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iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Iowa Archaeology
@iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
370 followers 220 following 48 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
We're celebrating this month's 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act with Section 106 success stories from #Iowa! 🏺
October 7, 2026 at 2:40 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
After a summer 2024 community excavation and two years of preservation and stabilization work at the Office of the State Archaeologist in Iowa City, Dolly, the 13,600-year-old mastodon is officially on display at the Prairie Trails Museum of Wayne County! See more on our FB page | shorturl.at/neTBB
Two cookies with edible printed paper. One shows a mastodon and the other is a logo for the Prairie Trails Museum A woman holds a large pair of gold scissors, ready to cut a gold ribbon. A covered exhibit case is behind her and two men are standing on each side of her. A large crowd of people looking at a mastodon skulls in an exhibit case and reading interpretive information A large wall mural of a mastodon with the words "Mammut Americanum The American Mastodon" behind a waist-high exhibit case of mastodon bones that is mounted on the wall
September 29, 2026 at 7:12 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
What is #Section106 and how does it impact archaeology in Iowa? Learn about this landmark legislation, it's #Iowa impact, and how it helps to advance archaeological knowledge across the state in this article from today's Newsletter of the Iowa Archeological Society🏺

tinyurl.com/3tbhamxm
The Impact of Section 106 on Archaeology in Iowa - Iowa Archeological Society
Elizabeth C. Reetz, IAS Newsletter Editor, UI Office of the State ArchaeologistNewsletter of the Iowa Archeological Society, Issue 267, Vol. 76, No. 2, Summer 2026Copyright: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (Attributi...
tinyurl.com
September 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
OSA contributed to the recently released volume, Human Identities in the Archaeological Record: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Late Antiquity to the Modern Period, edited by Annamaria Diana, Alice Toso, and Daniela Marcu Istrate and published by Bloomsbury Academic, London: tinyurl.com/4nyp73yb
www.bloomsbury.com
July 22, 2026 at 7:39 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Congrats to OSA's Strategic Initiatives Director, Elizabeth Reetz, who traveled to #SAA2026SFO last week to accept the Society for American Archaeology's 2026 Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award w/ Stephanie Sperling for their work on A Practitioner's Guide to Public Archaeology
Two women smiling at the camera and holding award plaques from the Society for American Archaeology that say "Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award"
May 8, 2026 at 5:01 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
A HUGE congrats to Grinnell College's @cocalola.bsky.social on this grant, awarded to support important archaeological work & research at the Rock Springs, WY, Chinatown | 🏺https://thesandb.com/55311/news/anthropology-professor-laura-ng-receives-10000-grant-for-wyoming-chinatowns-research-project/
Anthropology Professor Laura Ng receives $10,000 grant for Wyoming Chinatowns research project
The Far Western Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Anthropology Professor Laura Ng’s research project, titled “Wyoming Chinatowns and Emigrant Home Villages: Archaeologies of Labor, Racial...
thesandb.com
April 14, 2026 at 1:28 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
The 29th Annual University of Iowa student powwow is happening on April 18th, 2026! All are welcome! For questions and additional details, please visit powwow.uiowa.edu
Text heavy graphic poster that says: The Native American Student Association Presents. 29th Annual Powwow at the University of Iowa. Here: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. A red box has illustrated color clipart of Indigenous people dancing and says Celebrating Indigenous Culture and Iowa City’s Native Community. Dance and drum performances, Silent auction, Native arts and crafts vendors, Community resource expo. A light blue box says Admission: Free for students. Tickets $10 General, $5 elders and youth. A blue box has a QR code and says scan this QR code for more information. A yellow box says Date: April 18th 2026. Location: UI Field House 225 S Grand Ave in Iowa City. Grand Entry at 10 am and 3 pm. The remainder of the flyer says All are welcome. Made possible by our generous donors. Logos for University of Iowa Undergraduate Student Government, Great Plains Action Society, Diamond V, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, City of Iowa City Office of Human Rights, and Iowa Master Naturalist. Bottom line says Registration of a student organization does not imply University of Iowa endorsement of its views, activities, or content. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in a student organization activity, please contact Egan Greenwalt at studorg-nasa@uiowa.edu in advance.
March 11, 2026 at 3:07 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
These past several months of robotics mania have been an absolute blur, but also uplifting and rewarding! These kids wowed us with their innovations and ideas. Congrats to all the teams who participated and learned something new about archaeology! #pubarch🏺
research.uiowa.edu/news/2026/02...
Office of the State Archaeologist built students’ understanding of archeology through global competition
It started with an email from a robotics coach in the Quad Cities, asking about “challenges in archaeology.” Next, Elizabeth Reetz, strategic initiatives director within the Office of the State Archae...
research.uiowa.edu
March 10, 2026 at 7:22 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
OSA's next hybrid Brown Bag is on March 6! Mike Perry is presenting on soils and stratigraphic features in Glenwood phase lodges. Attend in person or on Zoom: events.uiowa.edu/event/35750
A text-heavy graphical flyer in black, white, gray, and gold, that advertises the OSA Brown Bag Hybrid Lecture Series. It includes a QR code link for Zoom registration. Text says, "Join us in person or on Zoom with Mike Perry, OSA Adjunct Research Associate." Talk title: Hit the Floor: Stratigraphy in Glenwood Phase Lodges. When: Friday, March 6, 2026 at noon. Where: OSA Main Lab, 700 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA. Learn more at https//events.uiowa.edu/event/35750. Registration required for Zoom. 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.
