Massachusetts Archaeological Society

05/26/2020

We’ve reached the end of Dr. Wheeler’s summer reading list. We hope you enjoyed it! If we have your email, we’ll send the list out to you shortly so that you’ll have it as a handy reference. If we don’t have it, you can subscribe to MAS emails by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/362KsD6. Happy reading!

“Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage by Bill Rathje. This is a fun book and recounts the work that Rathje and his University of Arizona students did on modern refuse disposal habits and how this could be applied to archaeological sites. Rathje was a big proponent of Behavioral Archaeology, so you get some of that theory as well.”

05/25/2020

We’ve reached the penultimate summer recommendation in Dr. Wheeler’s list, and it’s a classic. It might be a little bit dated, but it’s still a must read.

“Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind by Donald Johanson. I carried this book around with me for a year in high school, reading and re-reading it. Dated now, with so many new discoveries, but really well written, and it gives a sense of the scholarly battles that still rage over human origins. Pair with Lee Berger’s more recent Almost Human and you get a pretty good sense of the complexities of paleoanthropology.”

05/24/2020

If you’re into mummies, then Ryan’s 10th recommendation is for you!

“The Bog People by Peter Glob. Iron Age mummies from European bogs. Some crazy preservation that you only get in wet sites (anaerobic conditions). If you read this, you will want more on wet-site archaeology!”

05/23/2020

Saturday’s book recommendation from Dr. Wheeler is an oldie but goodie.

“Gods, Graves, and Scholars by C.W. Ceram. This was published in 1949 but tells the stories of many of the great archaeological discoveries up to the mid-20th century. Heinrich Schliemann at Troy, Howard Carter and King Tut, etc. You sorta have to read this if you are an archaeologist.”

05/22/2020

It’s Friday, so it’s time for some fun! And I can’t think of any archaeology-related book that I had more fun reading than Bulletin Editor Ryan Wheeler’s 8th recommendation.

“Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries by Kenneth Feder. This book covers all the kooky ideas about North American archaeology, and why people believe them. It’s lots of fun, well written, and you can’t help learning along the way.”

05/21/2020

What’s the future of archaeology? This is the subject the author explores in Dr. Wheeler’s 7th summer book recommendation.

“The Science of Archaeology? Richard ‘Scotty’ MacNeish’s autobiographical musing on the future of archaeology.”

05/20/2020

We’re halfway through the week and through our list! Dr. Wheeler’s 6th summer book recommendation is a classic. If you haven’t read it, you’re in for a treat.

“The Early Mesoamerican Village by Kent Flannery. The major selling points of this book are that it is well written, highly readable, and that between the chapters there are these fictional interludes featuring The Great Synthesizer, The Skeptical Graduate Student, and The Real Mesoamerican Archaeologist. Archaeological writing at its best!”

05/19/2020

Here’s the 5th book in our Bulletin Editor’s summer reading recommendation series.

“What This Awl Means by Janet Spector. This is one of the first and remains one of the most creative and engaging books in the field of feminist archaeology.”

05/18/2020

Happy Monday! Here’s the next recommendation in Dr. Wheeler’s list!

“In Small Things Forgotten by James Deetz. In many ways this is the book that defined the field of historical archaeology.”

05/17/2020

The weekend’s almost over, but our summer reading list is still going strong. Here’s out Bulletin Editor’s third recommendation.

“Encounter with an Angry God by Carobeth Laird. This book is about her life with archaeologist and ethnographer John Peabody Harrington, who was brilliant and maybe more than a little crazy. I found this in the stacks as a grad student and couldn’t put it down.”

05/16/2020

We hope you enjoyed yesterday’s kickoff of our MAS Bulletin Editor’s summer reading recommendation series. Here’s rec #2 from Dr. Wheeler!

“Loren Eiseley’s The Night Country. Eiseley was an archaeologist and paleoanthropologist at UPenn, and this is his semi-autobiographical memoir. It is so beautifully written, and funny, and gives some great insights into 20th century archaeology by a master of the profession.”

05/16/2020

Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society | Journals and Campus Publications | Bridgewater State University

Through August, all but the latest issue of the MAS Bulletin are available to read for free online. Visit https://vc.bridgew.edu/bmas/ to start browsing!

And don’t forget, the Bulletin relies on scholars (amateur and professional alike) to keep going! If you have research you want to share, email Bulletin Editor [email protected] for more information.

The Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society, published semi-annually, highlights research related to the archaeology of Massachusetts.

05/15/2020

One of the things we love most about the warm weather is reading outside. With summer right around the corner, we asked MAS Bulletin Editor Ryan Wheeler for some archaeology-related recommendations. Here’s #1!

“Books by David Hurst Thomas, including his textbook Archaeology. You wouldn’t think that a textbook would be at the top of my reading list, but this is a terrific book. Each chapter includes all these great quotes. This book demonstrated to me as a college senior that archaeology was for smart people. Also, his book Skull Wars on the Kennewick Man (the Ancient One) is a superb look into the complex relationship between tribes and archaeologists.”

Stay tuned for more recommendations from Dr. Wheeler!

05/12/2020

Calling All Authors!

Do you have research you’d like to share with the public? Publish in the MAS Bulletin!

Prospective authors should contact Bulletin Editor Ryan Wheeler at [email protected] for more information.

