Kimberli on a recent dig site east of Salem September 1, 2016 Episode.
Remember when we announced that our frequent co-host Kimberli Fitzgerald would be leaving the show so she could pursue a degree in archaeology? Well, Kimberli was able to join us to talk about how this training has been opening her eyes to even more aspects of historic preservation.
She undertook this line of study to enhance the historic preservation services the City of Salem provides. When Public Works crews encounter potential historic artifacts while performing construction or maintenance projects, the work must be postponed while the State Archaeologist from the State Historic Preservation Office reviews and documents the site. This delay could be very lengthy due to the small number of specialized SHPO staff available for this type of review. Having a registered archaeologist on the City's staff should provide for a more efficient process, especially in the initial planning phase.
Remember when we announced that our frequent co-host Kimberli Fitzgerald would be leaving the show so she could pursue a degree in archaeology? Well, Kimberli was able to join us to talk about how this training has been opening her eyes to even more aspects of historic preservation.
She undertook this line of study to enhance the historic preservation services the City of Salem provides. When Public Works crews encounter potential historic artifacts while performing construction or maintenance projects, the work must be postponed while the State Archaeologist from the State Historic Preservation Office reviews and documents the site. This delay could be very lengthy due to the small number of specialized SHPO staff available for this type of review. Having a registered archaeologist on the City's staff should provide for a more efficient process, especially in the initial planning phase.
As part of her studies, Kimberli is interning with the archaeology staff at SHPO. In that capacity she was able to participate in a recent dig that was undertaken in an area south of Salem. A property owner discovered some potential artifacts while constructing a water feature on his property. He contacted SHPO staff who reviewed his finds and determined them to be early biface tools, the raw obsidian material from which spearheads and other cutting tools were made by early Native Americans.
 A biface tool artifact displayed on Kimberli's knee. |  Discovered artifacts are documented and labeled. |
Because this material is only found in the volcanic areas of Eastern Oregon, the working theory is that this was a private cache of a regular traveler to this known meeting/trading area, and for some reason it was never recovered to be used in future trade activities. The property owner, a teacher, has asked that the site location remain anonymous, but he allowed SHPO staff to conduct a "dig" on this site. Additionally, he brought some of his students out to observe the archaeologists at work.
You can learn more about this record-setting discovery, too. The Statesman Journal recently published an article about this find. To check it out, click here. Kimberli also provided us with two other links that offer more information and photographs: (1) from Western Digs , and (2) from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
We look forward to having Kimberli join us again in the future to tell us about other treasures she has uncovered here in Oregon!
You can learn more about this record-setting discovery, too. The Statesman Journal recently published an article about this find. To check it out, click here. Kimberli also provided us with two other links that offer more information and photographs: (1) from Western Digs , and (2) from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
We look forward to having Kimberli join us again in the future to tell us about other treasures she has uncovered here in Oregon!
RSS Feed