One of the most valuable ways we can practice archaeology is through collaborative rand community engaged research. My goal is to do work that supports Indigenous and other community priorities. This includes using archaeological techniques and approaches that align with community values, including preservation-conscious field and lab methods.
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LiDAR Predictive Modeling of Kalapuya Mound Sites in the Calapooia Wastershed, Oregon
PSU graduate student, Tia Cody and I are working in collaboration with the Grand Ronde Tribe to use a LiDAR and remote sensing predictive model to assist in the pre-field identification of the Kalapuya mounds. The Kalapuya mound sites are considered highly sensitive locations by the Grand Ronde Tribe. According to the Tribe and written accounts, the Calapooia Watershed contains hundreds of unrecorded mounds extending from Albany to Eugene, Oregon. Protecting mound sites is a priority but traditional archaeological survey of the watershed is impractical as it covers roughly 234,000 acres and is 94% privately owned.
This predictive model has the ability to identify unrecorded mound sites remotely and can streamline archaeological investigations within the Calapooia Watershed by allowing archaeologists and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to identify probable mound locations before conducting fieldwork. In addition to aiding pedestrian survey efforts, this project assisted Grand Ronde’s proactive preservation of these sites. The model can also be modified to work in other regions.
See the results in our open access article in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
Archaeologists, the Public, and Collectors: Establishing a Regional Database of Archaeological Sites on Private Land and Collections in the Portland Basin
PSU Graduate student Katherine Tipton and I are working to facilitate collaboration to systematically gather information about archaeological sites and collections in this region. The goal of the project was to establish a systematic process for collecting and investigating information about archaeological sites on private land and collections in private hands. Ms. Tipton’s thesis research builds mutual professional-public understanding of local heritage while addressing several questions that surround public archaeology and professional-public collaborations in archaeology.
To learn more about the project, follow the link below:
