conferences!

Finally an update that is actually going to be about archaeology! Conferences are the best thing you can do in any industry to keep yourself psyched, examine job (or thesis) prospects, hang out with colleagues, coworkers, classmates, meet new folks and get a good idea of the research that is going on in your field. In the last couple of months I have attended the Utah Museums Association Conference and the Great Basin Anthropological Conference.

The Utah Museums Association Conference was my first museum conference. It was extremely interesting and enlightening. Firstly, it was a chance to mingle with professionals that didn't necessarily have an archaeological bias. I learned what an intense love of preservation they have and how the economic downturn, which they called 'the new normal', had affected the industry. I was inspired by the solidarity with one another they showed. They are clearly dedicated to making it all work and helping each other through it. My professor: Dr. Bonnie Pitblado discussed an innovative distance learning program that she has designed for museum professionals and students. There are broadcast courses that will be from my campus but including other students all over the country.

The Great Basin Anthropological Conference! This was my 3rd one. It was so nice to see my old friends (from work, school, internships! everyone was there!) The first night I drove down to have Navajo tacos with my friends from my forest service seasons! I also got brave and participated in the Kareoke BBQ the next night! I sang Miranda Lambert's 'gunpowder and lead' and 'famous in a small town'. I was nervous as heck, but it was really fun. I am told I was not the worst singer there, so that was a small ego boost!

The presentations were fantastic. For an archaeologist who loves the Fremont, I was extra lucky this year because almost 1/2 of the presentations were right up my ally! The other presentations were awesome too.

I saw an amazing symposium called "skeletons are people too" that was about bioarchaeology (a subject I am considering pursuing in my 'thesis') There were talks about the dietary deficiencies of ancient Americans, collections that may demonstrate cannibalism, an analysis of a baby burial, an example of extreme projection and misinterpretation thanks to NatGeo, and a heartbreaking exposure of a massacre that happened in the historic period near Nephi Utah. This may sound morbid, but the discussant Dr. Patricia Lambert (another professor at my school) said it perfectly when she explained that telling the untold stories of the dead is a noble cause despite antiquity.

I saw another session on high altitude villages that included some of my classmates and professors. It was quite interesting to see the environment utilized in these high altitude situations and how they appear to be much more common than previously thought.
The last day of the conference was particularly awesome because some of the most accomplished archaeologists discussed several issues that swirl around the world of Great basin Anthropology. Dr. Don Fowler concluded the session from the crowd when he announced "nobody does it to you like your own" before standing up and walking out before it looked like the speakers were finished. it was mildly hilarious.

I got a lot of time to network, discuss research, oggle books I can't afford, visit with friends and party a little. I am extremely grateful for all my archaeology mentors and friends, everyone was willing to help me with projects, offer me jobs, get me free banquet tickets, etc. I am blessed.