MVAC e-News for March 2021

MVAC e-News for
March 2021

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MVAC Notice
As part of the effort to slow the coronavirus spread, MVAC is doing the following until further notice:

MVAC staff are telecommuting, and the building is closed to visitors.
We will still be working on contract archaeology projects and will conduct contract fieldwork if possible.
MVAC 2021 events are on hold.

For the latest information on future events, check our website and Facebook page.

Feel free to contact us by email or leave a voicemail on our office number—we’ll receive them remotely and reply as soon as possible. In the meantime, stay safe, and stay healthy!

MVAC's New Web Address
Starting Thursday, March 4, 2021 MVAC’s new web address will be: https://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/

Supporting MVAC
If you haven’t already, please consider renewing your support for MVAC’s ongoing mission of discovery, research, education, and preservation. If you would prefer, you can make your donation with our secure online donation option through the UWL Foundation. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Online Donation

Archaeology News for February 2021
“MVAC Video Series” is the lead story in the February 2021 issue of MVAC’s Archaeology News. Cindy Kocik, MVAC Research Intern, talks about the process involved in creating MVAC’s new video series. “Collectors stay busy during pandemic” and “Throwback Thursday: The Dahl Site” are additional stories.

MVAC Lab Video – Dr. Theler, Bison Scapula Hoes
Dr. James L Theler, MVAC Senior Research Associate and Professor Emeritus, UWL, Department of Archaeology & Anthropology discusses acquisition, manufacture, hafting, use, and discard of bison scapula hoes.

Bill Gresen’s Book Review 20th Anniversary
While Bill's reviews go back 20 years now, his relationship with MVAC goes back more than twice that long! The reviews capture some of the things we enjoy most about Bill-- he's perceptive, methodical, a clear thinker, and a whole lot of fun! We look forward to this relationship--and Bill's reviews!--continuing for many years to come.

Bill Gresens’ Archaeology Book Review for March 2021

The Scorpion’s Tail by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (four trowels)
Archaeologist Nora Kelly agrees to aid FBI Agent Corrie Swanson in excavating a partially mummified corpse in the New Mexico ghost town, High Lonesome.

Read the entire review

Post Script: This reviews marks the 20th anniversary of reviews of archaeological fiction. It has been my pleasure and great fun to while away the hours reading these books—for the most part, at least—and writing the reviews! My thanks to MVAC allowing me to prattle on and I look forward to the years ahead.
Bill Gresens

MVAC News

MVAC Staff Working Remotely
Erik Update
For the past few months I’ve been working in the lab on various projects that can’t be done remotely, such as analyzing human remains as well as cleaning and cataloguing artifacts from this past year’s field season. Lately, much of the work has focused on an excavation MVAC conducted earlier this summer in the Powell-Poage-Hamilton neighborhood on the south side of La Crosse. One of the features contained a large number of sherds from what appeared to be a single Oneota vessel, so for the past couple of weeks I have been reconstructing the pot, and it turns out that over half of the pot was present in the feature. This was the first time I’ve had the opportunity to reconstruct a pot, and although it was difficult and infuriating at times, overall it was a fun and rewarding experience.

It’s been nice to be able to work in the lab on a consistent basis, and I’m looking forward to having the lab open more often. I’m also looking forward to the beginning of the field season when we can get back outside.