This weekend may very well be the last opportunity we have to do any fieldwork
at the Sutter-Meyer site this year; the weather forecast for both days is mostly
sunny with highs near 70 degrees (how many often can you say THAT in November in
St. Louis?). Given that, we can use all the able bodies we can get, so if you
can make some time to stop by the site (excavate, screen, wash, or just watch),
now's the time to do so.

It's okay if you don't yet know your weekend schedule and need to keep your
plans flexible, but if you CAN commit to at least a couple/few hours either day
between 8:30am and 4:30pm, please drop me a short e-mail or call me to let me
know when you'll be there; it will help us better plan for how many units we can
realistically open up and excavate before we have to shut it all down Sunday
afternoon.

The Sutter-Meyer site is located at 6826 Chamberlain Court, just one block north
and west of the intersection of Olive and Ferguson in University City, Missouri.

Hope to see you there!

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


--- "B.G. Paulus" <bgpaulus@...> wrote:

>
> 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