Since 1930 when Richard Stearns became the Curator of Archaeology at NHSM, the Society has had a dedicated interest in archaeology. The archaeology collections are unique in that they do not quite fit the bill for a “Natural History” society. They consist of cultural materials, used by indigenous peoples of many different geographic locations, including most of Maryland as well as Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and numerous other locations. Starting in the fall of 2021, student interns from Towson University began the long process of rehousing and cataloging these collections. In the process, we learned more about the state of archaeology in Maryland and around the country.
Dr. Katherine Sterner, NHSM Curator and Head of Collections, is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Towson University. She received her Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and spent several years as a principal investigator for UW-Milwaukee Cultural Resource Management before joining the faculty at Towson University. Dr. Sterner studies stone tool production and use, communities of practice, and the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture in the Eastern Woodlands of North America. She teaches courses on Paleoanthropology, Archaeological Methods and Theory, GIS in Anthropology, Experimental Archaeology, Geoarchaeology, and an Archaeological Field School. Dr. Sterner is also the Collections Manager and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Natural History Society of Maryland.
This meeting will be held in person with the option to log in virtually. Please choose your option in the registration process.
Natural History Society of Maryland’s Archaeology Club promotes the value of archaeology in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding areas. The goal of the Archaeology Club is to educate citizenry in the ethics, methods, and artifact preservation methods of archaeology and how archaeology can be used to document, discover, and promote local history. The Archaeology Club is inclusive to all persons who have an interest in archaeology.
Normally, Club meetings, trips and other activities are open solely to Club Members. However, during COVID, NHSM is opening up this meeting to all, though we are asking for a $5 donation from non-members. If you are an archaeology enthusiast, please consider joining us. You must be a member of NHSM to join any of its clubs. Follow this link to learn more: https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/
The Natural History Society of Maryland is a volunteer-led non-profit organization, so the fee you pay will go directly to support the programs, the nature collections, and the building that make this kind of nature education possible.