04/28/2020

As announced today, restrictions on nonessential businesses in #Massachusetts will remain in effect until May 18 due to #Covid19. Please consider shopping for your next great book on archaeology via our online bookstore at https://www.shop.massarchaeology.org. Help keep the Robbins Museum going during this closure. We want to be there for fans of archaeology, preservation, and culture history when this is over. Thank you for your support! #digMass #archaeology #history #science

04/01/2020

Update on Robbins/MAS Closure: In accordance with the governor's guidelines, the MAS/Robbins will remain closed until at least May 4. We'll provide an additional update at that time. Thanks to all our friends and members for your continued support and well wishes!

03/29/2020

Secretary Of Interior Orders Mashpee Wampanoag Reservation 'Disestablished,' Tribe Says

News of the Mashpee Wampanoag’s reservation being “disestablished” by the Sec of the Interior breaking this weekend.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's reservation will be disestablished and their land taken out of trust, per an order from the secretary of the interior.

03/14/2020

Please note that the Gene Winter Chapter's meeting on March 17 has been canceled.

03/13/2020

Due to the coronavirus situation in Massachusetts and to protect our visitors and volunteers, the Robbins Museum and MAS offices will remain closed. We will evaluate the situation at the end of March and provide you with any updates at that time. Sorry for any inconvenience!

02/18/2020

Unfortunately, tonight's lecture is canceled. We'll let you know when it is rescheduled. Sorry for any inconvenience!

02/14/2020

New lecture this Tuesday! Get all the details below.

02/12/2020

See you tonight at the Robbins!

02/01/2020

February 12 at the Robbins. Hope to see you there!

01/28/2020

700-year-old canoe found in mud a reminder of Maine's rich Native American heritage

Incredible find in Maine!
#history #archaeology #Massachusetts #Maine

Archaeologists have recovered the oldest, and only pre-European contact, dugout canoe ever found in Maine. They pulled the Native American vessel, which is estimated to be between 700 and 800 years old, from the mud off Cape Porpoise last week. Only three other dugout canoes have ever been located i...

01/21/2020

Tonight!

01/19/2020

Coming up this coming Tuesday! Get the details below.

01/18/2020

If you're in the North Attleborough area, check out Local Archaeology Day next Saturday (January 25). See the details below!

01/15/2020

Join members of the Gene Winter Chapter based in #Andover at the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology for their next #FREE #archaeology lecture on Tuesday, JAN 21. The program topic: a discussion of 19th century sex work and the implications for studying the history of prostitution through material culture and historical documents. Details below!
#history #Massachusetts

01/14/2020

Sending our thanks out to the The Society for Historical Archaeology and annual conference chairs Joe Bagley City of Boston Archaeology Program and Jen Poulson Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology for their tremendous efforts in making the recent Revolution 2020 conference in Boston a great one! MAS also sends a huge thank you to conference committee members Vic Mastone (ret., Mass Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources), Lindsay Randall Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, Ellen Berkland @MassDCR, and the many other local archaeologists who worked to make #SHA2020 so successful. The MAS team really enjoyed being a part of the conference, book room, and especially the Family Fun with Archaeology event. Thrilled to hang out at Saturday's archaeology fair with friends from Museum of Science, Boston, Plimoth Plantation, Gray & Pape, Inc., @CapeCodMuseumofNaturalHistory, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Archaeological Institute of America, Northeast Museum Services Center, Barbara Donahue of Donahue Consulting, Leominster, MA, Friends of the Office of State Archaeology (CT), Hurstwic, Epoch Preservation, the Indigenous Resource Collaborative, and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Thanks again! #Massachsuetts #archaeology #history #culture #digMass

01/08/2020

Before you head up to the Archaeology Fair at the Copley Boston Public Library this weekend, swing by the Robbins Museum in Middleborough for an engaging talk by Craig Chartier of Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project PARP on Wednesday, January 8. Hear the talk, chat with some archaeologists, and check out the collections on display. Details below! #science #history #archaeology #Massachusetts

01/06/2020

Got archaeology? WE DO! Join us for a FREE FAMILY event at the Boston Public Library on Saturday, January 11 to get your hands on some science and culture. Raffles and prizes, too! Open to the public from 10am to 2pm for FREE! The MAS and more than 15 other museums, nonprofits, and cultural resource management firms welcome you to the world of archaeology!

12/11/2019

Archaeologists uncover 12,500-year-old site in Avon, showing evidence of the earliest known population in Connecticut

Amazing find in Connecticut! #archaeology #science #history

The site was discovered when the state Department of Transportation began a bridge construction project.

12/10/2019

Upcoming meeting of the Gene Winter/Northeast Chapter! #museum #collections #digMass

11/20/2019

This is New England: Plymouth 400 Talks Descendants

Thrilled to see Plymouth 400 Committee Member and MAS Trustee Linda Coombs discussing upcoming commemorations and celebrations. #Wampanoag #history #Massachusetts #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

11/18/2019

We thoroughly enjoyed our 80th Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 16. So thrilled to welcome Marty Dudek, John Hart, and Dave Robinson for their presentations. And, we got to celebrate another milestone...a birthday for longtime Trustee Al Smith, who is still active in the field as an archaeologist! Many thanks to the members who came and took part in the afternoon!