February 17, 2026 at 4:01 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Congrats to this book & its contributors for receiving the 2026 Society for American Archaeology’s Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award! It was co-edited by OSA's Elizabeth Reetz. Authors include OSA Indian Advisory Council members Suzanne Buffalo & Julie Martineau tinyurl.com/37zwbya4
2026 Society for American Archaeology’s Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award Recipient
Congratulations to A Practitioner's Guide to Public Archaeology and its contributors for receiving the 2026 Society for American Archaeology’s Outstanding Public Archaeology Initiative Award! These co...
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February 12, 2026 at 3:32 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Winter is OSA Brown Bag season & we've got three talks on the calendar! First up at noon on 2/13, Clayton Schuneman of the Johnson County Medical Examiner Dept will present Anthropological Applications in Death Investigation. Full details & Zoom registration: events.uiowa.edu/event/36153 #iowa 🏺
A text-heavy graphical flyer in black, white, gray, and gold, that advertises the OSA Brown Bag Hybrid Lecture Series. It includes a QR code link for Zoom registration. Text says, "Join us in person or on Zoom with Clayton Schuneman, Administration Director, Johnson County Medical Examiner Department." Talk title: Anthropological Applications in Death Investigation. When: Friday, February 13, 2026 at noon. Where: OSA Main Lab, 700 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA. Learn more at https//events.uiowa.edu/event/365136. Registration required for Zoom. 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.
February 3, 2026 at 3:41 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
For any students studying an #Iowa-focused history or #archaeology topic at ANY institution, here's a grant opportunity! It's an easy application & you get a free 1-year membership to the Iowa Archeological Society! See details at: iowaarcheologicalsociety.org/doug-jones/
A text-heavy graphic advertising a student funding opportunity. The Douglas W. Jones Memorial Research Grant Program awards up to $1000 for us May 15, 2026-May 15, 2027. All undergraduate and graduate students from any institution researching Iowa archaeology or history are eligible to apply. Applications due May 1, 2026. For complete details, visit: iowaarcheologicalsociety.org/grant-opportunities. Background images include a photo of Doug Jones smiling at the camera and holding a stick in a grassy meadow with forest in the background and the Iowa Archeological Society logo that includes an illustrated Clovis point and Oneota ceramic vessel.
January 26, 2026 at 9:09 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
OSA now has a Certified Interpretive Planner! We work w/ Midwest museums, nature centers, agencies, etc. If you're planning new/revised exhibits in 2026, keep us in mind as a partner! We'll help you strategize goals and themes that align with your audiences and mission, with measurable impacts. 🏛️🏺
A certificate that reads, "The National Association for Interpretation by the authority of the Board of Directors this writing certifies that Elizabeth Reetz has completed the prescribed course of study and has been examined by a peer jury as a Certified Interpretive Planner on the 1st of October 2025." It has a golden seal, NAI logo, and two signatures. The board is a green geometric design.
December 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We've got the coziest archaeology holiday stuff around, jigsaw puzzles, socks, mugs, stickers, and all the things. As always, a portion of proceeds support our education & outreach activities! Order soon for on-time xmas delivery & watch the top bar for sale codes! tinyurl.com/yvd5rkpy%F0%...
A candy cane themed Christmas letter that says, "Dear Santa For Christmas I would like... a projectile point puzzle, I Love Archaeology blanket, stratigraphy socks, and an OSA fleece hoodie. I promise I've been good! Love, Me." A cartoon Santa is in the bottom corner and a sleigh and reindeer silhouette across the top. A montage of three different archaeology-themed ugly Christmas sweatshirts. One is green, one is red, one is dark gray. A montage of Christmas gift items including a red "ugly sweater" blanket, jigsaw puzzle with projectile point illustrations, and socks showing archaeological stratigraphy
November 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Like this incident in Indiana, this has happened a couple times in #Iowa the past few years. Iowa has some of the oldest laws in the nation protecting ancient human remains. Here's what to do if you come across them: archaeology.uiowa.edu/human-remains 🏺
Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains infographic from the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Box 1: If there is any doubt whether the bones are human or animal, leave the remains in place and secure the site if possible. 2: Record the location. Contextual photos, sketch maps, map app screenshots, or GPS coordinates are helpful. 3: If they appear to be recent without a doubt, contact local law enforcement. 4: If they appear to be ancient without a doubt, contact the Office of the State Archaeologist. 5: If there is uncertainty, contact local law enforcement, the county or state medical examiner, and the Office of the State Archaeologist. 6: Photo etiquette. Do not share photos of human skeletal remains, burials, or funerary/sacred objects out of respect for Indigenous communities. Publicly posting these images can be hurtful and harmful to descendants and descendant communities. 7: Questions? Contact the OSA Bioarchaeology Program. lara-noldner@uiowa.edu. 319-384-0740
October 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
ICYMI check out @iowapublicradio.org's Indigenous Peoples' Day feature on Iowa repatriation stories! www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk... 🏺
The long, slow process of repatriation of Indigenous cultural items continues
Experts discuss the process of repatriating Indigenous cultural items and why it's important.
www.iowapublicradio.org
October 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Grinnell College, Iowa-based archaeologist Laura Ng has been doing some incredible research!
September 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM
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.
September 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
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.
September 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
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
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September 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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.
September 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
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
August 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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
August 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
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Immerse yourself in Public Archaeology! Get the discount! See you in DC!
August 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
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
June 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM