Second Florist Site lab of 2013!

Steph, Katie, Tom, Ginny, & Scott.

This week, Frank F. brought Scott who added a lot of experience to tonight's gang: Kathie, Tom G., Steph, Ginny, Gary K., Clif, Frank F. and Scott! Steph brought the Dunkin Donuts - all of which were consumed!

All Chapter members are welcome to join the fun next Tuesday, March 5th  starting at 7 pm at Clif Patrick's Insurance Office, 119 Brookside Ave, Chester, NY!

Let Steph or Clif know if you are planning to attend, so we can make sure we've arrange adequate space for all.

Bill Sandy teaching SCCC Archaeology Field Experience summer, 2013

An introductory course in archaeology field methods will be offered at Sussex County Community College (SCCC), Newton, NJ.  The class will meet during the college’s second summer session, May 20 - July 3, 9 am to 2 pm.  The course is titled Special Topics in Anthropology: Archaeology Field Experience (ANTH250) and will be taught by William Sandy, M.A., a Registered Professional Archaeologist and IOCCNYSAA member.

Bill Sandy

Students enrolled in the course will be introduced to methods of site preparation, site mapping, shovel testing, grid set-up, trowel excavation, artifact sifting, recording data, basic methods of archaeological analysis and archaeological interpretation. Fieldwork will be carried out on campus and at an off campus site in Sussex County that merits archaeological investigation.

For more information on the course and to register, contact Dr. Anthony Balzano at 973-300-2177 or visit sussex.edu.

First Florist Site lab of 2013!

Steph, Gary, Tom & Maggie.

Tom G., Steph, Maggie, Gary K., Frank F. , Maggie and Clif convened last night for the first time in 2013 at Chester to process artifacts from the Florist Site.

All Chapter members are welcome to join the fun next Wednesday, starting at 7 pm at Clif Patrick's Insurance Office, 119 Brookside Ave, Chester, NY!

Let Steph or Clif know if you are planning to attend.

Clifton Patrick, Chester Town Historian will speak at March meeting: “Chester’s Erie Station”

Friday March, 15, 2013 Clifton Patrick, Chester Town Historian and OC Chapter member, will give a brief history of the Erie RR Station in Chester. Its rise, decline, restoration and reuse following the monthly meetings of the Incorporated Orange County Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association 7:30 pm at the Mulbury House Senior Center, 62-70 West Main Street in Middletown, NY 10940.

2013-02-15 Meeting

Before the meeting was called to order, Bill, Steph and Gary examine a trove of lithic artifacts from Doc's back yard! Doc suspects that they washed down the steep hillside into his yard. What a back yard!

Following the meeting, Cory Harris gave an inspiring talk on how, with the help of Chapter members, Gary and Doc, along with the Orange County Land Trust and others, he was able to find the Fuller Mountain Preserve site and put together the Orange County Community College field school - the first in many years! This gave his students real field experience and, just a importantly, an alternative (aka: non-classroom) learning environment. Nothing like discovering stuff in the real world to make the traditional scholastic endeavors a bit more interesting.

The 2012 Fuller Mountain Preserve Field School participants.

This unusual assemblage of features on a ridge appeared undisturbed by subsequent activities. Plus, since there was no local lore about them, an investigation could be undertaken without preconceptions.

Although this is still very early in the investigation of the site, most of the artifacts recovered, so far, date from the early to late nineteenth century.

We look forward further discoveries as they develop at the Fuller Mountain Preserve site!

"Paleoindian Occupation in the Hudson Valley, New York"

Jonathan C. Lothrop, Phd., of the New York State Museum has contributed a major paper titled "Paleoindian Occupation in the Hudson Valley, New York" to the newly released book "Late Pleistocene Archaeology & Ecology in the Far Northeast"; Edited by Claude Chapdelaine and published by the Texas A & M University Press, 2012. ISBN 978-1-60344-790-4. 

In his comprehensive work, Dr. Lothrop includes Paleolithic sites in Orange County, sites that have been reported and excavated by the Orange County Chapter of the NYSAA. 

