Greetings, everyone!

Now that we're starting to dig out (arkie humor) from under the backlog that
accumulated during last week's well-attended SEAC/MAC 2004 annual meeting (I was
especially proud, by the way, of how many Mound Citizens I saw roaming the halls
-- kudos to everyone who volunteered!), it's time to turn our attention back to
more local affairs, specifically, the Sutter-Meyer project in University City...

I have good news, bad news, and good news.

First, the GOOD news is that we had an excellent turnout weekend before last
(big thanks to everyone who came out -- I could list names, but you already know
who you are). The president of the local neighborhood association stopped by and
was very supportive in our efforts to learn more about some of the early
inhabitants of the area.

Also, unit #2 appears to be smack on top of the stone-lined cistern. Cisterns,
like privies, are important to archaeologists because they're usually filled in
with trash after they stop serving their original purpose as underground water
tanks. We only got down about 30cm before we had to close up shop, but
conditions are very favorable for collecting floatation samples and we're
hopeful that we'll be able make significant progress when we return.

And now, the BAD news: we had every hope of returning to the site this weekend,
October 30 and 31, but unfortunately, Dr. Diaz-Granados will be out of town this
weekend and it just wouldn't be appropriate for us to proceed without a
professional archaeologist to oversee the excavation.

But wait, I have more GOOD news! Barring uncooperative weather, we'll DEFINITELY
be returning to the site on the weekend of NOVEMBER 6 and 7 between the hours of
8:30am and 4:30pm. Remember, there's more to an excavation than just digging; we
also have a crate full of artifacts that need to be processed (washing,
identifying, labeling, cataloging, etc.), so keep in mind the old adage that
"many hands make light work" and make some time to stop by and help out. As
always, spectactors and kibitzers are welcome, so bring a friend!

I have more news regarding this project but, at the moment, I don't know if it
falls into the GOOD or BAD category, so I'll just wait until next Tuesday's
meeting and let those who are in attendance decide.

If you'd like to help next weekend, please drop me a line at
bgpaulus@... or call me at (314) 704-3507 and let me know which
days and times you can come. This will give us a better idea of how much HOT
CHOCOLATE to make.

Sorry again for the disappointing news about this weekend, but I'm very much
looking forward to seeing you all NEXT weekend!

Until then,

Greg
President, Mound City Archaeological Society
bgpaulus@...
(314) 704-3507


--- In MAS-MCAS@yahoogroups.com, "B.G. Paulus"
<bgpaulus@...> wrote:
>
> The Mound City Archaeological Society will be returning to the
> Sutter-Meyer site this weekend, October 16 1nd 17.
>
> Hopefully, this past week's rains have softened the ground a bit
> and will make the work a little easier. This time we'll be opening
> up a unit where we believe the original cistern may have been
> located, plus a couple of other promising spots as we pursue the
> site's elusive privies.
>
> We have excavation tools (and two new screening tables!), as well
> as kits for washing, labeling, and cataloging artifacts. We have
> cameras and notepads for documenting our work, too. We have tables
> and chairs and tarps and buckets. We have just about everything we
> need.
>
> Except YOU.
>
> This may be our last weekend of good weather for a while, so if
> you can spare just a few hours, you'll help make this project a
> success (after all, there are no baseball or football games or
> political debates in town this weekend; if you stay at home to
> watch TV, you'll just be inundated with political and automobile
> ads, so here's your chance to get some fresh air and excercise
> and help add to our knowledge about this historically significant
> site).
>
> Even if you aren't up to actually participating in the excavation,
> I invite you to stop by and say "hi".
>
> The address of the Sutter-Meyer site is 6826 Chamberlain Ct. To
> get there, go east on Olive from I-170 about two and a half miles
> to Ferguson Ave, turn left (north) onto Ferguson Ave and go one
> block to Chamberlain Ct. Turn left (west) onto Chamberlain Ct and
> go one block to the end of the street. The house is on the left.
> Parking shouldn't be a problem; park in the driveway or, if
> there's no room, on the street.
>
> We'll work from 8:30am to 4:30pm both days. Again, you don't need
> to commit to both days, or even a whole day, although you'll
> probably find it most rewarding if you can work for at least a
> two- or three-hour stretch.
>
> Beverages (water, soda, and HOT CHOCOLATE) will be provided. Also,
> we now have running water inside the Sutter-Meyer house, which
> means that we have access to a working bathroom (all the comforts
> of home!).
>
> If you can help or need more information, please e-mail me at
> bgpaulus@... or call me at (314) 704-3507.
>
> Thanks again and look forward to seeing you this weekend!
>
> Greg
> President, Mound City Archaeological Society
> bgpaulus@...
> (314) 704-3507
>
>
> --- "B.G. Paulus" <bgpaulus@...> wrote:
>
> > Built just after the end of the Civil War, the Sutter-Meyer
> > House is the oldest standing home in University City, Missouri.
> > The original owners were some of the first dairy farmers in the
> > area, beginning in the 1830s. The names of nearby streets
> > reflect the influence of these early inhabitants and, at one
> > point, the local community that grew up around this farm was
> > large enough to be given it's own post office.
> >
> > The current owner, the City of University City, has kindly given
> > the Mound City Archaeological Society permission to conduct an
> > archaeological survey of the property on which this house sits to
> > see if we can help add to what is already known about this locally
> > important historical site. We are doing this with the guidance and
> > supervision of Dr. Carol Diaz-Granados, a [research associate and
> > lecture in the Department] of Anthropology at Washington
> > University in St. Louis.
> >
> > We began our fieldwork a few weeks ago with a preliminary survey
> > of the property and collected artifacts from test units around the
> > outside perimeter of the house. This weekend, September 25 and
> > 26, we will pick up where we left off and re-open a one-by-two
> > meter unit north of the house, trying to find the remnants of
> > some of the outbuildings that once existed in that area.
> >
> > If we can get enough volunteers (on this admittedly short
> > notice), we would like to open up a couple more units to take
> > advantage of the excellent weather that has been forecasted. If
> > you would like to participate, please call or e-mail me as soon
> > as you can at (314) 704-3507 or bgpaulus@a... You do not need to
> > commit to both days or even an entire day, however, it would
> > probably be best if you could spare a block of at least three
> > or four hours on either day between the hours of 8:30am and
> > 5:30pm.
> >
> > If you can't participate this weekend, but might be available
> > some other time, please let me know and I'll gladly add you to
> > the list of potential volunteers. Also, if you'd like to just
> > stop by to visit and view our progress, please feel free to
> > contact me and I'll be happy to give you directions to the site.
> >
> > By the way, if you get my voice-mail, please leave a message
> > and I'll call you back just as soon as I can.
> >
> > Thanks and have a nice day,
> >
> > Greg
> >
> > Greg Paulus
> > President, Mound City Archaeological Society
> > bgpaulus@...
> > (314) 704-3507