Collaborative Survey of Delaware Cultural Sites in Northeastern Oklahoma

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Collaborative and Community Archaeology" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In 2019, the Delaware Tribal Historic Preservation Office (DTHPO) partnered with East Stroudsburg University (ESU) to conduct noninvasive surveys of seven significant cultural and religious sites in Oklahoma. With support from the National Park Service (NPS), the DTHPO-led survey utilized ESU equipment and training to conduct the survey with support from tribal members and ESU students who worked collaboratively in the field. Tribal members shared community knowledge that helped to guide the surveys, and both tribal members, DTHPO staff, and ESU students gained hands-on experience with survey techniques. As the identified sites were highly sensitive, noninvasive methods were used that included ground penetrating radar (GPR), Global Positioning System (GPS), physical measurement, historical records search, and elder interviews. The results from the survey will now be used to guide the DTHPO in the management, protection, and preservation of these significant Delaware heritage sites. The surveyed sites and the distinctive cultural practices performed at each are threatened by urbanization, a break in cultural knowledge, and an aging population. Recordation will ensure that future generations will have the institutional knowledge to preserve and protect our culture.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Collaborative and Community Archaeology   •
• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33302