AT: Archeobotany Academy: An Introduction to Archeobotany

Course Description and Details

Membership in The Texas Archeological Society is required for their Academies. For more info- https://a78970f8-50f8-44ce-8e70-98f028a29253.filesusr.com/ugd/174eaf_bbf36691f13346ecac7e2c597c318d16.pdf?index=true

The 2021 TAS Archeobotany Academy will be offered VIRTUALLY via Zoom with an emphasis on Caddo ancestors and the plant species of east Texas. The academy will introduce participants to how archeologists understand the relationships between people and plants in the past. The recovery and analysis of macroremains (actual bits of plants), pollen, phytoliths, and chemical residues from archeological sites will be discussed in detail with examples from East Texas and the Ozarks. The wealth of information that can be gained from replication of ancient technologies will also be covered, as will the value of historical accounts, traditional stories, memories, and the ancestral knowledge held by modern Native people.

Participants will receive a KIT containing materials for hands-on activities to supplement the lectures, including tastes of various edible plants. A handbook that covers class material and suggestions for further reading and YouTube viewing will be provided as well. Logistics for a possible future outdoor component to the Academy will be discussed during the weekend.

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Instructors

Lead Instructor: Dr. Leslie Bush (Macrobotanical Analysis)
Special guest lecturers: Phil Cross (Caddo Nation, traditional technologies), Alaina Tahlate (Caddo Nation, Caddo language), Dr. Kevin Hanselka (TxDOT archeobotany), and Dr. Elizabeth Temple Horton (Rattlesnakemaster Paleoethnobotnany).

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Registration

Registration deadline for the 2021 TAS Archeobotany Academy is April 10, 2021.

Registration for this academy is open to TAS members. The registration fee for this academy is $100 and includes two days instruction and an Archeobotany Academy kit with materials for hands-on activities. Participants will also receive a digital course manual. A certificate of participation will be awarded to attendees. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit is available for teachers as approved by the Texas State Board of Education Certification (SBEC). No previous archeological experience is needed to enjoy these sessions.

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Cancellations after the deadline are non-refundable. Cancellation vacancies will be filled from a waiting list.