We have been promising for a while that we are going to digitize our archaeological collections – all that really means is photographing them and filing that digital photo in our electronic catalog. And we have needed to photograph one particular collection for a while, which contains upwards of 35,000 artifacts. We have a pretty good camera, we have a new photo station, and we have all the artifacts organized and ready to go. But we usually have about ten or more other projects going on at the same time. How were we going to find the time and staff to photograph that many artifacts? It seemed impossible. And then in walked David Nix.

Dave is a retired biology professor from the University of Mary and an accomplished photographer. Though he did help us out sorting artifacts as a volunteer back in 2006, it had been a while since he had worked with our division. He had just bought a new camera and wanted an excuse to try it out. He offered to volunteer for three hours, three days per week (keep in mind that this is more than an entire work day every week that he dedicates to preserving North Dakota’s history). Thanks to him, our collections staff members have become digitizing fiends! Seriously. We can’t stop taking photos.

Photographer Dave Nix sets up his next shot at the photo station in the Archaeology and Historic Preservation division’s archaeology lab.

Why is it important to have photos of our artifacts? First, it is good for their health! It is important for our staff to have instant (visual) access to our collections without having to dig through boxes looking for a specific artifact or a good example of a certain type of object. Repeatedly handling fragile artifacts increases the chances of wear and breakage.

Second, it allows us to track an object’s condition over time. We can compare a photo of an object from 10 years ago with the object today and see, for example, that it remained intact while on loan to another museum, or maybe fluctuations in humidity have caused cracking or damage.

Third, we can attach a photo to a digital artifact record that details what the object is, where it is from, and its relationship to other features and artifacts at the archaeological site. Having the photo attached directly to this information is unbelievably helpful when you are preparing for exhibits, conducting an audit, engaging in tribal consultation, developing interpretive programs, solving collections mysteries, or doing scientific research.

Dave Nix and Collections Assistant Meagan Schoenfelder prepping some pottery sherds for the next photo.

Finally, photos give people who don’t work with the collections access to them. We send them to researchers. We send them to conservators to diagnose condition issues. We use them in our Archaeology Awareness posters, and for presentations at professional conferences. We use them in publications. We send them to educators for inclusion in curriculum materials. We post them on our Facebook page. And we will eventually make them accessible through our website.

So when Dave comes in, here is what usually happens: first, we pull the boxes to be photographed that day. We try to keep it varied so no one gets burned out photographing a thousand horseshoes or square cut nails in a single afternoon (Though during the occasional All-Rusty-Iron-Axe-Heads-All-Day! sessions, Dave is shockingly good-natured). The archaeologist scheduled to be the photo assistant for that day decides what to photograph, writes the accession number on the photo scale, and tells Dave what details need to be documented. Depending on the object, this may include flaking scars, ceramic decoration, maker’s marks, etc. Dave adjusts the lighting and lenses, optimizing the shot for that particular artifact.

A stack of boxes waiting in line to be photographed.

After three hours, we upload them to a server set aside for collections photos (as you can imagine, this requires a LOT of data space). Then Nancy, our Division’s Administrative Assistant, labels the files, crops the photos to reduce the file size, and attaches them to the appropriate artifact record in our cataloging program. She does this not only with astounding speed and attention to detail, but often whispers, “I need more pictures!” as I am walking by her desk.

Since we started last fall, we have photographed nearly 7,000 artifacts. Only 28,000 to go! Then we will take Dave to Dairy Queen, which is all he asked for in return. When the time comes, I hope he is ready to eat a serious amount of ice cream.

See some of Dave’s recent photos of our collections below!

Left: Gastropod shell beads. Note the hole that has been punched through the outermost whorl of each shell.
Right: A bottle of Wakelee’s Camelline. This product was marketed to improve and beautify the complexion.

