dinner and Lecture 2015. the end of the 18th Vegetarian meal requested_____ century that made elaborate decora- NAME:______tion such as this chinoiserie style possible. Hand- ADDRESS:______painted decoration was largely re- CITY, STATE, ZIP:______placed by transfer printed decoration Handle from a brush sold by the Clark & by the mid-1800s. PHONE:______EMAIL:______Frost pharmacy in St. Paul during the 1880s. Frost remained in business for many years, I enclose $25 per person payable to MAS. and his final business location is now the Mail to: popular St. Paul restaurant W.A. Frost. Minnesota Archaeological Society, Fort Snelling History Center, St. Paul MN 55111
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St. Paul MN 55111 MN Paul St.
Fort Snelling History Center History Snelling Fort Minnesota Archaeological Society Archaeological Minnesota
Anyone interested in becoming Treasurer for MAS, please contact President Rod Johnson ASAP!
$100 CD Set in 48 volumes(1935-1989) Contact Anna Morrow at [email protected] or 612 922 7006
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