The Society for California Archaeology executive board has implemented a virtual presentation series in recognition of California Archaeology Month. The Board is offering a grant of $2500 to be awarded to the student with the best proposal. Students will be asked to host, via Zoom, an hour long live virtual presentation on their current thesis or doctoral research, taking place in late October. Follow this link to view the 2020 Student Presentation Series: 2020 Student Presentation Series – SOCIETY FOR (scahome.org)
The event will consist of a twenty-minute presentation followed by a roundtable discussion between the student and a three-person panel of established professional archaeologists relevant to their research. To apply for the grant, students need to submit a brief recorded video that outlines their virtual presentation proposal and a statement on how the grant would support the student’s research. Additionally, the student must submit a written list of four professional archaeologists who are familiar with the subject matter and would be good discussion panelists, with explanation of their relevant credentials (need not be thesis/dissertation committee members). For consideration, proposals must be received by October 8th. To submit your proposal or for further information contact incoming SCA President, found on the SCA leadership page. Selected grant recipients will be announced on October 15th.
The James A. Bennyhoff Memorial Fund Award
Award to support original research on the prehistory of California and the Great Basin, with special consideration given to projects emphasizing analysis of existing museum collections, those housed in regional repositories and/or those reported in inventories and reports which focus on: 1) the development, significant refinement and/or modification of time-sensitive typologies or seriation studies useful in identifying prehistoric spatial or temporal units, or 2) relating primary data to revision of existing culture historical taxonomic frameworks.
SCA student members are invited to submit research proposals for the James A. Bennyhoff Memorial Award. The award is intended to support original student research on the prehistory of California and the Great Basin.
Projects may involve more than one subdiscipline of anthropology and may have objectives beyond those of culture history; nonetheless, a significant portion of the study must involve direct work with artifacts or other primary source data (e.g., mission registers, historical/archival documents), and must show promise to enhance the scientific understanding of California and Great Basin prehistory. Research projects may involve preparation of a thesis, dissertation, or a formal refereed publication.
Funding from the award (up to $1,500) may be used by the recipient for any purpose directly related to the study; e.g., travel for the purpose of studying collections, photography, illustrations, graphics, radiocarbon studies, or obsidian analyses. Additional support is available to conduct up to 100 obsidian hydration readings (courtesy of Origer’s Obsidian Laboratory), up to 50 obsidian source analyses (courtesy of Richard Hughes at Geochemical Research Laboratory)and up to four AMS dates courtesy of the CAMS facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
2019
EXPLAINING PROVISIONING AND LANDSCAPE USE IN THE ORDERLY ANARCHY OF THE LATE HOLOCENE SACRAMENTO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
Kristina Crawford, M.A., RPA
Ph.D. candidate
University of Nevada, Reno
This project investigates whether or not Native Californians in the upper Sacramento Valley at the end of the Late Period (1100 to 150 cal. BP ) solved the problem of provisioning increasingly circumscribed and growing populations with minutely-divided and decentralized sociopolitical organization by developing an interdependent but non-hierarchical economy focused on specialized production of surplus for trade. Faunal, wood charcoal and artifact analyses of the assemblages from two stratified rockshelters in northern Tehama County will be used to answer this question. This study continues the work of Dr. Bennyhoff as it examines culture change in the Late Period as it relates to economics of diet and trade and continues his culture chronology work by refining a local chronology. This project is important because it interrogates the idea that hunter-gatherer complexity exists only in situations of hierarchical centralized sociopolitical organization.
The Charles E. Roziaire Award for Student Research in California Archaeology
The award supports undergraduate or graduate student research in California archaeology that includes a significant fieldwork or collections component. Funding from the award is intended to help pay for the various costs associated with fieldwork or analyzing an existing curated collection and/or for preparing the materials for long-term curation. The award is to promote original research on the history or prehistory of California.
ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
Funding from the award (up to $2,000) may be used for fieldwork or collections expenses directly related to the study. These include travel to and from the field or museum; lodging, camping, and food to support a field crew; data collection; and/or the purchase or maintenance of minor field equipment (i.e., items under $300 such as shovels and screens). Expenses may also include initial stages of laboratory analysis associated with preparing the collection for further study and curation (e.g., illustrations or casting of artifacts, assistance with artifact or ecofact identification, purchase of curation supplies such as boxes or bags). Expenses not allowed include salary or stipends to field participants, tuition, or purchase of equipment over $300.
View the Rozaire Award Webpage
Outstanding Student Paper and Poster Presented at the Annual Meeting
Win $250 cash and a banquet ticket! Two awards will be given this year, one for Outstanding Paper and one for Outstanding Poster.
Giving a paper or poster at the SCAs? Don’t miss the opportunity to win money, prestige, a banquet ticket, and more! Submit your paper or poster by December 15, 2022, to the SCA Student Paper Competition. Papers should be submitted as e-mail attachments to the SCA Business Office at gro.emohacsnull@eciffo. Please indicate “Student Paper Competition” in the e-mail subject line. Also please include the name of a faculty advisor in the email. Poster submissions should include all relevant files in full layout.
Outstanding Student Paper Award
Kim Algya
Palomar College
Recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Student Paper Award
Previous Award Recipients:
2022 – Kim Algya
2021 – Kyle Palazzolo
2020 – Austin Dietrich and Enkhbayar Oyuntsetseg
2019 – Noel Jones
2018 – Noel Jones and Katherine Jorgensen
2017 – Nichole Fournier
2016 – Lisa Bright
2015– (No Award Given)
2014 – Samuel J. Williams
2013 – Mikael Fauvelle
2012 – Kristina Gill
2011 – Karen Gardner
2010 – Joe Griffin
2009 – Jarrod “X” Kellogg
2008 – Melanie Beasley
2007 – Tsim D. Schneider and Adrian R. Whitaker
2006 – Victoria Stosel
2005 – Shannon Tushingham
2004 – Clarus J. Backes, Jr.
2002 – Nathan Stevens
2001 – Alexander DeGeorgey
The meeting will kick off on Friday morning, March 17, with the President’s Plenary. The SCA’s mission statement says the organization is dedicated to the research, understanding, interpretation, and conservation of the heritage of California, but what does that mean in practice? We spend lots of time on fieldwork and writing reports, but how much of that actually gets beyond the gray literature out to a larger audience? If we truly want to build appreciation for the heritage of California, we need to engage with the general public to explain how archaeology is more than “being Indiana Jones” or finding gold. The last several national presidential elections have resulted in shifts in federal policies that have had major implications for cultural resources. Building interest in archaeology has the potential to carry forward into building political support for preservation. But how does the average archaeologist connect with audiences? The plenary session brings together those with skills in connecting with varied audiences, from children to racial minorities to differently abled people. The speakers will share stories of how they connect to lay audiences to build appreciation for California’s heritage. Hopefully their examples will inspire SCA members to expand their own interpretation efforts and tap into their creativity.
2023 Early Bird. Save 10% off the registration fee when you bundle the annual meeting, silent auction and banquet together, by December 16, 2022. Members only! Register by logging on to your member’s page at scahome.org | The regular registration Deadline is February 16, 2023. Register by logging on to your member’s page at scahome.org | ||
| Membership Category | Registration Fee | Membership Category | Registration Fee |
| Regular | $270.00 | Regular | $110.00 |
| Senior | $235.00 | Senior | $65.00 |
| Student1 | $220.00 | Student1 | $50.00 |
| Non-Member | N/A | Non-Member | $135.00 |
| Volunteer2 | N/A | Volunteer | Waived |
HOTEL REGISTRATION
The 2023 conference location is the Oakland Convention Center, with our negotiated room block at the Oakland Marriott City Center. Government rates may be available at individual hotels, please contact the hotel directly.
Oakland Marriott City Center
1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607
$179 USD per night
Book DIRECT with the Marriott and be sure to use correct check in and out dates* https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1663341666925&key=GRP&app=resvlink
Phone: +1 510-451-4000
*rates available from Sunday, March 12, 2023 – Monday, March 20, 2023 The last day to book at the negotiated rate is Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Airport Transportation
The Oakland Marriott City Center is located ~8 miles from the Oakland Airport and 26 miles from the San Francisco Airport. There are several options to get from the airport to the hotel, Rome2Rio shows six options and their costs.
OSTE1: Introduction to Comparative Osteology: Samantha Schell & Sophie Minnig
March 16, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. AND repeated 1:00pm – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
Encountering human or non-human bone in the field is something many of us experience. This hands-on workshop is designed to help archaeologists and monitors get acquainted with basic osteological identification methods. The workshop will use comparative materials to focus on identifying human versus non-human bone. This course is a basic introduction to the skeleton and features that can be useful for differentiating human from other mammal bone. Pre-registration is required.
FORAGING THEORY AND PRACTICE
Instructor: Robert L. Bettinger, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, UC Davis
This workshop will introduce the theoretical foundation of foraging theory, beginning with the concept of rational choice and definition of costs and benefits. Explores application of the foraging models most amenable to application to the archaeological and ethnographic record. Participants may sign up for morning and afternoon, morning only, or afternoon only. You must bring laptop to obtain full benefit. Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel highly useful. Preregistration is Required.
FORA1: Foraging Theory and Practice Morning Session
March 16, 2022, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
- Rational choice theory
- Foraging costs and benefits
- Diet breadth
- Front vs. back loaded resources
FORA2: Foraging Theory and Practice Afternoon Session
March 16, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
- Linear programming.
- Marginal value theorem
- Field processing
- Technological investment (including newest, unpublished models)
MAR1: Underwater Cultural Heritage Resources Awareness
Instructor: Trisha Dodd
March 16, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
Cultural resource managers, land managers, and archaeologists are often tasked with managing, interpreting, and reviewing archaeological assessments for submerged cultural resources. This workshop is designed to introduce non specialists to issues specific to underwater archaeology. Participants will learn about different types of underwater cultural heritage (UCH) sites and the techniques used in Phase I and II equivalent surveys. Participants will also be made aware of the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage. This workshop is not intended to teach participants how to do underwater archaeology but will introduce different investigative techniques, international best practices, and existing legislation. The purpose of this workshop is to assist non-specialists in recognizing the potential for UCH resources in their areas of impact, budgeting for UCH resource investigations, reviewing UCH resource assessments, developing interpretive strategies, and providing sufficient background information to assist in making informed decisions regarding UCH resources.
I. Introduction and Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology/CMAC Welcome
II. Introduction to Maritime Archaeology
III. U.S and California Legislation
IV. Introduction to Underwater Survey
V. Qualifications and Reporting
VI. Interpretation, Outreach, and Advocational Efforts
Instructors: Dustin Swenson, Tony Overly, Monica Strauss, and Sara Dietler
March 16, 2023, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 P.m. Cost: $30.00
In the face of rapid growth and infrastructure development expected in the next several years, archaeological monitoring will be a vital compliance tool to ensure adequate site protection. This workshop provides a broad overview of the construction compliance workspace to understand the different aspects of complex, multi-subcontractor construction projects and how archaeological monitoring fits into the general compliance framework. It is intended to be equally valuable for entry-level monitors and others with construction project experience. The workshop is not a technical “how to identify archaeological features in the field” but rather covers practical solutions and problem-solving for field personnel in typical compliance situations through formal presentations, real world scenarios, and group discussion. ESA archaeologists and environmental compliance experts will guide you through how archaeological monitoring is used within the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Additional topics include what kinds of communication can be expected on construction sites, what challenges or hazards may be encountered, and how archaeological monitoring fills an integral role and last line of defense of resource protection. Pre-registration is required.
