Mathers exhibit explores archaeology

The Mathers Museum’s exhibit “Picturing Archaeology” presents the research and fieldwork of 13 IU archaeologists through a series of stories and
snapshots.

April Sievert, director of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, said the museum is in a transitional period due to the rehabilitation of old exhibits and the process of creating new exhibits for the future, which makes “Picturing Archaeology” a reliable exhibit in the meantime.

“We have so many archaeologists doing different things, so this seemed like a great time to bring it all together so people can learn about the scope of archaeology through various outlets of anthropology,” Sievert said.

Sievert said she hopes the exhibit’s visitors come away with a sense of not only what archaeologists and anthropologists do, but how they can get involved.

“What this does overall is present so many different perspectives,” she said. “It shows not only what you can do but also see what some of the archeologists work with different nations and different people.”

Sievert said she believes most archaeology is very inclusive and includes a wide range of different people with interests in the field such as children who come to learn about fieldwork or retirees who help out at events.

“It’s a physical activity, but it’s also a very exciting and intellectual activity, and it’s a very social activity as well,” Sievert said.

In addition to Sievert, anthropology doctoral student Erica Ausel is a graduate research fellow at the Angel Mounds Field School in Evansville, where she taught three archaeological field classes during the summer, which is documented in the exhibit.

Her position includes studying human skeletal remains and paleopathology, the study of ancient diseases and health.

“The stuff that I’m doing has a lot of research potential, and there has not been a lot of physical anthropological work on it, so I’m adding to it,” Ausel said.

He also said she believes the exhibit is valuable for the public, as it allows visitors to learn about the inner workings of the field.

“It’s all part of a public outreach,” Ausel said. “People know it’s important, and no one knows about it unless we present it.

It also lets people know about the variety of archaeological projects in Indiana involving prehistoric and historic archaeology.”

Ed Herrmann, a graduate research assistant at the Glenn A. Black laboratory, is another exhibit contributor.

In addition to Laura Scheiber, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, Herrmann took part in a project on the Great Serpent Mound in Ohio, gathering research on how hunter-gatherers moved through the landscape and mapping archaeological sites.

Herrmann said the exhibit is an excellent resource for students.

“The exhibit is meant simply to be an opportunity for students to see the kinds of research being done and possibly turn them on to archaeology,” Herrmann said.

Upcoming events at the Mathers Museum include the Lotus Workshop’s “The Power of Pattern: Simple Block Carving” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 and a Research at the Mathers Lecture Series program, “Research on the Quilts of the Mathers Museum” from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 1.