Anthropology Alliance

Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 1 Frederic Ward Putnam By James Stola

If visitors to the World’s Fair exhibition at the Field Museum sense a ghostly presence guiding them along, it is likely that of Frederic Ward Putnam. Without his influence the exhibition would be far different and the Museum itself might not exist. A prodigy, he was still in his teens and freshly accepted to Harvard when he was named Curator of Ornithology at Massachusetts’ Essex Institute and began an illustrious career in natural . From there, he traveled the country encouraging the establishment of museums and fostering academic interest in as a subject worthy of a Ph.D.

It was no surprise, then, that in 1891 he should be chosen as Chief of the Department of Ethnology for the World’s Columbian Exposition. In that position, he advocated vigorously for the creation of a great Natural History Museum in Chicago even as he was overseeing the vast collection of artifacts that poured into Chicago from all over the Americas. Many of the 200 buildings in the Exposition contained anthropological exhibits, but the Anthropology Building, dedicated to ethnographic and anthropological exhibits, was the center of the collections that Putnam himself had gathered. He was convinced university programs in anthropology should emphasize and support expeditions to enhance their collections.

Putnam was criticized by some for his presentations of ethnic groups, accused of participating in an academic conspiracy to keep these peoples from becoming civilized. The exhibits at the Fair were alleged to be a crude attempt to preserve savage that should be refined or eradicated. Indeed, Harlow Higinbotham, President of the Exposition, opposed Putnam’s emphasis on natural history, ethnology, and anthropology. But his plans had been approved by the Fair Commission, and the Chicago Tribune half‐heartedly proclaimed Putnam’s Anthropology Plan would, “If practical ... be a great attraction.” Putnam’s Anthropological Building and Putnam himself were off to a problematic start. Inside this issue Nevertheless, he was the initial and strongest voice for the establishment of a Frederic Ward Putnam ……………. 1 Museum of Natural History here, and it is likely he hoped to be named its first Recent Events ...... 2 director. In fact, he was overlooked in favor of another contender who lacked scientific training but had the support of many Commission members including In the News ...... 2 Higinbotham. What he achieved, however, remains: The Fair’s Anthropological Get Involved …….……………………..2 Building was the first building in the world to bear the title Anthropology and was Day at The Field ………………………..2 in fact the genesis of what is now The Field Museum. Message from Ryan Williams ..... 3

Whatever his own disappointments at the time, Putnam’s ghost must enjoy great New Faces at The Field ……………. 4 satisfaction at seeing the World’s Fair exhibition featured at the Museum his Upcoming Activities...... 5 dreams helped create. Recent Events Field Museum Science in the News Lascaux, Cap Blanc and

Magdalenian Women—

Bringing Ice‐Age to Life Field Museum Archaeologists Map the First Great Wall of China Dr. Robert Martin discussed Learn about Gary Feinman and Linda Nicholas’ new discovery. the exhibition Scenes from the Stone Age: The Cave of Lascaux and his recent work with Dr. J. P. Brown on the skeleton of the Magdalenian Woman.

Decoding Biological & Ethnic Genealogies of Swahili Peoples of East Africa Dr. Sloan Williams discussed her work with Chap Kusimba on charting the biological genealogies of these highly diverse people in order to understand the anthropology of migration, urbanism and identity.

Conservation of South American Pottery Dr. Ryan Williams, Laure Dussubieux and Ruth Norton shared how compositional chemistry techniques, Day at The Field with the Grandchildren developed at The Field Museum, are used on By Bob Shaw ceramics from the Southern

Andes to provide insight into Over the Thanksgiving weekend we brought our grandsons, Nathaniel (7) and Jonathan economic exchanges of (3), to the Field and let them choose the exhibitions they wanted to see. Of course, they civilizations past. both gravitated immediately to Sue, but then the seven‐year‐old asked to visit the World’s Fair. The format of the exhibition appealed to both of them—Nathaniel was Examining Ancient fascinated by the various artifacts gathered from all over the world, and his little brother Economies through the loved the videos and watched all of them from start to finish. Sourcing of Prehispanic Mesoamerican Obsidian We moved on then to Evolving Planet where Nathaniel was absorbed in following the Dr. Gary Feinman, Linda processes of the Mass Extinctions while Jonathan wandered from one interactive screen Nicholas and Mark Golitko to another. The appeal of dinosaurs and unfamiliar mammals never seems to fail. discussed obsidian sourcing and exchange networks in Our next stop was at the Crown Family PlayLab, a big hit with both boys. And, of course, the Valley of Oaxaca and the like generations of youngsters before them, they couldn’t depart without walking through the Ancient Egypt exhibition to check out the mummies. From a grandparent’s new vantage points it viewpoint, the Field’s range of offerings is a marvel. Virtually every exhibition offers offers our understanding of something to appeal to any and all ages. ancient economies. 2

A Message from the Associate Director for Research

By Dr. Ryan Williams, Associate Curator of Archaeological Science and South American Anthropology

2013 was an eventful year for Anthropology at The Field Museum. We have worked with a new president and administration to embark on a reinvention of who we are and what we do. We remain an institution dedicated to scientific discovery and the pursuit of knowledge, and we retain our key focus on world cultures, past and present. Our reorganization opens new opportunities to explore what it means to be human. We thank you for your dedication to our scientific mission.

This was also an exciting year for anthropological exploration and the enhancement of our collections. A number of key research discoveries highlight our achievements in 2013 and lay the foundations for an exciting year to come.

Gary Feinman and Linda Nicholas conducted research in the Shandong region of China and made headlines with the detailed mapping of China’s first Great Wall. The Qi wall, preceding the more well‐known wall of the Qin emperor, marks China’s first monumental regional boundary. This exciting find redefines the constitution of borders and exchange in ancient states. As our nation embarks on a new debate about borders and immigration, we have much to learn from the early Chinese states on the sustainability of fortified borders and the differentiation of immigrants. We look forward to incorporating these new discoveries into the Cyrus Tang Hall of China, which will open in 2015.

Bob Martin’s landmark study How We Do It: The Evolution and Future of Human Reproduction explores the nature of motherhood, and how we as primates have developed a special kind of evolutionary success in child rearing. His research also provides new insights into how our bodies have evolved and the impact on those evolutionary processes to the success and survival of our species. Bob’s work compels us to re‐examine the way we care for our children in the modern age and teaches us to embrace our evolutionary roots in child‐rearing for the success of our species.

My own research revealed new insights into how societies deal with climate change in a project focused on irrigation dynamics in the deserts of Peru. Deserts are a harbinger of climate change, in that they are the first places where we note drastic environment transformations and how humans respond to them. With funding from National Geographic, St. Louis University Geologist Ana Londono and I used LiDAR imaging to map ancient Wari and Inca agricultural systems to study how these societies responded to drought stress. Our results illuminate how human societies in the past dealt with climate change in these sensitive environments. They hold clues to how successful adaptation to current droughts in places like the U.S. southwest and California might be addressed.

New collections enhanced our ability to do research, mount exhibitions, and document the history of humanity on earth. Donations of Kenyan musical instruments, Chinese rubbings, Native American rugs and basketry, Mexican ceramic vessels and figurines, and Botswana and Indonesian crafts were all accessioned. In addition, our scientists collected new clay and ceramic samples for sourcing the objects in our collections from Mexico and Peru, a new collection of Pawnee art, examples of fiber crafts from Papua New Guinea, and objects documenting Chicago’s urban heritage.

These discoveries and many others are yielding new insights into the human endeavor, and how a deep perspective on the human past has profound impacts on our future. Through anthropological field‐ and collections‐based research, we are gaining new insights into the human experience and the implications for the future of our planet.

Finally, we wish to acknowledge the retirements of our esteemed colleagues, Jonathan Haas, Robert Martin, and James Phillips. While they dedicate more of their time to other endeavors, they also remain engaged in research and exhibition projects as curators emeriti. They have enriched our lives and our understanding of what it means to be human in their museum careers and we express our gratitude for their decades of service to society.

3 Getting to Know New Faces of The Field: Petranka Nedelcheva‐Megalla

by Aimee M. Genova

How did you get interested in archaeology?

