Ithaca College

The international experiences of archaeologists and new dimensions of plant studies were explored in Dr. Rossen's two presentations.

The first presentation (October 27), at the Ontario Archaeological Society Symposium in Niagara Falls, Ontario, was “Reflections on the Present and Future of Indigenous Archaeology: The View from the Cayuga Heartland.”  This talk (given in a session entitled Indigenous Archaeology) discussed progress, problems and a future vision in the new collaborations between archaeologists and Native peoples. This talk drew interesting responses as Canadian archaeologists discussed their own distinctive approaches, advances and setbacks in their relationships with First Peoples.

The second talk (November 1), an invited presentation at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA, was “Exploring New Dimensions in the Study of Archaeological Plants.”  This talk discussed new theoretical thinking in understanding plants as central to many issues of ancient culture: cultural evolution, sociocultural boundaries, status, ideology, political oppression and resistance, as well as the role of the study of ancient plants in the burgeoning “indigenous archaeology” movement.