Newsletter Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History February 2007www.mnh.si.edu/arctic Number 14 NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR launched in January 2007, the Smithsonian will host a By Bill Fitzhugh research conference titled “Smithsonian at the Poles” on 3-4 May. Coordinated by Michael Lang and an SI-wide steering committee, with assistance from Under Secretary David Once every fifty years or so the world engages in a fit of Evans, the symposium will feature research papers on ‘arctic hysteria’ known as the International Polar Year. This historical legacies of Smithsonian IPY research and March we begin the fourth installment, IPY-4, which runs collecting from 1880 to the present as well as current until March of 2009. As we watch temperatures climbing, research in polar anthropology, biology, mineral sciences, Arctic sea ice and astrophysics. Small melting, and animals exhibits and public and peoples events are planned, and adjusting to the scholarly proceedings effects of global will be published in 2008. warming, what better The Smithsonian time could there be conference is only the for scientists to beginning. Federal investigate, and agencies have garnered laymen to learn resources to promote a about, one of the massive agenda of polar most dramatic earth- research and educational changes to come programs through 2008, along in the past and for the first time thousand or so national and international years? activities will have The Arctic significant participation Studies Center has from the social sciences taken IPY-4 by the and northern resident horns and communities. Igor anticipates a full Krupnik has taken a platter of research major role in securing a and educational center-stage position for programs. During the human sciences through past year we his role as a member of launched an exhibit the international Joint titled “Arctic: A The Sharing Knowledge Case at the Anchorage Museum Committee for IPY-4. Friend Acting The ASC has had a Strangely,” a joint venture with NOAA, NSF, and NASA that productive year in other activities also. Aron Crowell and explored relationships between climate, environment, and Dawn Biddison have nearly finalized plans for the new ASC people in the North. The exhibit illustrated the physics and facilities and exhibits at the Anchorage Museum, and a loan biology of the unprecedented warming trend of the past agreement for exhibit and study of nearly 650 Smithsonian three decades on arctic plants, animals, sea ice, and humans, Alaskan anthropological objects has been signed. Two- and the interrelationships and processes involved. While thirds of these will be from NMNH Anthropology collections there is no doubt that a significant earth change is and one-third from NMAI. This past spring the ground- underway, the root causes – CO2 rise, natural cycles, solar breaking ceremonies took place, a new website was launched changes, etc. and predictions of outcomes, continue to be (alaska.si.edu), and a small prototype exhibit about our debated and remain unclear. Whatever the cause, humans Alaska Collection Project opened in Anchorage, attended by are having a pronounced effect, and calls for concerted Anthropology Chairman, Dan Rogers. The new galleries are action are being heard from every direction. set to open in 2010. The SI has taken a lead in IPY-4 planning on both This year also saw an expansion of our Mongolia national and international levels. In addition to our exhibit research programs and presentation of a lively Mongolian and the website version (www://forces.si.edu/arctic) which festival, “Chinggis Khaan: 800 Years of Mongolian TABLE OF CONTENTS Statehood,” at NMNH in early October, timed to coincide ASC Anchorage….........……………………………..................3 with the celebration of Mongolia’s anniversary. A wonderful Alaska Exhibitions and Anchorage Museum Expansion musical program, “Sounds and Colors of Mongolia,” and The First Annual Alaska Native Artists Summit historically-based fashion show called “The Great Story of New Results of the Kenai Coast Archaeology Project the Mongols” organized by Gankhuyag Natsag entertained Objects and Stories: The St. Lawrence Island Disaster, an overflow crowd in Baird Auditorium, and during the 1878-80 weekend Mongolian musicians, artists, exhibitions, and films St. Lawrence Island Archaeology and the Market: entertained throngs of museum visitors throughout the Conference Panel in Juneau weekend. As part of the program we co-hosted a seminar Sharing Knowledge Web Launch titled “Mongolia Matters: the Legacy of Chinggis Khan and Alaska Collections Project Welcomes New Staff Mongolia’s Great Empire” with the Woodrow Wilson Exhibits.............................................................................................8 International Center for Scholars, organized by Alicia Arctic Climate Change Exhibit Displayed at the SI Campi. Online Exhibit at http://forces.si.edu/arctic/ Despite a heavy dose of educational programs, we Research……...........