SRAC holiday schedule

SRAC will be closed today and Thanksgiving day. we will reopen 1-5 on Friday. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

"John Adams: The Overlooked Founding Father" to be presented at SRAC Tuesday, November 1st

John Adams: The Overlooked Founding Father

“John Adams: The Overlooked Founding Father” will be presented by Michael Sisto at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY on Tuesday November 1st from 6:30-7:30pm.

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence" — John Adams

When someone mentions the term “Founding Fathers”, some notable names come to mind: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and Alexander Hamilton. We think of these people because this is what we have been taught, these are the “heroes” of the American Revolution. However, there is a KEY member of the “Founding Fathers” that is usually over looked. There are no memorials on the National Mall for him, he is not on our currency, and although there are many stories about him, they are not mentioned in school, except in higher education; this man is John Adams.

Michael Sisto is a SRAC Board Member and has recently secured a position with the Roberson Museum and Science Center.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Mansfield University and earned his Master of Arts in Museum Studies from John’s Hopkins University.  Michael’s focus is presidential history, specializing in the founding fathers and Abraham Lincoln.

Museum opens at 6pm with admission donations of $4 for SRAC members and $5 for general public accepted at the door.

Thanks for making Drumbeats Through Time 2016 the Best Yet!

If you missed it, here is the presentation by Dan Caister and Dr. DeeAnne Wymer on SRAC's excavation at the Desisti site this year!


here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/CUGHzKH-WIM

Are You Attending SRAC's Annual Membership Meeting Before Drumbeats!

Please Call SRAC at 607-565-7960 and let us know if you plan to attend the annual membership luncheon this Saturday before DrumBeats Through Time begins. (If you have not renewed your membership this year you can when you arrive) Members at the annual meeting will get a free t-shirt and we are having it catered so need a head count. This year's Drumbeats is going to be incredible so don't miss it!  Hope to see you this Saturday!

SRAC “Drumbeats Through Time This Saturday, October 15th

The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center 13th annual Drumbeats Program on Saturday October 15th includes an exclusive membership meeting in the morning and an afternoon filled with great presentations for the public. Starting at 1pm, speakers include Dr. DeeAnne Wymer and Dan Caister presenting their findings to date from the excavation underway by SRAC, Deb Twigg presenting the 100 year anniversary of the Susquehanna River Expedition, Seneca Representative Dick Kane presenting Native American pipes and their uses, and as is the tradition for SRAC, the event closes with the national award winning “Buffalo Creek Dancers” from the Seneca nation to share their songs, dances and culture with the attendees. It’s a unique experience for all ages to enjoy for free.

Current members are invited to attend the annual luncheon beginning at 11:00 am – 12:30pm. Annual memberships can be renewed or initiated by stopping in SRAC before the event, joining at the event, or by visiting www. SRACenter.org and clicking on “Memberships

October is “Archaeology Month” and SRAC is also hosting is a Public Archaeology day on Saturday, October 22nd and invite the public to sign up to take part in the actual excavation and to learn from their professional staff about the excavation and even take part. SRAC’s Deb Twigg explains, “Early this summer SRAC began excavating a local Native American site that is on the verge of being erased by the plow and impacted by modern land use. Lead by archaeologist Dan Caister and anthropologist Dr. DeeAnne Wymer, (both board members of SRAC) our excavations have revealed that the site is over 1000 years old and may be the remains of an ancient village – most importantly our research is yielding important information concerning the ancient people who once lived in our locality. It is our hope to collect whatever data is still available before it is gone forever. The public is invited to be a part of this excavation to experience our prehistoric past and what SRAC is dedicated to up close.”

“Twigg added,”As you might guess, this is a huge effort by the all volunteer staff of the SRAC museum as well as an expensive endeavor that we hope that you will come to our event and continue to support our efforts.”

SRAC “Drumbeats” and Public Archaeology Events Announced for October

News Release: SRAC “Drumbeats” and Public Archaeology Events Announced for October

The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center 13th annual Drumbeats Program on Saturday October 15th includes an exclusive membership meeting in the morning and an afternoon filled with great presentations for the public. Starting at 1pm, speakers include Dr. DeeAnne Wymer and Dan Caister presenting their findings to date from the excavation underway by SRAC, Deb Twigg presenting the 100 year anniversary of the Susquehanna River Expedition, Seneca Representative Dick Kane presenting Native American pipes and their uses, and as is the tradition for SRAC, the event closes with the national award winning “Buffalo Creek Dancers” from the Seneca nation to share their songs, dances and culture with the attendees.

