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iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Iowa Archaeology
@iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
340 followers 170 following 30 posts
Bsky home of the Office of the State Archaeologist, a nationally recognized archaeological research center & repository at the University of Iowa, est. in 1959. archaeology.uiowa.edu
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iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We've got the coziest archaeology holiday stuff around, jigsaw puzzles, socks, mugs, stickers, and all the things. As always, a portion of proceeds support our education & outreach activities! Order soon for on-time xmas delivery & watch the top bar for sale codes! tinyurl.com/yvd5rkpy%F0%...
A candy cane themed Christmas letter that says, "Dear Santa For Christmas I would like... a projectile point puzzle, I Love Archaeology blanket, stratigraphy socks, and an OSA fleece hoodie. I promise I've been good! Love, Me." A cartoon Santa is in the bottom corner and a sleigh and reindeer silhouette across the top. A montage of three different archaeology-themed ugly Christmas sweatshirts. One is green, one is red, one is dark gray. A montage of Christmas gift items including a red "ugly sweater" blanket, jigsaw puzzle with projectile point illustrations, and socks showing archaeological stratigraphy
November 6, 2025 at 3:33 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Like this incident in Indiana, this has happened a couple times in #Iowa the past few years. Iowa has some of the oldest laws in the nation protecting ancient human remains. Here's what to do if you come across them: archaeology.uiowa.edu/human-remains 🏺
Inadvertent Discovery of Human Remains infographic from the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Box 1: If there is any doubt whether the bones are human or animal, leave the remains in place and secure the site if possible. 2: Record the location. Contextual photos, sketch maps, map app screenshots, or GPS coordinates are helpful. 3: If they appear to be recent without a doubt, contact local law enforcement. 4: If they appear to be ancient without a doubt, contact the Office of the State Archaeologist. 5: If there is uncertainty, contact local law enforcement, the county or state medical examiner, and the Office of the State Archaeologist. 6: Photo etiquette. Do not share photos of human skeletal remains, burials, or funerary/sacred objects out of respect for Indigenous communities. Publicly posting these images can be hurtful and harmful to descendants and descendant communities. 7: Questions? Contact the OSA Bioarchaeology Program. lara-noldner@uiowa.edu. 319-384-0740
October 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Now's a good time to join the #Iowa Archeological Society! Non-professional members get a discounted early bird registration rate for PAC & MAC of only $30! New IAS members, get a membership now & it's good thru all of 2026! iowaarcheologicalsociety.org/2025-fall-me... 🏺
Visual text graphic promoting a conference. It says, "Join us at PAC & MAC - Oct 29-Nov 1, 2025 - IAS Fall Meeting, Saturday Nov 1 - Iowa City, Iowa, Graduate Hotel & Conference Center - iowaarcheologicalsociety.org. There are two logos - an Iowa Archeological Society logo showing a spearpoint and ancient pot, and the conference logo of an Indigenous lodge home.
September 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We're co-hosting the joint meeting of the Plains Anthropological Society & Midwest Archaeological Conference in Iowa City, Oct 29-Nov 1! Online registration w/ early bird rates & abstract submissions thru 10/3. FREE advance registration for students & Tribal members! More at: tinyurl.com/zztpx2dz 🏺
The logo for PAC & MAC 2025 in Iowa City is a depiction of an Indigenous lodge home with silhouettes of corn and other crops and "2025" in the doorway. The lodge fades from a deep orange-red at the top to a light sage green at the bottom.
September 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
The University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist's FY2025 annual report is now online! Find out the nitty gritty our accomplishments at archaeology.uiowa.edu/annual-report. #iowa #archaeology
A montage of six photos with the label, "FY 2025 Annual Report; University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist. Photos starting top left and moving clockwise: Two men work on an archaeological excavation unit, a woman arranges deer bone on a template while children watch, two woman at a table in a field surrounded by drone equipment and a laptop, a women cuts out a piece of foam to protect a glass bottle, several pieces of ancient pottery on a white background, a man takes notes in an autumn corn field.
September 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
We're hosting a hybrid lecture on the recent Iowa mastodon find! State Archaeologist John Doershuk will present, "A Community-inspired (and Energized) Mastodon Excavation in Southern Iowa," at noon CT on February 28. More details here: events.uiowa.edu/92425 🏺
Text graphic that says: OSA Brown Bag Hybrid Lecture Series (Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist logo). Join us in person or on Zoom with John Doershuk, State Archaeologist and OSA Director. "A Community-inspired (and Energized) Mastodon Excavation in Southern Iowa. Friday, February 2025, noon, OSA Main Lab, 700. S. Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA. Learn more at https://events.uiowa.edu/92425. Registration required for Zoom (QR code). Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program please contact elizabeth-reetz@uiowa.edu in advance.
February 12, 2025 at 9:40 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
"pigs in hoglot view north," 1983, from a highway archaeological survey in Washington County, Iowa. They look like happy hogs!

Fact: "There are 23.4 million pigs on Iowa farms, according to a report from the Department of Agriculture. That means for every one Iowan there are 7.3 pigs." (2024) 🐷
A black and white photo showing four pigs in a pasture near a creek, with a culvert/bridge over the creek in the background
November 27, 2024 at 5:19 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
For those thinking about turkey this week! Here's one of Iowa's most iconic archaeological artifacts. This shell pendant has a notched edge & an image of a turkey head is incised into one face. The eye forms a suspension hole for the ornament. It dates to ~AD 1200-1350, from western Iowa.
Front and back side of a shell pendant with notched edges and a turkey motif on front side. A third view shows an overlay of the incised lines forming the turkey head. Artifact is from the Late Precontact Glenwood phase time period, site 13ML139; catalog/accession #: 339-C2-3
November 25, 2024 at 8:37 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Never mind those flurries outside, planning for the 2025
#Iowa Lakeside Lab archaeological field school at the Abbie Gardner cabin is underway! Register at iowalakesidelab.org/courses beginning in January. All enrollees pay in-state tuition; scholarships are available for room & board. #archaeology
Announcement for the 2025 Iowa Lakeside Lab archaeological field school, June 16-July 11 at the Abbie Gardner Sharp Historic Site.
November 20, 2024 at 8:39 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
Although no culturally modified artifacts were found in situ, we're hoping there is evidence of butchering once we start to analyze the bones. If so, this would be the earliest dated archaeological site in Iowa!
a mastodon skull excavation
November 20, 2024 at 4:30 PM
iowaarchaeology.bsky.social
👋 from Iowa! We just launched our FY24 Annual Report: tinyurl.com/yz3v5383. Quick highlights: 64 years as a UI research center | ~$2M in externally funded contracts & grants | 3,300+ people engaged through #archaeology outreach events | 2,065 volunteer/student hours contributed to OSA projects
annual report photo montage
November 19, 2024 at 10:34 PM