Please join us for an opportunity to learn about opportunities for gaining field experience in Ohio archaeology! The spring 2019 biannual meeting of the Ohio Archaeological Council (Saturday, March 23 at the Ohio History Center in Columbus, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) will feature presentations about public archaeology programming and archaeological field schools in Ohio. The meeting is free and open to the public.
The meeting will be a great opportunity for students, faculty, OAC members, and the public to hear about the more than 20 ongoing and recent public archaeology programs and archaeology field schools in Ohio. Attendees will get to network with program organizers, and explore opportunities to participate in these activities. A panel discussion among presenters will address best practices in coordinating and conducting such activities. A brief OAC business meeting will occur following lunch.
You will also learn about the benefits of OAC membership, including: a field school scholarship program for students, a student membership level, opportunities to publish and share research on our website (Current Research and Journal of Ohio Archaeology), and a research grant program. The OAC also helps the State Historic Preservation Office organizing public archaeology events and celebrating Ohio Archaeology Month (October).
Coffee and snacks are provided; lunch is on your own.
For further information about the meeting please contact OAC Vice President Kevin C. Nolan, Ph.D., RPA, Director and Senior Archaeologist, Applied Anthropology Laboratories, Department of Anthropology, Ball State University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 765-285-5325; or OAC Trustee Al Tonetti, Vice President, Heartland Earthworks Conservancy, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 614-266-6059.
The Ohio History Fund is one of the few grant programs in the state for archaeology projects. Your contribution to the “Ohio History Fund” tax check-off on your state tax return makes these grants possible. To donate look for "Ohio History Fund" on your Ohio tax return (line 26e) and designate a dollar amount. You can also donate even if you are not receiving a refund.
Since the Ohio History Fund began in 2012 it has made 63 grants in 36 counties, totaling $598,000. However, the need is greater. Since 2013 the Ohio History Fund has received 347 grant applications from 59 counties, totaling almost $4.2 million in requests. The contribution goal last year was $88,000; $99,000 was received. The goal for 2019 is $100,000.
For further information go to https://www.ohiohistory.org/preserve/local-history-services/historyfund/ohio-history-fund-faqs
Statehood Day 2019 (Wednesday, February 27) is an important day to express your support for Ohio archaeology. This year we need your help getting legislation passed to better protect human remains and associated burial items in unmarked human burial sites and abandoned cemeteries. The draft bill we have been working on for a couple of years should be introduced in the state legislature in a few weeks!
You can help this effort by attending Statehood Day and speaking with your legislators. You can register here: https://www.ohiohistory.org/participate/event-calendar/statehood-day
For more information contact Al Tonetti, Chair, Ohio Archaeological Council Government Affairs Committee, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 614-266-6059.
OAC Government Affairs Committee Report to Members, October 19, 2018
Al Tonetti, Chair
Jeff Reichwein, Lauren Sieg, and Mike Striker, Committee Members
State Issues
Call Before You Dig Law Revision; OHIO811: The second meeting of the legislative coalition was held on September 13. The main issues discussed were better defining the size and scope of dig tickets, how large projects should be defined and dig ticket requests handled, and exempting certain activities from compliance.
The November excavator seminar schedule is available on the resources/events page on the OHIO811 website. They are held on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at six regional locations around the state, are free, and include lunch. The seminar provides updates on the new and improved remote ticket entry/i-dig usage, excavator training, features of the new OHIO811 mobile app, and other relevant information.
As of November 30, 2018, OHIO811 (formerly the Ohio Utilities Protection Service [OUPS]), and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) and the Ohio Gas Producers Underground Protection Service (OGPUPS), will consolidate their call before you dig processes under OHIO811. After that date, a single call to 811 or a visit to OHIO811.org will insure that affected member utilities as well as those members owning, operating, and maintaining oil and gas production facilities are properly notified of planned excavations.
Human Burial Places Protection Bill: The draft bill has been revised many times by the working group, and now have a close to final draft back from the Legislative Service Commission. On October 25, we will present the draft to federally recognized tribes at the Ohio History Connection’s (OHC) tribal nations conference. A meeting with State Rep. Scherer is scheduled for Nov. 5, and following the Nov. 6 elections we will discuss how to proceed with getting it enacted. It will be one of the legislative priorities at OHC’s Statehood Day event on February 27, 2019, the first planning meeting for which was held on October 10. A presentation on the draft bill was made at today’s OAC membership meeting.
Federal Issues
Historic Preservation Funding: The Interior Appropriations Bill passed the House in July, and the Senate in early August. The FY19 House Interior Appropriations bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $101.41 million, while the Senate bill funds the HPF at $91.91 million. The differences between the two bills will be worked out in conference committee.
Section 106 Consultation Updates:
Universal Charitable Deduction Bill, HR 5771: The bill was introduced in the House in May 2018 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. There has been no further action on it to date. The bill would allow all taxpayers the opportunity to take an unlimited deduction from their gross income for charitable giving. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes a universal charitable deduction more important than ever. This law increased the standard deduction, limited state and local tax deductions, and doubled estate and gift tax deductions, all of which will decrease the number of low- and moderate-income taxpayers from giving, and the amount they give. Since enactment of the law, charitable organizations have seen a sharp drop in donations, estimated to be about $15 billion in 2018. The drop is the result of the law creating less of an incentive for all but the wealthy to give. If this trend continues it will have an adverse effect on charitable organizations, including future fundraising efforts of the Ohio Archaeological Council. Conversely, a universal charitable deduction is estimated to increase charitable giving by $20 billion.
OAC Government Affairs Committee Report to Members, October 19, 2018
Al Tonetti, Chair
Jeff Reichwein, Lauren Sieg, and Mike Striker, Committee Members
State Issues
Call Before You Dig Law Revision; OHIO811: The second meeting of the legislative coalition was held on September 13. The main issues discussed were better defining the size and scope of dig tickets, how large projects should be defined and dig ticket requests handled, and exempting certain activities from compliance.
The November excavator seminar schedule is available on the resources/events page on the OHIO811 website. They are held on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at six regional locations around the state, are free, and include lunch. The seminar provides updates on the new and improved remote ticket entry/i-dig usage, excavator training, features of the new OHIO811 mobile app, and other relevant information.
As of November 30, 2018, OHIO811 (formerly the Ohio Utilities Protection Service [OUPS]), and the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) and the Ohio Gas Producers Underground Protection Service (OGPUPS), will consolidate their call before you dig processes under OHIO811. After that date, a single call to 811 or a visit to OHIO811.org will insure that affected member utilities as well as those members owning, operating, and maintaining oil and gas production facilities are properly notified of planned excavations.
Human Burial Places Protection Bill: The draft bill has been revised many times by the working group, and now have a close to final draft back from the Legislative Service Commission. On October 25, we will present the draft to federally recognized tribes at the Ohio History Connection’s (OHC) tribal nations conference. A meeting with State Rep. Scherer is scheduled for Nov. 5, and following the Nov. 6 elections we will discuss how to proceed with getting it enacted. It will be one of the legislative priorities at OHC’s Statehood Day event on February 27, 2019, the first planning meeting for which was held on October 10. A presentation on the draft bill was made at today’s OAC membership meeting.
Federal Issues
Historic Preservation Funding: The Interior Appropriations Bill passed the House in July, and the Senate in early August. The FY19 House Interior Appropriations bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $101.41 million, while the Senate bill funds the HPF at $91.91 million. The differences between the two bills will be worked out in conference committee.
Section 106 Consultation Updates:
Universal Charitable Deduction Bill, HR 5771: The bill was introduced in the House in May 2018 and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. There has been no further action on it to date. The bill would allow all taxpayers the opportunity to take an unlimited deduction from their gross income for charitable giving. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes a universal charitable deduction more important than ever. This law increased the standard deduction, limited state and local tax deductions, and doubled estate and gift tax deductions, all of which will decrease the number of low- and moderate-income taxpayers from giving, and the amount they give. Since enactment of the law, charitable organizations have seen a sharp drop in donations, estimated to be about $15 billion in 2018. The drop is the result of the law creating less of an incentive for all but the wealthy to give. If this trend continues it will have an adverse effect on charitable organizations, including future fundraising efforts of the Ohio Archaeological Council. Conversely, a universal charitable deduction is estimated to increase charitable giving by $20 billion.
Below is a schedule of events and presentations for the upcoming OAC Fall Meeting.
To download the schedule and abstracts Click Here
| Fall 2018 OAC Membership Meeting, October 19th, Blacklick Woods Metropark | ||||
| Time | Presenter | Affiliation | Title | Coauthors |
| 9:30 | N/A | N/A | ||
| 10:00 | Brian Redmond | Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Recent Investigation of a Hopewell wooden post circle and ceremonial precinct at the Heckelman site, Erie Co., Ohio | |
| 10:20 | Jonathan Bowen | Mound City Chapter, ASO | Overview of Late Archaic through Late Woodland Artifacts in Pickaway County, Ohio | |
| 10:40 | Christine Thompson | AAL, Ball State University | Fort Recovery Story Map and Battlefield Tour | Connor McCoy and Kevin Nolan |
| 11:00 | Break | Break | Break | |
| 11:20 | Glen Boatman | Sandusky Bay ASO | 30 years of Contributions of the Sandusky Bay ASO to the Archaeology of North Central Ohio | |
| 11:40 | Glen Boatman | Sandusky Bay ASO | 30 years of Contributions of the Sandusky Bay ASO to the Archaeology of North Central Ohio | |
| 12:00 | N/A | N/A | Lunch on your own | |
| 12:20 | N/A | N/A | Lunch on your own | |
| 12:40 | OAC | N/A | Business Meeting | |
| 1:00 | OAC | N/A | Business Meeting | |
| 1:20 | OAC | N/A | Business Meeting | |
| 1:40 | Al Tonetti | OAC | Unmarked Human Burial Places Legislation Update | |
| 2:00 | Al Tonetti | OAC | Unmarked Human Burial Places Legislation Update | |
| 2:20 | Break | Break | Break | |
| 2:40 | Jason Watkins | ODOT | The 50+ Year Bridge Project: Educational Silver Linings in an Otherwise Challenging Project | |
| 3:00 | John Schweikart | Center for Life Sciences Education, OSU | Lost and Nearly Forgotten: Searching for an elusive 19th century Black school and exploring the City of Upper Arlington's surprising connection to the African Diaspora and Columbus, Ohio’s early Black Community | |
| 3:20 | Adjourn |