Current members are invited to attend the annual luncheon beginning at 11:00 am – 12:30pm. Annual memberships can be renewed or initiated by stopping in SRAC before the event, joining at the event, or by visiting www. SRACenter.org and clicking on “Memberships

A new addition to our celebrations during October which is “Archaeology Month”, SRAC is also hosting is a Public Archaeology day on Saturday, October 22nd and invite the public to sign up to take part in the actual excavation and to learn from their professional staff about the excavation and even take part. SRAC’s Deb Twigg explains, “Early this summer SRAC began excavating a local Native American site that is on the verge of being erased by the plow and impacted by modern land use. Lead by archaeologist Dan Caister and anthropologist Dr. DeeAnne Wymer, (both board members of SRAC) our excavations have revealed that the site is over 1000 years old and may be the remains of an ancient village – most importantly our research is yielding important information concerning the ancient people who once lived in our locality. It is our hope to collect whatever data is still available before it is gone forever.”

“Twigg added,”As you might guess, this is a huge effort by the all volunteer staff of the SRAC museum as well as an expensive endeavor that we hope that you will continue to support our efforts.”

Sponsorship Opportunities Include:
$1,000 “Hands On Archaeology” Level: This level is reserved for three organizations that donate $1,000 and will be given a private and personal tour of the current excavation by our lead archaeologists and have the opportunity for up to 4 people from their organization to take part in a scheduled excavation prior to the public archaeology event on October 22nd. It’s a unique experience that few get to experience and will allow you to see up close SRAC’s mission and the importance of our local archaeology. Your organization name/logo will be recognized on our Facebook page and also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.

$500 “Archaeology Bird’s Eye View” Level: Don’t want to get dirty? This level is reserved for organizations that donate $500 and will be given a personal tour of the current excavation by our lead archaeologists prior to the public archaeology day on October 22nd. It’s a unique experience that few get to experience and will allow you to see up close SRAC’s mission and the importance of our local archaeology. Your organization name/logo will be recognized on our website Event Sponsors page and Facebook page and also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.

$250 “Advertising Partner” Level: Your organization can place an ad/gift certificate/or discount placement for free in addition to your name/logo on our website Event Sponsors page and Facebook page. Your name and logo will also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.


Donate any amount that you wish here and support our Center! All donations are greatly appreciated and you or your organization will be recognized on our Drumbeats Through Time Sponsorship page on our website for any donations of $25 or above.

You can also sign up for the free excavation experience! We want you to be a part of what we do and to take part as well! Because there is a limited amount of people that we can have at the site at this event, we ask that you reserve your place for the afternoon of October 22nd as soon as possible. Please Note: If we have an extremely large amount of signups, we may have to hold a drawing – but will contact you to confirm your status in September!

Questions? don’t be afraid to callus at 607-727-3111!

DrumBeats Through Time 2016!

Experience Local Archaeology Up Close and HANDS ON! Support SRAC!

Experience  Local Archaeology Up Close and HANDS ON!
The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center, SRAC, has some really great community opportunities coming up this fall that I am excited to tell all of you about and hope that you will consider sponsoring and or taking part!.

We have scheduled our 13th annual Drumbeats Through Time event for Saturday October 15th from 1 - 5pm and we have a great lineup ~ to include our friends from the Seneca Nation, Dick Kane and the Buffalo Creek Dancers! This event is always free to attend and our way of celebrating our Native American past and present all in one day filled with great presentations, dance and friendships. This year's event will also include an opportunity to learn about an excavation currently underway by SRAC. Early this summer SRAC began excavating a local Native American site that is on the verge of being erased by the plow and impacted by modern land use. Lead by archaeologist Dan Caister and anthropologist Dr. DeeAnne Wymer, our excavations have revealed that the site is over 1000 years old and may be the remains of an ancient village - most importantly our research is yielding important information concerning the ancient people who once lived in our locality. It is our hope to collect whatever data is still available before it is gone forever. We hope that you will support us in this effort. As a result, in conjunction with our Drumbeats event this year for the first time we will be hosting yet another special event on the following Saturday (October 22nd) and will have signups for the public to actually take part in the excavation that day!

If you are reading this,we know that you also understand the importance of "community thinking" and we are offering special opportunities that we hope you will find as exciting as we do! Please see the opportunities available for you to support SRAC and our efforts to preserve this part of our community' past. You can download a donation form here, or use the links below to make your donation online.

Sponsorship Opportunities Include:

$1,000 “Hands On Archaeology” Level: This level is reserved for three organizations that donate $1,000 and will be given a private and personal tour of the current excavation by our lead archaeologists and have the opportunity for up to 4 people from their organization to take part in a scheduled excavation prior to the public archaeology event on October 22nd. It’s a unique experience that few get to experience and will allow you to see up close SRAC’s mission and the importance of our local archaeology. Your organization name/logo will be recognized on our Facebook page and also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.

$500 “Archaeology Bird’s Eye View” Level: Don't want to get dirty? This level is reserved for organizations that donate $500 and will be given a personal tour of the current excavation by our lead archaeologists prior to the public archaeology day on October 22nd. It’s a unique experience that few get to experience and will allow you to see up close SRAC’s mission and the importance of our local archaeology. Your organization name/logo will be recognized on our website Event Sponsors page and Facebook page and also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.




$250 “Advertising Partner” Level: Your organization can place an ad/gift certificate/or discount placement for free in addition to your name/logo on our website Event Sponsors page and Facebook page. Your name and logo will also be included on our advertising headers of all banners and website headers as well as for all of this year’s Drumbeats Through Time advertising.



 

You can donate any amount that you like here. All donations are greatly appreciated and you or your organization will be recognized on our Drumbeats Through Time Sponsorship page on our website for any donations of $25 or above.

You can also sign up for the free excavation experience! We want you to be a part of what we do and to take part as well! Because there is a limited amount of people that we can have at the site at this event, we ask that you reserve your place for the afternoon of October 22nd as soon as possible. Please Note: If we have an extremely large amount of signups, we may have to hold a drawing - but will contact you to confirm your status in September! Questions? don't be afraid to callus at 607-727-3111!

 
Deb Twigg
Executive Director, SRAC
607-727-3111

Drumbeats 2016 and so much more!

SRAC has some really great stuff coming up this fall that I am excited to tell all of you about! 

First we have scheduled our 13th annual Drumbeats Through Time event for Saturday October 15th from 1 - 5pm and we have a great lineup ~ to include our friends Dick Kane and the Buffalo Creek Dancers, this event is always free to attend and our way of celebrating our Native American Past and Present all in one day filled with great presentations, dance and friendships. This year's event will include the chance for you to learn about an excavation underway by SRAC in conjunction with Bloomsburg University that is uncovering some pretty important information about our prehistory of our locality. With that we will also be recruiting volunteers for the following Saturday (October 22nd) and have signups for actually taking part in the excavation we are doing! Last but not least, we will be having a signup for volunteering at the museum and being a part of what we do ALL YEAR ROUND. 

I want to thank all of you for all that you do for SRAC and hope that you will mark your calendars and consider volunteering at our museum a few hours a month - please call me (Deb Twigg) for details at 607-727-3111.  

SRAC IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS !

SRAC IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS !

The Susquehanna River Archaeological Center located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP US IN OUR GIFT SHOP. No experience needed. Great experience, good people, always something going on!

Contact Deb Twigg at 607-727-3111 for more info or contact me via Facebook. Please share!

History of The Mason Dixon Line to be Presented Tuesday September 6th

Todd Babcock at Mason-Dixon line "Crownstone"

(Waverly, NY) The “History of The Mason Dixon Line" will be presented by Todd Babcock at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) on Tuesday, September 6th from 6:30 - 7:30pm. 

From 1763 to 1767, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon marked out a long-disputed boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. They cleared a swath up to 9 yards wide through the frontier forest and set 500 pound stone markers at every mile.  Little did they know that the result of their efforts would become the most famous boundary in US history.

Todd Babcock,local surveyor and president of the Tioga Point Museum, has made it part of his life's work to preserve the Mason-Dixon Line and its history for generations to come. As a charter member of the Mason & Dixon Line Preservation Partnership, Todd has worked to inventory the marker stones and replace those that have been lost to time. His work has united his skill as a professional land surveyor with his appreciation of history. Learn more about the Mason-Dixon Line and the efforts to preserve it at this public presentation.

Museum opens at 6pm with admission donations of $4 for SRAC members and $5 for general public accepted at the door.

This Tuesday Night: Susquehanna River Expedition”, will be presented by Deb Twigg

The 100th anniversary of the "Susquehanna River Expedition”, will be presented by Deb Twigg, cofounder of the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center, (SRAC) located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY on Tuesday, August 2nd,  2016 - 6:30 – 7:30pm.

100 years ago, in the summer of 1916, Warren K. Moorehead formed a controversial expedition of the Susquehanna River and the Native American sites found there. SRAC's executive director, Deb Twigg will tell this story of the expedition that started at the mouth of the Susquehanna in Cooperstown, NY to the Chesapeake Bay and met with local historical societies and antiquarians to learn more about the Native Indian cultures, and it would be the Murray Farm in Athens PA that in the end would be the most significant site of the whole trip.

Twigg added, "Personally, I remember years ago - going in to the Spaulding Library and into the locked glass case to get my hands on this book for the first time.....This is a VERY important event for our Valley - and OUR VALLEY is the highlight of this book...ALSO - one of the people that traveled with this group was a young man by the name of Ellsworth Cowles...who would later become one of our co-founders at SRAC."

With letters from the actual people who were involved in the expedition including Moorehead himself, as well as official reports, and many pictures, Twigg will share a very informative and entertaining report.

The doors will open at 6pm, with the program running from 6:30 – 7:30pm. Admission is $6 Adults, $4 for SRAC members and students. The public is advised that the SRAC gift shop and exhibit hall will also be open during this time as well and to please consider arriving early to browse these areas before the program.

For more information, call 570-565-7960 or email info@sracenter.org.

The 100th anniversary of the "Susquehanna River Expedition” to be presented

The 100th anniversary of the "Susquehanna River Expedition”, will be presented by Deb Twigg, cofounder of the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center, (SRAC) located at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY on Tuesday, August 2nd,  2016 - 6:30 – 7:30pm.

100 years ago, in the summer of 1916, Warren K. Moorehead formed a controversial expedition of the Susquehanna River and the Native American sites found there. SRAC's executive director, Deb Twigg will tell this story of the expedition that started at the mouth of the Susquehanna in Cooperstown, NY to the Chesapeake Bay and met with local historical societies and antiquarians to learn more about the Native Indian cultures, and it would be the Murray Farm in Athens PA that in the end would be the most significant site of the whole trip.

Twigg added, "Personally, I remember years ago - going in to the Spaulding Library and into the locked glass case to get my hands on this book for the first time.....This is a VERY important event for our Valley - and OUR VALLEY is the highlight of this book...ALSO - one of the people that traveled with this group was a young man by the name of Ellsworth Cowles...who would later become one of our co-founders at SRAC."

With letters from the actual people who were involved in the expedition including Moorehead himself, as well as official reports, and many pictures, Twigg will share a very informative and entertaining report.

The doors will open at 6pm, with the program running from 6:30 – 7:30pm. Admission is $6 Adults, $4 for SRAC members and students. The public is advised that the SRAC gift shop and exhibit hall will also be open during this time as well and to please consider arriving early to browse these areas before the program.

For more information, call 570-565-7960 or email info@sracenter.org.

Tonight - Tuesday July 5th!

Council Rocks Archaeoastronomy Site, 

by David Gutkowski

Tuesday, July 5th  

At SRAC, 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY
from  6:30 - 7:30pm

Dave Gutkowski has been giving lectures and presentations at various archaeology meetings and state conventions and has traveled as far as New Hampshire to present the site to audiences and professionals.  He has recently been invited to speak in Europe at an international gathering of archaeoastronomy professionals.

Dave will discuss and share a video presentation about a recently found stonehenge-like site with rock shelter called Council Rocks in Northeastern Pennsylvania.   Mr. Gutkowski is an avocational archaeologist who has been researching the site since its discovery in 2007.  Council Rocks appears to be an archaeoastronomy site, ceremonial in nature and used to track the sun's passage while marking the four seasons. Dave dates the site to 1825 BCE with a significant modification at 125 BCE. The video he produced compresses nine years of his research into a twenty minute film. While its precise location is still confidential, he expects this site to be a substantial find for our area in years to come.  In addition to the film, Dave will discuss more recent developments at the site and current research of an associated rockshelter.

Doors will open at 6pm and admission is $5, SRAC members $4 - Hope to see you there!

History's Mysteries at SRAC: Council Rocks Archaeoastronomy Site, by David Gutkowski Tuesday, July 5th

Council Rocks Archaeoastronomy Site, 

by David Gutkowski

Tuesday, July 5th 

At SRAC, 345 Broad Street, Waverly, NY
from  6:30 - 7:30pm

Dave Gutkowski has been giving lectures and presentations at various archaeology meetings and state conventions and has traveled as far as New Hampshire to present the site to audiences and professionals.  He has recently been invited to speak in Europe at an international gathering of archaeoastronomy professionals.

