Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 15, 2008 11:28:47 GMT -5
Behind the scenes, Schiele is preserving, promoting research
Native Americans had an oral tradition for passing
their history and culture to the next generation.
As Europeans settled the continent, many Native Americans died in battle
and from disease, including the keepers of tribal knowledge. Much of
that ancient history and wisdom was lost with them, said Dr. Alan May,
curator of archaeology at the Schiele Museum.
Now modern Americans have sophisticated technology for chronicling their
experiences, and with it they're piecing together a picture of those
lost tribes, May said.
Stone arrowheads, tools, pottery and other artifacts discovered at
archaeological sites aren't just showcased at museums. These
discoveries are cataloged in detail with computer software so they can
be analyzed along with other archaeological studies throughout the
region and beyond, May said.
Using that information, archaeologists are mapping out the ancient
landscape of native-American life.
"That's as important as the artifacts themselves," May said.
On Friday and Saturday, May and other curators at the Schiele Museum
shared some of their seldom-displayed collections as part of the second
annual Behind the Scenes program. An important part of the museum's
mission is to preserve these collections for the enjoyment of future
generations and as part of the ongoing scientific explorations of
humankind, said Executive Director Ann Tippitt.
The museum doesn't have nearly enough room to display all of its
collections all at once, she said.
"A lot of these things are kept behind the scenes," Tippitt
said.
Denise Furr, the curator of malacology — the study of snails and
mollusks, brought her collection of seashells. Henry Stockwell, the
curator of entomology, brought his collection of beetles, weevils and
other bugs.
Also Aileen Stanley, curator of mycology — the study of mushrooms
and fungi, and May Moss, curator of 18th century life, talked to museum
visitors about their collections.
All of these displays are interesting to look at, but the information
gathered along with the specimens help scientist understand how
different species fit into the big picture.
Furr brought along a shell from an endangered fresh water clam that is
being threatened by drought conditions in our region. She also had the
shell of a Giant African Snail, which are kept as pets in Europe, but
it's illegal to bring them into the United States.
"If they got loose in North Carolina, they'd survive and do a
lot of damage," Furr said. "That happened in Florida and did
millions of dollars in agricultural damage."
Native Americans had an oral tradition for passing
their history and culture to the next generation.
As Europeans settled the continent, many Native Americans died in battle
and from disease, including the keepers of tribal knowledge. Much of
that ancient history and wisdom was lost with them, said Dr. Alan May,
curator of archaeology at the Schiele Museum.
Now modern Americans have sophisticated technology for chronicling their
experiences, and with it they're piecing together a picture of those
lost tribes, May said.
Stone arrowheads, tools, pottery and other artifacts discovered at
archaeological sites aren't just showcased at museums. These
discoveries are cataloged in detail with computer software so they can
be analyzed along with other archaeological studies throughout the
region and beyond, May said.
Using that information, archaeologists are mapping out the ancient
landscape of native-American life.
"That's as important as the artifacts themselves," May said.
On Friday and Saturday, May and other curators at the Schiele Museum
shared some of their seldom-displayed collections as part of the second
annual Behind the Scenes program. An important part of the museum's
mission is to preserve these collections for the enjoyment of future
generations and as part of the ongoing scientific explorations of
humankind, said Executive Director Ann Tippitt.
The museum doesn't have nearly enough room to display all of its
collections all at once, she said.
"A lot of these things are kept behind the scenes," Tippitt
said.
Denise Furr, the curator of malacology — the study of snails and
mollusks, brought her collection of seashells. Henry Stockwell, the
curator of entomology, brought his collection of beetles, weevils and
other bugs.
Also Aileen Stanley, curator of mycology — the study of mushrooms
and fungi, and May Moss, curator of 18th century life, talked to museum
visitors about their collections.
All of these displays are interesting to look at, but the information
gathered along with the specimens help scientist understand how
different species fit into the big picture.
Furr brought along a shell from an endangered fresh water clam that is
being threatened by drought conditions in our region. She also had the
shell of a Giant African Snail, which are kept as pets in Europe, but
it's illegal to bring them into the United States.
"If they got loose in North Carolina, they'd survive and do a
lot of damage," Furr said. "That happened in Florida and did
millions of dollars in agricultural damage."