I cannot say that archaeology was my childhood dream. I came to it by chance, but once I began to study it, I never wanted to do any‐ thing else. The professor who told me, “Archaeology is not a profes‐ sion. It’s a way of life,” was right.

What are your goals as a post‐doc at The Field Museum?

In the short term, to complete my research here. In the long term, to publish everything I’ve studied during my fellowship track. But I also want to popularize the ABF Postdoctoral Fellowship program here at the Field, which is funded by the America for Foundation. I’d like to see other young Bulgarian archaeologists benefit from the opportunities this wonderful program affords. When I return to work at the New Bulgarian University, I will implement everything I’ve learned here to broaden my students’ horizons and contribute to the archaeological discipline in Bulgaria. I have established professional contacts here in the United States and hope to maintain those connections and possibly partner with some American archaeologists on projects. That can strengthen our two countries’ research and popularize Bulgarian in the USA.

Tell us about your typical day at The Field Museum.

Every day is interesting to me. Early in the morning I work on a book about lithics from the late prehistoric site Pietrele in Romania and from the lower Danube Valley. In the afternoon I read books and periodicals from the Museum Library. This will enrich the work with the Museum collections that I am beginning next month. My colleagues here are extremely supportive and very professional. I have already learned a great deal about the collections and exhibitions and about new research techniques. I am so happy to be working with my supervisor Dr. William Parkinson. Our research interests align and I have admired his work for a long time. My adjustment to the Field was remarkably easy, partly because of my Bul‐ garian co‐workers, Dilyana Ivanova (U.S. Office of the American Research Center in ) and Zlatina Kostov (ABF Ar‐ chaeological Programs Assistant). They made me feel at home here. Often I have lunch or coffee with colleagues. Once in a while I attend a Museum happy hour and meet people from other departments. I am enjoying a rich life, academically and socially, here at the Field.

What is your favorite exhibit here?

Definitely “Images of the Afterlife.” I find the 3‐D reconstruction of the Egyptian mummies highly innovative and effective.

Clearly, The Field Museum takes up much of your day, but what outside activities do you enjoy?

My husband, son and I love to explore Chicago. It’s a great city with a lot to see and do. When the weather is not too cold we like to be outdoors. And I love to cook.

continued on page 5

4 Petranka Nedelcheva‐Megalla, continued

What interesting fact about yourself would you like to share with the members of the Anthropology Alliance?

I have been very fortunate to have worked at a number of excavations, among them: Droma, (Bulgaria), Pietrele (Romania), Aruchio (Georgia), Isthmia (Greece), and Troy (Turkey). This has allowed me to meet wonderful people from all over the world—most important of them my husband Mina who is a Coptic‐Egyptian. We believe we are the first Coptic‐Bulgarian married couple! We are very glad to have given our 12‐year‐old son Nikolay the chance to live in cities like Berlin and Chicago, learn , and inhabit different cultural environments.

Pepa has spent more than 15 years studying lithic collections from Late Prehistory in the South Balkans, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus. She received her Ph.D. at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria, where she currently holds the position of Assistant Professor.

Get Involved!

Interested in joining an Anthropology Alliance Committee or writing an article for our next newsletter? Contact Shelley Milosevich Johnson at 312‐665‐7137 or [email protected].

Special Thanks

Special thanks to those who contributed to this edition of The Anthropology Alliance Newsletter.

Editor: Sheila Whalen Contributors: Aimee Genova, Petranka Nedelcheva‐Megalla, Bob Shaw, James Stola, and Ryan Williams

Upcoming Activities

Alepotrypa Cave: A Neolithic Pompeii in the Mani Peninsula of Southern Greece Featuring Dr. William Parkinson, Wednesday, May 21st, 5:30 p.m. ‐ 7:30 p.m.

Art & Resilience Featuring Dr. Alaka Wali, Thursday, September 4th, 5:30 p.m. ‐ 7:30 p.m.

How Beer Built an Empire: Research on the Andes’ Oldest Brewery at Cerro Baul Featuring Dr. Ryan Williams, Wednesday, October 1st, 5:30 p.m. ‐ 7:30 p.m.

A Talent for Friendship ‐ An Evolutionary View of Human Nature Featuring Dr. John Terrell, Thursday, December 11th, 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.