'Speaking Among the Ancestors' Seminar Saturday, April 30"
class=""MsoNormal"">SALISBURY, MD---In February 2004, a ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ construction crew uncovered an ancient Native American ossuary, a communal burial.
class=""MsoNormal"">This discovery initiated a series of meetings between Native Americans, archeologists, the current property owner, judicial officials, the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, the Maryland Historical Trust, ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and other local organizations and individuals. Final discussions led to an unprecedented agreement between the Native American community and archeologists, whereby a team of physical archeologists were permitted to recover the ossuary and examine the physical remains prior to their reburial.
class=""MsoNormal"">SU’s Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture examines the issues surrounding the decision during the seminar “Speaking Among the Ancestors: The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Burial Site, Descendant Natives, Archaeologists and the Public” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, in Henson Science Hall Room 103 on the SU campus.
class=""MsoNormal"">This seminar provides an opportunity to reveal to a wider audience the results of the recovery and subsequent investigation of the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ ossuary while facilitating a dialogue between two groups, the Native American community and the archeologists involved.
class=""MsoNormal"">The seminar begins with presentations by Dr. Elizabeth Ragan, academic archeologist; field archeologist Ed Otter, forensic archeologist Dana Kollmann and regional archeologist Virginia Busby. A 10-minute question-and-answer session follows each presentation. The seminar concludes with a panel discussion of representatives from the Native American community, including Sewell Fitzhugh and Mary Hope. Admission is free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6312 or visit the Nabb Research Center Web site at http://nabbhistory.salisbury.edu. "