Bluff Shelter Symposium at SEAC 2017

Posted on by jbrando

For the first time ever, the Southeastern Archaeology Conference will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 8-11 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Downtown Tulsa. Its so close, this might be your opportunity to attend the premier regional archeology meeting for the southeastern United States.  Modern Tulsa is within the boundaries of the Creek, Osage, and Cherokee Nations but is surrounded by many of the Nations of the Southeastern Tribes and we are hoping for a greater attendance from those communities.

The Arkansas Archeological Survey will be well represented at this year’s conference. Two symposia have been organized–one honoring the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Survey and one about bluff shelter research in the Arkansas Ozarks. Not to mention Survey staff giving talks in many other symposia.

We are excited about our bluff shelter symposium entitled “Bluff Shelters: Past Present and Future Research.”  Ozark bluff shelters are an incredible archeological resource providing both deep, stratified deposits and often the preservation of perishable materials.  As we are rapidly heading toward 100 years of archeology in Ozark bluff shelters, it is time to take stock of this class of site and attempt to summarize the history of investigations, discuss current work and to contemplate the directions that future archeological inquiry may take.

The symposium will include large overviews of the archeology (Brandon & Rees) and paleoethnobotany (Fritz and Horton) in bluff shelters as well as looks at future directions in research (Mueller & Kistler) and case studies of current bluff shelter research (Rees, Petigrew & Pebworth, Kay & Hilliard, Andrews, and Rees, Pebworth & Brandon).  Dr. George Sabo, Survey Director and author of Arkansas Rock Art will be our discussant.

We hope to turn this symposium into a addition to the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s Research Series next year.

For more information, check out the SEAC website:

Fall 2017 Bluff Shelter Talks

Posted on by jbrando
Lydia Rees gives a talk in an auditorium.

We will busy this fall with more talk about the importance of bluff shelter sites in the Arkansas Ozarks.  If you are in the area, check out one of these talks, or schedule one for your organization by contacting Dr. Jamie Brandon.

09/7/2017: Spring River Gem & Mineral Club in Cherokee Village, AR.

  • Where: Omaha Center in Cherokee Village
  • When: 10am

09/12/2017: Kadohadacho Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society, Magnolia AR.

  • Where: Magnolia Room of the Reynolds Center at Southern Arkansas University
  • When: 7pm

09/19/2017: Mind Stretchers Meeting, Van Buren, AR.

  • Where: Ruth Skinner Building on 6th Street across from St. John’s in Van Buren.
  • When: 6pm

10/07/2017: Walker Shelter Hike, Bella Vista, AR.

  • Where: Back 40 trail, Bella Vista, AR
  • When: 9am
  • Dr. Brandon will lead a 2 mile hike along the Back 40 Loop in Bella Vista to the Walker Shelter.  Upon arrival he will give a brief talk about the regional importance of these sites.

11/1/2017: Butler Center “Legacies & Lunch.”

  • Where: CALS Main Library Darragh Center, 100 Rock St., Little Rock
  • When: 12 noon

11/08-11/2017: Southeastern Archeological Conference.

  • At this year’s SEAC in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dr. Jamie Brandon and Lydia Rees have organized a session on the importance of Ozark bluff shelters entitled “Ozark Bluff Shelters: Past, Present and Future Research.”  This session will include George Sabo, Gayle Fritz, Elizabeth Horton, Marvin Kay, James Rees, Devon Pettigrew, Natlie Muller and Logan Kistler, Brian Andrews, Jared Pebworth, Jamie Brandon and Lydia Rees.  A publication on this symposium (to appear in the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s Research series)  is planned.