Left: A metal and glass pocket watch from an historic farm site in Emmons County.
Right: Historic doll parts have to be the creepiest thing we find in the field or in collections. This doll’s face looks especially menacing to me. I have coworkers who feel much more strongly about the creepiness of doll parts than I do, and who will not be happy to see that I have included them here!

Left: Ultrathin biface from our Lake Ilo collection. Incredible flintknapping skill is needed to make a large biface as thin as this one without breaking it. If you turned it on its side, you would see it is about 0.5cm wide.
Right: Pottery rim from a Plains Village site on the James River in Stutsman County.

Recently, a fellow blogger touched upon the important role that partnerships play within the SHSND mission to “identify, preserve, interpret and promote the heritage of North Dakota and its people” (see http://blog.statemuseum.nd.gov/blog/partnering-people-oh-possibilities). The SHSND is indeed fortunate to have many partners in this mission. I’d like to further elaborate on the benefits of our partnerships in support of heritage tourism, educational outreach and archaeological research via a couple recent examples from the Knife River region.

Heritage Outbound participants at Mih-Tutta-Hang-Kush village at Fort Clark State Historic Site – February 2016. The circular earthlodge depressions are clearly visible in this aerial view.

The Heritage Outbound program is a heritage tourism and educational program I’ve been fortunate to be involved with now for several years. The program engages participants in a day-long educational experience focused on the history and culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples at Fort Clark State Historic Site and Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.

SHSND Education Curator Erik Holland points out the location of the former channel of the Missouri River to Heritage Outbound participants at Mih-Tutta-Hang-Kush village at Fort Clark State Historic Site – February 2016. Image courtesy of Doug Wurtz.

This program is a long-time favorite of mine. You just can’t beat spending a winter day talking about the archaeology, history, and natural history of the Knife River area with a group of people eager and excited to learn! This year’s program was held on February 20, and we had a great group of participants. The day included site visits and outdoor hikes at Fort Clark State Historic Site and Big Hidatsa Village within the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Both of these earthlodge village sites are wonderfully preserved and simply beautiful to visit.

National Park Service Ranger Jeff Carlson and archaeologist Timothy Reed of the SHSND speaking with Heritage Outbound participants about the community at Big Hidatsa village at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site – February 2016. Image courtesy of Doug Wurtz.

For more information on Fort Clark State Historic Site: http://history.nd.gov/historicsites/clark/index.html

For more information on Big Hidatsa Village: http://www.nps.gov/knri/learn/historyculture/hidatsa-village.htm

One of the highlights of the Heritage Outbound day is a fantastic traditional meal of roast bison, squash, corn, beans and fry bread, and a very special evening program of music and cultural exchange in the reconstructed earthlodge at Knife River. From the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, we were fortunate to have Amy Mossett, Twyla Baker-Demaray, Allan Demaray, and the Demaray family with us this year for the sharing of oral history, traditional music, and song in the earthlodge.

Allan Demaray prepares to speak to Heritage Outbound participants in the reconstructed earthlodge at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site – February 2016. Image courtesy of Doug Wurtz.

The SHSND partnered for this year’s event with the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, the Knife River Indian Heritage Foundation, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, and the North Dakota Archaeological Association. The Heritage Outbound program is just one example of how partnering with people can bring about cultural exchange and a celebration of the diverse history of North Dakota.

I’m happy to announce that many of the groups involved with the Heritage Outbound program will also be partnering for an upcoming event in May 2016 called “ArcheoBlitz.” Major partners include the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, the Midwest Archeological Center, the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the Northern Plains Heritage Foundation, the PaleoCultural Research Group, the North Dakota Geographic Alliance and researchers from across the nation. The ArcheoBlitz event will take place May 5-7 at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, and celebrates both the National Park Service centennial and the Hidatsa history preserved at the park. The first two days will give 7^th and 8^th grade students the opportunity to conduct supervised archaeological field research. The final day is open to the public and will include Native performing arts groups and research presentations, with other events planned throughout the day.

Further information on the ArcheoBlitz event can be found at http://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm.