Hi, everyone.

As announced earlier, we re-openened test units 2 and 4 at the Sutter-Meyer site
in University City, Missouri, the weekend of August 20 and 21.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the Sutter-Meyer site, it's the
oldest standing house in University City, built just after the Civil War
sometime between 1868 and 1873. The Sutter and Meyer families first moved into
the area in the 1830s and a good chunk of what is now eastern University City
was once one of the area's first dairy farms. The city of University City
acquired the property from private owners in 2004. Little is known about daily
life on this former farmstead, so the Historical Society of University City
contacted the Mound City Archaeological Society to conduct test excavations
around the property under the supervision of professional archaeologist Dr.
Carol Diaz-Granados. Soon after we finish our excavations, we intend to write up
and publish a report of our research.

It was bit on the hot side two weeks ago, but many thanks to all who showed up
to help, especially Emily, Glen, Lee, and Aimee. Thanks also to the president of
the Historical Society of University City who stopped by both days to show his
support, as well as the Mayor of University City, who stayed so long that we
actually put him to work!

A few neighbors took time to talk with us, too. Those who have stopped to visit
are, well, downright neighborly. We even have tentative approval from the folks
who own the house immediately to the west to expand test unit 4 (the
cistern/well), which straddles the property line they share with the
Sutter-Meyer house.

A professional video crew also stopped by for a couple of hours to get some
footage of us in action, as well as an extensive interview with the project
director, Dr. Carol Diaz-Granados, along with some sound bites from the rest of
us. We expect this video to be just one segment of a larger piece celebrating
University City's centennial next year. More to come on that later.

Of course, CONTEXT is the most important thing to archaeologists, but it's still
exciting when you run across something unexpected. One of the more unusual items
we've recovered is a miniature candlestick, which may be from a child's
playhouse, or perhaps a board game. It stands about 4cm tall and the base is
about 2cm in diameter. Mound Citizen Aimee Burkhardt took a very nice photo of
it shortly after we unearthed it. You can see a medium-resolution version of
that image at
http://moundcity.missouriarchaeology.org/suttermeyer/images/suttermeyerminicandl\
estick1.jpg (I know I have big hands, but they're not THAT big; we included a
penny for scale). If you have some idea about what this might be, please let me
know.

We're returning this Labor Day weekend, September 3 & 4, to continue our work.
The weather forecast looks like it'll be a bit cooler than two weeks ago. As I
mentioned earlier, we may try to expand test unit 4. If enough volunteers show
up, we'll also open up another 1x1 meter square directly diagonal to test unit
2, which appears to be intersecting some kind of trash pit with a clearly
defined profile (a big thank you to Mound Citizen Lee Erickson who spent the
better part of two days in the hot sun levelling out the floor and straightening
up the walls of test unit 2 -- we now have an excellent idea of the shape of
this feature).

Of course, there's WAY more to archaeology than just "digging up stuff"; if
anything, the actual excavation is only the beginning of the work. We also need
help screening and recording (including writing, photographing, and drawing) our
work. Again, if we get enough people, we could put a couple to work sorting and
washing. So, whatever your skills, I'm sure we can find a way for you to be part
of the team.

As always, spectators are welcome, but as I mentioned earlier, if you stand in
one place too long, don't be surprised if we try to put you to work!

If you're interested in coming out to the site, please call me at (314) 704-3507
or e-mail me at bgpaulus@... and I'll be happy to give you
eay-to-follow directions.

Finally, if you can't make it out to the site this weekend, we'll also present a
quick update during the business meeting just before our monthly lecture next
Tuesday evening, September 6, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. The
meeting starts at 6:30pm and the lecture starts at 7pm. Both are free and open
to the public and EVERYONE is welcome.

Thanks and hope to see you soon,

Greg

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