On Oct. 30, local archaeologists Leah Bonstead and Scott Hall presented a talk on “Preserving Cultural Heritage and Uncovering Hidden Histories: USACE Walla Walla Archaeology” in Maxey 207. The speakers emphasized collaboration between historical agencies to better understand local history and respect artifacts.
Their discussion began with an introduction to the Walla Walla District of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the local American Institute of Archaeology (AIA) chapter. The US Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District, established in 1948, has 800 employees and covers regions across Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
These employees work with many other agencies, including State Historic Preservation officials and Tribal Historic Preservation officials. Leah Bonstead, a USACE archeologist, shared that collaboration is a vital part of her job.
“My knowledge of Native American culture is very basic, so being able to work with private communities or universities or with the public is a really important part of the process,” Bonstead said.
The US Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District also encompasses land belonging to the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes. Scott Hall, a Supervisory Archaeologist who has worked at the Corps since around 2011, shared that he moved to the Walla Walla district because of his interest in researching local sites and indigenous artifacts in the region.
“You took Anthropology 101 and you’re talking about sites that are out here on the Snake River like Marmes rock shelter and Windust caves. I’m like that’s gotta be where the good archaeology’s at,” Hall said.
Extensive archeological collections are held at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, while some records remain at the original residences where they were discovered.
The US Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District is home to unique archaeological sites, such as Marmes Pond, a body of water that was once Marmes Levee, completed in 1969. In addition to local sites, archives and college museums also play a role in preserving archeological objects. At Whitman, the Maxey Museum houses collections from around the world.
Bonstead emphasized that archeology includes additional research after identifying artifacts. Another important aspect of local archeology is ensuring that artifacts are preserved and Traditional Culture Places (TCPs) are identified and evaluated. Ethical stewardship is one component of preservation.
“We don’t own the sites per se, they are the property of the American people and the tribes. And we are trying to manage them in their way and preserve them and keep them in as good a condition as possible,” Bonstead said.
Archeologists conduct reanalysis as one element of ethical stewardship. Reanalysis is a kind of puzzle-piecing process during which archeologists find and reconcile existing records in relation to a specific artifact.
“Excavations that were done in like the 50’s, they were haphazard. They were very urgent excavations. Now we get to this point where we’re trying to manage what’s left and we don’t even know where they dug in,” Hall said.
According to their website, the American Institute of Archeology (AIA) is North America’s largest and oldest nonprofit dedicated to archaeology that works to “promote archaeological inquiry and public understanding of the material record of the human past to foster an appreciation of diverse cultures and our shared humanity.”
Through events taking part all over the globe, the AIA aims to advance awareness, education, fieldwork, and preservation of archaeological and cultural sites around the world.
The Walla Walla AIA chapter was chartered in 1906. The Society Contact is Whitman’s very own Sarah Davies, associate professor of history. The Walla Walla chapter specifically works to host informative and engaging events about both local archaeology and international studies in the discipline.
Walla Walla is home to a diverse range of ecosystems and cultural sites that allow anthropology students and archeologists to study local history alongside working professionals. The AIA will host additional events on campus, including an upcoming lecture from Justin Leidwanger, who will present The Archeology Hour talk on Nov. 13 in Maxey Hall 207.