…………………………………..................11 maintained steady progress in our field research in International Polar Year 2007-2008 Mongolia, Alaska, Quebec, Labrador, and Sweden. Together ‘Jesup-2’ Update with fieldwork, conferences, film projects, intern-training, The Search for a Past preparation of publications, and fund-raising, we barely Summer internship at the Smithsonian found time for answering our website email. And speaking of Fulbright Comparative Education Project webs, check out our new offerings, including a report on Future Swedish Research Project Martin Nweeia’s exciting biological research on sensory Recognizing the Reality of a People: the Goro collection aspects of the narwhale tusk, based on field and lab studies Models of Complex Societies in Inner Asia conducted with the assistance of Baffin Inuit. No doubt 2007 Kurile Island Biocomplexity Project 2006 will be even busier. Chemical Analysis of Arctic Food Container Residues Welcome aboard, friends! The ASC’s IPY Express is The Mysterious (ever-loyal) Periwinkle about to depart for the circumpolar North… Outreach………………………………………….........................23 Thinking About Caribou House: An Innu Heritage Initiative ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ ○○○○○○○ Conservation Workshop in Mongolia Here’s our chance to conspicuously acknowledge the people A Boreal Forest Exhibit Initiative who have made the accomplishments of the ASC possible. Collections………..........……………………………….....................................26 Sincerest thanks to all of our... Studying the MacFarlane Inuvialuit Collection Public Programs……….........……………...…………..............28 Unsung Heroes saluted by the ASC Ocean Hall Update Ramah Redux Canadian Inuit Culture Unveiled in Mongolia Don Hurlbert Culture on Cloth: Reaching Around the World Vincent Florence 800 Year Mongolian Celebration at NMNH Charles Noble Woodrow Wilson Center Seminar Mongolia at 800 Paul Rhymer Fieldwork…….........…………………………………................ 34 Deborah Rothberg Digging and Diving at the Mecatina Basque Site Tom Savoy Fieldwork in Mongolia..............................................................36 Mongolia Deer Stone Project: Field Report 2006 Randy Scott Horses and Khirigsuurs Past and Present: Ritual Lena Sharp Landscapes Carolyn Thome Botany Team Travels North of Shishged Gol in East Taiga AND, the ever-helpful staff of the MSC. Hat’s Bronze Age Mounds and Ancient Hominids off to you all. 3D Scanning Mongolia’s Ancient Deer Stones Shamanism and Traditional Plant Knowledge Bergy Bits….........……………………………………...............45 Transitions…………..........…………………………..................50 Publications.............................................................................................52 ASC Staff Publications…….........……………………..............53 Thanks to Our Sponsors…….........…………………...............54 ASC Newsletter ASC ANCHORAGE ALASKA EXHIBITIONS AND ANCHORAGE represent the Smithsonian at the official groundbreaking for MUSEUM EXPANSION the new museum wing. Senator Ted Stevens, Governor By Aron L. Crowell, Alaska Director, Arctic Studies Center Frank Murkowski, and Mayor Mark Begich keynoted the event, which represents a $116 million investment of private Several milestones marked this year’s progress toward the and public funding. While in Anchorage, Rogers and 2010 opening of new Arctic Studies Center exhibition Gordon met with Anchorage Museum director Patricia Wolf galleries and offices in the expanded Anchorage Museum. A to finalize loan agreements that will bring a total of 450 modest show entitled Sharing Knowledge: Alaska Native objects from NMNH and 200 from NMAI to Anchorage for Peoples and the Smithsonian Collections opened in the the 2010 ASC exhibition. The objects will be on five, ten, museum’s atrium on April 30, 2007 for a one-year run, and fifteen year loans, with new pieces sent north from the offering a preview of much bigger things to come. Smithsonian to replace those that are returned. The Alaska Mirroring the design and concept of the full-scale ASC trip was a first for both Dan Rogers and Betsy Gordon, who exhibition that will be constructed in the museum’s new enjoyed a back roads tour with Aron Crowell of the rain- wing, Sharing Knowledge presents fourteen extraordinary swollen Little Susitna River and the spectacular beauty of Alaska Native objects Eklutna Lake beneath a from the collections of the wind-torn fragment of National Museum of Alaska sunshine. Natural History (NMNH) In September, the and National Museum of Arctic Studies Center’s the American Indian exhibition