Nova Scotia
Archaeology
Society
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As your president for 2007-08, I am proud to announce an exciting season as the Nova Scotia Archaeology Society embarks on its twentieth year of operation. This year we have an excellent line-up of guest speakers who will be sharing their work from such places as Panama and Ireland, as well as reports from some ongoing projects within Nova Scotia from work in Cole Harbour to First Nation’s archaeology in southwest Nova Scotia.
This is where we begin this season’s lecture series, with Memorial University MA student Ben Pentz speaking in September about his survey of the Upper Mersey / Allains River-Corridor. In October we have Dr. Mikael Haller of St. FX University who will be talking about the experience of archaeological research in Panama. November’s lecture will be presented by Dr. James Lyttleton, who will be discussing his work at Ireland’s Blarney Castle. In January we will have Alie Whalen and Heather MacLeod-Leslie of St. Mary’s University give us a report on this past summer’s field school at the Poor’s Farm site in Cole Harbour. Forensic Archaeology and the Haunted House will be the topic of Dr. Tanya Peckmann’s lecture in February. Dr. Peckmann is a professor at St. Mary’s University.
In March we have Charles Burke of Parks Canada who will be presenting on his public archaeology program at Beaubassin from this past summer. We are delighted to have Joan Dawson, author of A Map Maker’s Eye, joining us in April. She will be giving talk entitled A Traveler’s Guide to the Windsor Road, 1818: Based on the Maps of John Elliott Woolford. Finally, in May, we are pleased to have Leah Rosenmeier of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. She will give a talk entitled New Sites and Future Visitors: An Update From Mi'kmawey Debert. We hope to see you at our 2007-08 lecture series whether you are a professional or amateur archaeologist, student or simply a person interested in the protection and promotion of our province’s countless archaeological resources.
The Nova Scotia Archaeology Society continues to be an advocate for professional archaeology in Nova Scotia. In continuing our discussion with the Nova Scotia Government regarding our concerns with the Treasure Trove Act, board member Bruce Stewart, society past-president Sara Beanlands and I met with the Honourable David Morse, Minister of Natural Resources this past summer. We felt the dialogue was constructive and we were encouraged by the apparent openness for change to the legislation.
We have also begun talks with a party from Sydney, Cape Breton, regarding the establishment of a Cape Breton chapter of the Nova Scotia Archaeology Society. This association will allow us to broaden awareness of archaeological issues in the province, as well as allow access to NSAS activities to a wider range of Nova Scotians.
This year promises to be an exciting one, with a great line-up of speakers and a number of special events being planned. So please join us in examining archaeology as a vehicle into Nova Scotia’s past.
Robert Shears