Dave will discuss and share a video presentation about a recently found stonehenge-like site with rock shelter called Council Rocks in Northeastern Pennsylvania.   Mr. Gutkowski is an avocational archaeologist who has been researching the site since its discovery in 2007.  Council Rocks appears to be an archaeoastronomy site, ceremonial in nature and used to track the sun's passage while marking the four seasons. Dave dates the site to 1825 BCE with a significant modification at 125 BCE. The video he produced compresses nine years of his research into a twenty minute film. While its precise location is still confidential, he expects this site to be a substantial find for our area in years to come.  In addition to the film, Dave will discuss more recent developments at the site and current research of an associated rockshelter.

Doors will open at 6pm and admission is $5, SRAC members $4 - Hope to see you there!

Dr. DeeAnne Wymer, PHD joins SRAC's Board

SRAC is proud to announce the addition of Dr. DeeAnne Wymer, author, professional anthropologist and professor at Bloomsburg University to our board of directors.

Dr. Wymer is a nationally renowned anthropologist and a highly regarded specialist in Hopewell "Mound Builder" research. If you have attended any of our annual events, Dee has been a presenter and attendee quite regularly and has been a great support for our organization for many years. As a result, I am very honored to announce her acceptance to our invitation to be an official SRAC board member, and we look forward to the leadership and scientific expertise that she brings to our organization.

Dee has also arranged for Bloomsburg to team up with SRAC this year to begin an archaeological internship which will begin at SRAC June 1st and run throughout the summer.  The internship will be a part of a local archaeological excavation at which we will offer a public field school weekend in the fall where members and their families can join us as well.

If you are not currently a member or your membership has not been renewed, please visit our website and renew online here:
https://sracenter.wordpress.com/memberships/

OR: You can also download and mail in a form with payment here: https://issuu.com/sracenter.org/docs/membershipform/1

OR: You can also stop in 1 - 5pm Tuesdays through Fridays or Saturdays 11 - 4pm.

Thanks everybody I will be doing a news release as well but I wanted you all to be the first to know!

SRAC has a Facebook page!

If you are on Facebook and would like to see our page click here! (don't forget to like and share!)

https://www.facebook.com/Susquehanna-River-Archaeological-Center-381601065226555/

Dendroglyphs in Central New York: Iroquois Tree Paintings and the Painted Post, Presented at SRAC June 7th

Dr. David Moyer

On Tuesday, June 7th from 6:30 - 7:30 Dr. David Moyer will present “Dendroglyphs in Central New York: Iroquois Tree Paintings and the Painted Post" at the Susquehanna River Archaeological Center (SRAC) at 345 Broad Street in Waverly, NY. Dendroglyphs are various symbols painted and or carved into tree trunks by primitive peoples.

One such painted post that will be discussed is Corning's 'Painted Post" as this location was a central crossing of the principle Indian trails as well as a resting place and rendezvous for Indians traveling north, south, east and west. Indian houses were located near the river, fields were cultivated and a huge post was set in an open space and said to be representing an enemy. Festivities and dances were held around this post and huge fires were built.

David Moyer is the Owner and Principal Archaeologist at Birchwood Archaeological Services, a historical and archaeological consulting company in Gilbertsville, NY. Over the past 25 years he has conducted archaeological research in five countries and over a dozen states. Currently, he serves as President of the Chenango Chapter of the New York State Archaeological Association and Director of the Roland Hill Memorial Museum of Archaeology in Otsego, NY. Door will open at 6pm and admission is $5, SRAC members $4.

Download a flier to share here! https://www.scribd.com/doc/312773737/Dendroglyphs-in-Central-New-York-Iroquois-Tree-Paintings-and-the-Painted-Post

The Susquehanna River Expedition of 1916

In 1916, an expedition funded by George Heye (Heye Museum founder) and led by Warren K. Moorehead to discover and gain artifacts from cemeteries of the Susquehannocks (Andastes.) It was later called the Susquehanna River Expedition in a book published by Moorehead twenty years later and is seen as the darkest of times for our local archaeology efforts.
 - Read more about this expedition here.

 - Also: Read news article from this excavation about the Giant Skeletons with Horns here.
~and read the truth about this story here!

Jewelry Classes with Ellen Sisco Cancelled til Spring

The SRAC Jewelry classes will be cancelled until the second Saturday in April! Have a great winter everybody!