WORKSHOP: OBSI1: Obsidian Hydration Dating Workshop
INSTRUCTOR: ALEXANDER (SANDY) ROGERS, MA, MS, RPA
March 16, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
The goal of this workshop is to provide insight into the theory and methods of obsidian hydration dating (OHD). It should help enable the archaeologist to perform OHD analyses, and enable the manager to ask the right questions. The workshop will cover the basic principles of obsidian hydration and the models employed in dating; how to develop an appropriate effective hydration temperature (EHT); various methods of computing a hydration rate; guidelines for data analysis; and numerous cautions. An Excel spreadsheet with numerical models for conducting an OHD analysis will be provided. Mathematics will be kept to a minimum, but cannot be avoided entirely. Electronic copies of key references will be provided. Pre-registration is required.
WORKSHOP: CMS1: MUKURTU CMS FOR DIGITAL HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS
INSTRUCTOR: Kimberly Wooten and Julia Huddleson
March 3, 2022, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $40.00
PLA1: Historic Plastics in the Archaeological Record Instructors: Kimberly Wooten and Julia Huddleson As ubiquitous as plastic may seem in the archaeological record, plastic artifacts are quickly moving into the period of historic significance. A basic understanding of this material type will be increasingly important for recording and evaluating archaeological sites. This workshop will give an overview of the history and development of plastics, followed by hands-on training with plastic artifacts from the early 1900s through to the modern era with a focus on domestic sites. In many ways plastic can be seen as a hallmark of the Anthropocene, and the last 30 minutes will be a guided discussion of contemporary plastic archaeology, with time focused on individual solutions to the current plastic pollution crisis. A thumb drive of plastic reference materials will be included with the workshop fee.
WORKSHOP: CHIA1: TOVAAVE: FROM THE EARTH REFOCUSING YOUR CULTURAL LANDS
INSTRUCTORS: ABE SANCHEZ & CRAIG TORRES
March 3, 2022, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Cost: $55.00
Tovaave: From the Earth Refocusing Your Cultural Lands
This workshop covers the basics on traditional knowledge and spiritual relationship to the land, and the nutritive and medicinal bounty the land offers us. This workshop demonstrates and celebrates the importance of native foods. We will focus on ways to re-incorporate Native food plants into our daily diets to take back responsibility for our health and well-being.
ETHICS BOWL
The SCA Executive Board has decided to hold the second annual Ethics Bowl competition at the upcoming annual meeting in Oakland. Organized similarly to the SAA Ethics Bowl, which has been held at their annual meetings for several years now, teams of 3-5 graduate and/or undergraduate students from various universities and colleges will compete against each other in a series of rounds. The winning team moves on to the next round until there is a final winning team. The winning team takes home a traveling trophy to display in the department for the next year and their team/school name is engraved onto the trophy. Additional prizes will be awarded to winning team members. Full description HERE.
In response to recent events at another organization’s annual meeting, the SCA Executive Board requested that the SCA Standards and Ethics Advisory Committee develop anti-harassment policy and procedures for SCA sponsored events. Policy and procedures have been developed, reviewed, and approved by the Executive Board. These documents are now posted online for review by SCA membership. A proposal to amend the Bylaws is included in the 2021 Election materials. Click the ballot box below to cast your vote.
The policy and procedures documents include:
- SCA Meeting Safety Policy and Code of Conduct
- SCA Code of Ethical Guidelines Bylaws Amendment
- SCA Ban on Meeting Attendance and Expulsion Bylaws Amendment
Please take the time to review these very important documents and attend the Business Meeting to vote on their implementation. The SCA is committed to having a harassment-free environment at all SCA sponsored events.
SCA Bylaws Amendment 1(Membership section additions, banning, and expulsion)
SCA Bylaws Amendment 2 (Code of Ethics addition, anti-Harassment Bylaws)
SCA Meeting Safety Policy and Code of Conduct
SCA Disclosure Form- Appendix A (Onsite Reporting)
SCA Reporting Form Appendix B (Advance Reporting)
View the proposed amendments on the SCA website at https://scahome.org/about-us/professional-qualifications-standards-2/sca-anti-harassment-policy-proposal/