This book is available by contacting The Center for Studies of First Americans. After reaching the site, click on Publications and then scroll down to find the listing and ordering information. 

l-r: Jon Lothrop, Ed Lenik, Fred Assmus, Ray Decker & Chuck Orser  - 2008

Submitted by Ray Decker

Second Call For Papers for 2013 State Meeting in April, Watertown, NY

Call For Papers

New York State Archaeological Association

97th Annual Meeting

April 26-28, 2013

Ramada Inn, Watertown, NY
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The Finger Lakes and Thousand Islands Chapters are proud to host the 97th Annual Meeting of the New York State Archaeological Association and the annual spring meeting of the New York Archaeological Council. NYAC will meet Friday. The NYSAA annual business meeting will be Friday evening, with paper presentations all day Saturday and on Sunday morning. The annual banquet and awards ceremony will be held Saturday evening. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Claude Chapdelaine, discussing the search for Paleo-Indians in the far Northeast. All events will be at the Ramada Inn, conveniently located on Exit 45 off I-81.

This is an open call for papers on the archaeology of New York and adjoining regions. Presentations should not exceed 20 minutes in length. Time will be allowed for questions following the presentation. Each speaker may present only one paper, although individuals may co-author multiple papers. All speakers must register for the conference.

All speakers must register for the conference. 

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Deadline for Abstracts: March 1, 2013

Abstracts (one paragraph, 150 words or less) and A/V preference must be received by March 1, 2013 for consideration. You will be notified by March 10 if your paper is accepted.

Meeting registration for paper presenters must be pre-paid by March 20, 2013, or your paper will be dropped from the program.

Registration information will be available online at http://nysaa-web.org/conference.

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Please send your title, abstract, A/V preference and contact address to:

Wendy Bacon, 2013 NYSAA  Program Co-Chair at: [wbacon4@gmail.com]

Conference Co-Organizers:

Tim Abel (President Thousand Islands Chapter)

Wendy Bacon (Secretary Finger Lakes Chapter)

Sherene Baugher (President NYSAA)

Laura Johnson-Kelly (President Finger Lakes Chapter).

THE ARCHAEOLOGIST Vol. 2, February 2013 Excerpts

{The newsletter has been sent to all members in good standing. Contact Dave, or Clif if you did not get yours}

[Note: An obsolete template was used in error for the newsletter sent directly to members! The correct mailing address is 34 Clark Road, Goshen, NY 10924 NOT 60 Decker Dr., Middletown!]

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President’s Message:

Henry Chaya, 1921-2013

I am sorry to report that Henry Chaya passed away on January 29^th at the age of 91. He frequently attended our meetings right up to about a year ago.

I hope to see you at the February meeting.                       Dave

Henry’s obituary was published in the Poughkeepsie Journal: <http://tinyurl.com/cge68f4>

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February Program:

Archaeological dig at Fuller Mountain Preserve

Cory Harris                               Students at dig site.     .

In the summer of 2012, SUNY-Orange County Community College began to offer a course in archaeological field methods.  Cory Harris, assistant professor of anthropology and department chair of Behavioral Sciences, led nine students in test excavations at the Fuller Mountain Preserve, Orange County.  Harris will discuss the initial year’s goals and findings as well as the importance of local partnerships in creating opportunities for Orange County students to broaden educational experiences. 

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2013 Dues

Send your 2013 dues payable: I.O.C.C.N.Y.S.A.A.

See Chapter Treasurer, Jon Leonard at at a meeting or mail to him at:

I.O.C.C.N.Y.S.A.A.

34 Clark Road, Goshen, N.Y. 10924

"Beavers on Ice" by Doc Bayne

Photo by Doc Bayne

Join Chapter member, Doc Bayne, and the Friends of Sterling Forest explore the life of beavers in the winter on Sunday Feb. 10 at 1pm. We will walk to a large pond in the deep woods created by the beavers.  If there is ice, we will walk across the pond to see the dam. Please wear boots and if you have crampons please bring them. This will be about a 3-mile hike.  

THE FRIENDS OF STERLING FOREST (F.S.F.) a newly formed FRIENDS GROUP, organized to help preserve Sterling Forest State Park.  The F.S.F. will continue to educate and share the beauty of this region with our friends who love the out-of-doors.  There will not be any fee for our events. Donations are accepted to assist F.S.F. preserve the history of your park.

The trails can be steep and rocky, so please wear sturdy hiking shoes. Our hikes will include stops along the way to interpret natural and historic features. Hunting is allowed in portions of Sterling Forest State Park, we suggest wearing hunter orange or bright colors other than white during the hunting season. Registration is required for all programs.  For more information or to register, call 845-351-5907.                                        Friends of Sterling Forest          EIN # - 45-5464330