Iowa Archaeology
@iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
340 followers 160 following 27 posts
Bsky home of the Office of the State Archaeologist, a nationally recognized archaeological research center & repository at the University of Iowa, est. in 1959. archaeology.uiowa.edu
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iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Grinnell College, Iowa-based archaeologist Laura Ng has been doing some incredible research!
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Now's a good time to join the #Iowa Archeological Society! Non-professional members get a discounted early bird registration rate for PAC & MAC of only $30! New IAS members, get a membership now & it's good thru all of 2026! iowaarcheologicalsociety.org/2025-fall-me... 🏺
Visual text graphic promoting a conference. It says, "Join us at PAC & MAC - Oct 29-Nov 1, 2025 - IAS Fall Meeting, Saturday Nov 1 - Iowa City, Iowa, Graduate Hotel & Conference Center - iowaarcheologicalsociety.org. There are two logos - an Iowa Archeological Society logo showing a spearpoint and ancient pot, and the conference logo of an Indigenous lodge home.
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We're co-hosting the joint meeting of the Plains Anthropological Society & Midwest Archaeological Conference in Iowa City, Oct 29-Nov 1! Online registration w/ early bird rates & abstract submissions thru 10/3. FREE advance registration for students & Tribal members! More at: tinyurl.com/zztpx2dz 🏺
The logo for PAC & MAC 2025 in Iowa City is a depiction of an Indigenous lodge home with silhouettes of corn and other crops and "2025" in the doorway. The lodge fades from a deep orange-red at the top to a light sage green at the bottom.
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We're participating in this upcoming Robotics webinar hosted by the SAA on 10/1, 4pmCT/5pmET! Registration required t attend live, but the video will be on YouTube afterwards. tinyurl.com/2cu7nefy #FIRSTLEGOLeague #FLLUnearthed #Unearthed #LEGOrobotics #FIRSTChamp 🏺
Exploring Archaeological Challenges: A Webinar for FIRST® LEGO® League and Robotics Teams
tinyurl.com
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
The University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist's FY2025 annual report is now online! Find out the nitty gritty our accomplishments at archaeology.uiowa.edu/annual-report. #iowa #archaeology
A montage of six photos with the label, "FY 2025 Annual Report; University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Photos starting top left and moving clockwise: Two men work on an archaeological excavation unit, a woman arranges deer bone on a template while children watch, two woman at a table in a field surrounded by drone equipment and a laptop, a women cuts out a piece of foam to protect a glass bottle, several pieces of ancient pottery on a white background, a man takes notes in an autumn corn field.
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We heard from our friends at @archaeological.org that they had 1845 robotics teams register for their webinar yesterday -- AMAZING! You can now watch the webinar on YouTube & check out their fab resource page! tinyurl.com/2zkn5jxs #FIRSTLEGOLeague #FLLUnearthed #Unearthed #LEGOrobotics #FIRSTChamp
FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2025-2026 - Archaeological Institute of America
FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2025-2026 on the AIA website
www.archaeological.org
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We created a resource page for all of you competing in this year's archaeology-themed international robotics challenge! Beware of misconceptions & bad information on the web!
#FIRSTLEGOLeague #FLLUnearthed #Unearthed #LEGOrobotics #FIRSTChamp archaeology.uiowa.edu/iowa-archaeo...
UNEARTHED
Information for teams participating in the FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition, and FIRST Tech Challenge. Archaeology is a tricky science that is easily misunderstood, so we created this pag...
archaeology.uiowa.edu
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Immerse yourself in Public Archaeology! Get the discount! See you in DC!
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Listen to the book club chat about 'Warrior Girl Unearthed' on the IPR Talk of Iowa podcast, featuring OSA's Elizabeth Reetz, along w/ Leah Slick Driscoll and Tieranny Keahna of the Meskwaki Nation. This YA book touches on NAGPRA & the museum field (and SO MUCH more!) tinyurl.com/e55cxc4e
Living native histories in 'Warrior Girl Unearthed'
For the Talk of Iowa Book Club, author Angeline Boulley and expert readers discuss Warrior Girl Unearthed.
www.iowapublicradio.org
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Did you know that #Iowa OSA staffs architectural historians? A recently completed historic property study for the Iowa DOT focuses on the former east bound Hwy 30 Cedar River Bridge (1953-2022) in Linn County. This StoryMap captures why this bridge was significant. tinyurl.com/4dr25wpp 🏺 #pubarch
US Highway 30 Cedar River Bridge
The first steel, continuous welded I-girder highway bridge with floorbeams in Iowa.
tinyurl.com
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
"'Of all the institutions that the tribes deal with, the University of Iowa has served as the template for how you do it right,' Wanatee Buffalo said."

"Since 1976, Doershuk said his office has documented the repatriation and reburial of more than 2,000 individuals..." | tinyurl.com/22mf6pfy 🏺
UI praised by tribal leaders for repatriation work and collaboration
More than three decades after the passage of a federal law mandating the return of Native American remains, the University of Iowa has emerged as a national leader — making nearly all of its holdings ...
dailyiowan.com
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Thanks to @killgrove.bsky.social for this interview!

