From the Shreveport Times...
I got this from David Jeane...I've always wanted to study Indian "Air Heads."....
Friday, November 17, 2006
I got this from David Jeane...I've always wanted to study Indian "Air Heads."....
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Boll Weevil Revisited
Just a quick word regarding one of the GSC mascots I mentioned a post or so back...last week (before the SEAC Conference) I was in Monticello giving an archeology talk when I visited the bookstore.
The bookstore carried bumper stickers that not only sported the big green boll weevil (see mascot costume to the right), but also the fantastic phrase:
"Ain't Nuthin' More Evil Than a Damned Boll Weevil."
I bought 4.
Later I learned from a UAM Station Staff member that the current UAM President is trying to get rid of this saying....that's a shame.
I wonder if it is the profanity or the suggestion that his school may be "evil" that had lead to the change of heart?
On a side note...the UAM girls teams do not use the Boll Weevil mascot...they are called the "Cotton Blossoms." First, its not like boll weevils are gender specific (like the ATU "Wonder Boys")...so why not the "Lady Weevils"? It makes as much sense as the "Lady 'Backs"? Second, I find the cotton blossoms mascot oddly disturbing...I mean, think about what it is that boll weevils do to cotton blossoms.
The bookstore carried bumper stickers that not only sported the big green boll weevil (see mascot costume to the right), but also the fantastic phrase:"Ain't Nuthin' More Evil Than a Damned Boll Weevil."
I bought 4.
Later I learned from a UAM Station Staff member that the current UAM President is trying to get rid of this saying....that's a shame.
I wonder if it is the profanity or the suggestion that his school may be "evil" that had lead to the change of heart?
On a side note...the UAM girls teams do not use the Boll Weevil mascot...they are called the "Cotton Blossoms." First, its not like boll weevils are gender specific (like the ATU "Wonder Boys")...so why not the "Lady Weevils"? It makes as much sense as the "Lady 'Backs"? Second, I find the cotton blossoms mascot oddly disturbing...I mean, think about what it is that boll weevils do to cotton blossoms.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
The Caddo Conference Comes to Magnolia
The 49th Caddo Conference will be held in the new Reynolds Center on the SAU campus here in Magnolia this March (incidentally, March is Arkansas Archeology Month). The Caddo Conference, however, is not just another archeological conference...it has a unique history and form that makes it stand out amongst the hundreds of other archeological conferences held in North America (and, believe me, sometimes I feel like attend them all).
First the history--The Caddo conference is OLD SCHOOL. Like the granddaddy of them all--the Pecos Conference--sometimes the origins of the Caddo Conference seem like they stretch into the dim reaches of prehistory itself....but, of course, they don't.
The first Caddo Conference was organized in 1942 by Louisiana pediatric doctor and legendary archaeologist, Dr. Clarence H. Webb--for comparison A. V. Kidder convened the first Pecos Conference in 1927 and the first Southeastern Archeological Conference (SEAC) was held in 1938 (In Michigan, of course!). Following some discontinuity during Word War II, Dr. Webb revived the conference and it has been running ever since...The 50th Caddo Conference will be held next year...expect much hoopla.
First the history--The Caddo conference is OLD SCHOOL. Like the granddaddy of them all--the Pecos Conference--sometimes the origins of the Caddo Conference seem like they stretch into the dim reaches of prehistory itself....but, of course, they don't.
The first Caddo Conference was organized in 1942 by Louisiana pediatric doctor and legendary archaeologist, Dr. Clarence H. Webb--for comparison A. V. Kidder convened the first Pecos Conference in 1927 and the first Southeastern Archeological Conference (SEAC) was held in 1938 (In Michigan, of course!). Following some discontinuity during Word War II, Dr. Webb revived the conference and it has been running ever since...The 50th Caddo Conference will be held next year...expect much hoopla.
1950 Caddo Conference participants comparing and discussing pottery types. From left to right, Alex Krieger, Clarence Webb (conference host), John Cotter, Walter Hagg, and Lynn Howard. Photograph by Robert L. Stephenson, TARL archives, Louisiana G-1.
Second, the form--The Caddo Conference is pretty unique in that it is regularly attended by professional archeologists, avocational archeologists and members of the Caddo Nation...these folks don't just attend either...they all participate...Caddo members and avocational archeologists also give papers on their perspectives about Caddoan history, culture and archeology and Caddo Culture Clubs are usually invited hold a dance on one of the conference evenings.
Descendant communities, interested members of the public and professionals all in the same room discussing stuff....sounds like a great idea to me.
