Indian Caverns, Spruce Creek, PA

If you live in Pennsylvania, you should explore the local prehistory and history. My interest in archaeology began at an early age. My parents took me to Indian Caverns when I was a kid and I remembered it well.  They took me lots of places actually!

I had the opportunity to re-visit Indian Caverns in Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania on the trip to Penn State.(http://www.indiancaverns.com/).
It's a neat little cave with good guides, affordable price, and accurate information about the Native Americans who frequented the cave, beginning at least 10,000 years ago
The cave is under private ownership and well maintained.
I recommend visiting the cave to understand some local prehistory and to see for yourself how limestone caves form and are continually evolving.
Well worth the trip. It's on a very scenic route and only about 1/2 hour from Penn State.

A few photos from Indian Caverns:

 The entrance is on a hillside.

 Here, one of the stalactites was unfortuantely broken off. One can see inside of it.  It's hollow!

 Cool stalactices!

 See the green?  Unfortunately, from all the humans trapsing inside the cave (including me), algae is growing on the walls.  This problem was a major one for Lascaux, France where the government closed it to visitors and built Lascaux II.  There are no cave paintings that have been found at Indian Caverns.

Mesoamerican Archaeologists at Penn State

If you're interested in Mesoamerican archaeology, Penn State is the place to go!

There are five Mesoamerican Archaeologists at Penn State and I was fortunate to meet up with three of them who were in town during my visit to Penn State.
Dr. David L. Webster was my thesis advisor at Penn State and has worked at tons of different places.  He's got lots of publications, and you may be familiar with his popular book on the Maya Collapse ("The Fall of the Ancient Maya: Solving the Mystery of the Maya Collapse").
Dr. Susan T. Evans is well-known for authoring the premiere textbook on ancient Mexico and Central America.  This widely-used book is of interest to those the general reader as well as the student and it is well illustrated.
Dr. Kirk D. French is working on the recent discovery of an aqueduct at Palenque, Mexico.  I had the opportunity to speak at length with Dr. French who provided details on this unique find. Here's his website: http://www.kirkdfrench.com/.
Dr. Kenneth G. Hirth and Dr. Erick Rochette were not on campus at the time of my visit.

Penn State

If you go to Penn State, there are a couple of things that one MUST do!
1. Get your picture with the Nittany Lion.  This statue is just outside of Carpenter Building where the Anthropology Department is housed.
2. Go to the Diner and eat grilled stickies!

The Nittany Lion

Ye Olde College Diner - same as always!

Penn State Anthropology

Penn State's Anthropology Department is ranked #1 due to several criteria: faculty grants, publications, citations, etc.
I have met with several of the faculty, some of who were there when I was a grad student.
It's a great place to earn your Ph.D, especially for biological anthropologists and archaeologists.
More on this later...

BBC news on Palenque Tomb and El Mirador demise

Check out this laest find:
** Camera uncovers Mayan tomb secrets **
With the help of a tiny camera Mexican archaeologists have filmed the interior of a Mayan burial chamber for the first time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-environment-13905695

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8235092.stm

Pennsylvania Adventure

Hi Everyone!
I'll start my adventures in Pennsylvania where I grew up.  There's lots of archaeology here, both prehistoric and historic.
The latest Archaeology Magazine has a terrific article on 19th century Pittsburgh and the artifacts and information that was recovered when PNC park and the PPG Tower were constructed.
I'll be heading to State College to visit with the archaeology professors there.  The Anthropology Department at Penn State is ranked No. 1 in the country.  Let's go and find out why....
Dr. G.

WELCOME!!!

Welcome Everyone to the blog of Dr. Nan Gonlin, Belleuve College Archaeologist.
I'll be traveling around this summer and will keep you posted on my adventures.
For those of you enrolled in my summer classes, join in on the fun!
Dr. G.