Archaeology Fair 2011

Staten Island Archaeology Fair, April 2011

In April 2011 the Archaeology Society of Staten Island/Staten Island Society AIA sponsored their first Archaeology Fair. More than 20 cultural institutions hosted exhibitions, including local archaeologists, material culture enthusiasts, and Wagner College students. Children and adults alike enjoyed learning about archaeology through a variety of lenses. Some exhibitors discussed the material culture of ancient civilizations, such as the Assyrians and Maya (through Wagner College Art History students presentation of the Gilgamesh epic and ‘make your own cuneiform tablet’ activity, and a mock representation of the Maya ball game).

Other exhibitors talked about fossils and excavation (Staten Island Zoo); physical anthropology was a hit through hands-on demonstrations with replications of human skeletal remains (Wagner College Anthropology students).

Museum educators and exhibit designers conducted activities on the ancient Lenape culture, early inhabitants of Staten Island (Staten Island Museum), and on more recent historical traditions such as candle making and pottery production (Historic Richmond town). Other highlights were the process of discovery of artifacts through various methods, including surface survey and metal detection (Richmond Research and Recovery). These and other exhibitors were set up around the Spiro Sports Complex Gym on Wagner College’s campus.

The highlight of the day for most children was the DIG IT exhibit, set up outside the gym. There, Wagner College Students led children of all ages on a mock dig. Participants were allowed to excavate using trowels, brushes, and sieves, in one of three excavation boxes built by volunteers. During the course of the excavation archaeologists discovered chicken and pig bones, obsidian flakes and blades, shells, ceramics, and decorated stone beads. Artifacts were mapped and tabulated. Upon unearthing their discoveries, artifacts were taken to a ‘museum’ for registration. There, the archaeologists conducted study on the objects and concluded how they reflected various activities going on at the settlement. They were then able to compose museum labels indicating what the objects were. Upon completing their installation of the artifacts in the ‘museum’ participants were given a sealed certificate verifying they had undergone Junior Archaeology training!

Throughout the day parents approached exhibitors and Society members to express their amazement at the success of the Fair. There were almost 500 participants over the course of the day, and most families stayed for almost two hours. Exhibitors too remarked that the Fair was one of the most well attended events they had been to in the past year. We are particularly grateful to the Wagner College Marketing Club for their assistance in publicizing the event. We hope to do the Fair again in a few years, and plan to have more exhibitors and even greater turnout.

As a parent of two young children who attended the fair and a trained archaeologist, I can truly say the event left wonderfully positive impression. My children spent almost three hours exploring and learning, and were talking about the Fair for weeks afterward. We expect there will be a wave of archaeological leaning around Staten Island in the years to come! We also hope the event will encourage membership growth in our local society during the next year.

Our next fair is currently planned for the spring 2014. Please contact us if you are interested in participating!

-Sarah Jarmer Scott
Photos provided by Peter Russo, Karen Kalriess, and Celeste Gagnon

List of 2011 Exhibitors:
Archaeology and the Holy Land
Glenn Wechsler, Director of Youth and Camp Services
JCC of Staten Island
Discover the exciting world of Near Eastern archaeology through models and educational activities.

National Lighthouse Museum…Past…Present…Future
Linda Dianto, Chair; Frank Ninivaggi
National Lighthouse Museum
Hear stories about the lighthouse and its history, learn about the technologies of the Fresnel lens, the storage vaults, and its construction.

Site Management and NYC Parks Conservation
Beth Nicholls, Environmental Educator
Staten Island Greenbelt
Discover the history of the people and places once found in Staten Island’s largest park.

Historical Detectives
Felicity Beil, Director of Education
Historic Richmond Town
Play the role of a historical detective as you analyze artifacts to draw conclusions about the site or building they might have come from.

“Turn of the Century” Alice Austen Photographs
Carol Stiles, Volunteer
Alice Austen House Museum
View historic Staten Island photographs and take part in photo activities.

Tell Tale Bones
Erin Rackovan, Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator
Staten Island Zoo
View an array of animal skulls and learn how they can tell us about animal senses; make rubbings with fossils!

Hunting Down History
John J. Marchese, President
Staten Island History Hunters
Learn how to study history from a local perspective!

Walking Tours of Moravian Cemetery
Richard Simpson, Historian and Guide
Moravian Cemetery
Discover the fascinating biographies of peoples buried in the Cemetery, and learn about artifacts collected from the site.

Archaeological Discoveries at the Court House at St George
Marcus Marino, President: Sol Genovese, Vice President, Jeff Geary, Secretary
American Institute of Architects
View a display of artifacts discovered at the construction site at St. George, Staten Island.

Cave Art Drawing
Malissa Priebe, Executive Director: Teaching Artist: Volunteer
Art Lab, Inc.
Learn about Cave painting in the Prehistoric Era and create your own images using materials akin to those used by our ancient ancestors.

Preserving the Past for the Future
Halina McCormack, Volunteer
Hispanic Society of America
Examine restored art and architectural objects and learn about the process of art conservation.
Lenape Indians: The First Staten Islanders
Ed Johnson, Director of Science: Seth Wollney, Public Program Associate
Staten Island Museum
View artifacts excavated from Lenape sites here on Staten Island and make a pinch pot to bring home.

Gems and Archaeology
Steve Okulewicz, President
Staten Island Geological Society
Investigate gems and geology!

Masks and Ancient Tibet
Meg Ventrudo, Director
Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
Learn about the art and practice of Buddhist mask making and make your own masterpiece!

Archaeology and the Local Environment
Mike Shanley, Exhibit Manager, Staten Island Children’s Museum
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Blue Heron Park
Experience global material culture through ancient artifacts and learn about the rich ecology our own backyard!

Dutch Settlement and Ceramic (Re)Production
Steve Nutt, Professor
Wagner College
Learn about the Dutch colonization of Staten Island and make some Delft tiles!

Global Storytelling
Samantha Siderowitz, Carly Schmidt, Juliana Todeschi, Julia Tavolaro, Students
Wagner College
Explore the ancient cultures of Egypt, Assyria, Mexico, and India through children’s literature and hands-on craft activities

Ancient Greek Theatre
Jeanna Ritto, Student
Wagner College
Become an actor in an Ancient Greek Theatre!

Archaeology, Wagner, and College Life in the 1920s
Gabrielle Gill, Student
Wagner College
Learn about Historical Archaeology and Wagner’s campus; see artifacts from recent excavations

Bones, Bones, and More Bones
Anthropology Students
Wagner College
Learn how physical Anthropologists analyze human remains in excavations

Dig It!
Erik Artzen, Emily Rogers, Students
Wagner College
Excavate your way through a mock excavation, learn how to use an archaeologists’ tool kit, and map your trench!

Metal Detecting on Staten Island
Fred DeLise
Richmond Research and Recovery
Learn about metal detecting technique and view artifacts discovered here on the Island!

Artifacts Under the Bell Jar
Ryan McGivern
Artist
View archaeological artifacts from the North Shore, exhibited under artisan glass jars