Ideally, leave artifacts in place. But we understand people's passion for this hobby. We encourage thorough documentation of CONTEXT & knowing where you have permission to collect! IA resources: tinyurl.com/mrme5xdr, tinyurl.com/w6ryfs99 🏺
killgrove.bsky.social
People ask this question a LOT, so I talked to some amazing folks and wrote a short explainer.

tl;dr - Leave it, take a pic, tell the SHPO. 🏺🧪
What should I do if I find a cool artifact in the US?
Spotting artifacts in the U.S. is common, but archaeologists want you to leave them in place.
www.livescience.com
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We're hosting a hybrid lecture on the recent Iowa mastodon find! State Archaeologist John Doershuk will present, "A Community-inspired (and Energized) Mastodon Excavation in Southern Iowa," at noon CT on February 28. More details here: events.uiowa.edu/92425 🏺
Text graphic that says: OSA Brown Bag Hybrid Lecture Series (Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist logo). Join us in person or on Zoom with John Doershuk, State Archaeologist and OSA Director. "A Community-inspired (and Energized) Mastodon Excavation in Southern Iowa. Friday, February 2025, noon, OSA Main Lab, 700. S. Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA. Learn more at https://events.uiowa.edu/92425. Registration required for Zoom (QR code). Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program please contact elizabeth-reetz@uiowa.edu in advance.
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We are incredibly saddened to share the news of the passing of THPO Lance Foster and send condolences to his loved ones, friends, colleagues, and Tribal Nation. We wrote this as an award nomination month ago; now it is a tribute to him and his remarkable career

archaeology.uiowa.edu/news/2025/01...
A tribute to Lance Foster of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
A narrative in honor of Lance Foster, outlining his remarkable contributions to historic preservation, archaeology, and his Tribal community
archaeology.uiowa.edu
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Starting Jan 11, check out the short video special, "Make No Bones About It," for the new Hawkeyes at Home series! We're featured discussing a selection of faunal remains and bone tools from 13PM7, a Mill Creek village site in Plymouth County, western Iowa. events.uiowa.edu/90888
Hawkeyes at HomeUniversity of Iowa
events.uiowa.edu
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
OSA staffers are currently drafting a book chapter about a year-long community-engaged project that partnered us with the Meskwaki Nation and Elgin Historical Society, which wrapped up in June 2023. Check out this student-created ArcGIS StoryMap encapsulating the project!

bit.ly/Elgin-Iowa-C...
Community Engaged Archaeology in Elgin, Iowa
Learning about the Importance of the Turkey River to Indigenous Communities Past and Present
bit.ly
Reposted by Iowa Archaeology
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
"pigs in hoglot view north," 1983, from a highway archaeological survey in Washington County, Iowa. They look like happy hogs!

Fact: "There are 23.4 million pigs on Iowa farms, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. That means for every one Iowan there are 7.3 pigs." (2024) 🐷
A black and white photo showing four pigs in a pasture near a creek, with a culvert/bridge over the creek in the background
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
"pigs in hoglot view north," 1983, from a highway archaeological survey in Washington County, Iowa. They look like happy hogs!

Fact: "There are 23.4 million pigs on Iowa farms, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. That means for every one Iowan there are 7.3 pigs." (2024) 🐷
A black and white photo showing four pigs in a pasture near a creek, with a culvert/bridge over the creek in the background
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
For those thinking about turkey this week! Here's one of Iowa's most iconic archaeological artifacts. This shell pendant has a notched edge & an image of a turkey head is incised into one face. The eye forms a suspension hole for the ornament. It dates to ~AD 1200-1350, from western Iowa.
Front and back side of a shell pendant with notched edges and a turkey motif on front side. A third view shows an overlay of the incised lines forming the turkey head. Artifact is from the Late Precontact Glenwood phase time period, site 13ML139; catalog/accession #: 339-C2-3
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
The 1000+ pg scientific report is also free! Access a print-quality or web-friendly PDF here: bit.ly/OSA_RP49-1 #archaeology
OSA_ResearchPaper_49-1 - Google Drive
bit.ly
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
OSA recently wrapped up a 12-yr project analyzing >83k artifacts & excavation data from 1960s-70s work on US 34 in western #Iowa. The interactive ArcGIS StoryMap summarizes this data, providing new insights about the innovative farmers who lived in lodges from AD 1200-1350. bit.ly/GlenwoodArch... 🏺
New Perspectives on Glenwood Phase Sites
Recent Findings from the US 34 Archaeological Excavations (1960-70s)
bit.ly
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Never mind those flurries outside, planning for the 2025
#Iowa Lakeside Lab archaeological field school at the Abbie Gardner cabin is underway! Register at iowalakesidelab.org/courses beginning in January. All enrollees pay in-state tuition; scholarships are available for room & board. #archaeology
Announcement for the 2025 Iowa Lakeside Lab archaeological field school, June 16-July 11 at the Abbie Gardner Sharp Historic Site.
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Also, this was a true community-supported and community-engaged initiative. We could've have accomplished this without the help of many local residents and organizations!