NYAC Website
The New York Archaeological Council (NYAC) was founded to raise awareness of archaeology and archaeological issues of New York State: to provide information of general interest on the history and prehistory of New York as well as about the field of archaeology that provides insight into that history, to provide educational resources about archaeology, to provide information on the conduct of professional archaeology in New York, to serve as a point of reference for anyone that needs to consider archaeological resources in compliance with various laws and regulations that often come into play during construction projects, and to increase the awareness of New York Archaeology to the general public.
NYSAA Website
The New York State Archaeological Association (NYSAA) is composed of avocational and professional archaeologists primarily within New York State, though some of its members can be found throughout the world. NYSAA stands to promote archaeological and historical study, and research covering the artifacts, rites, customs, beliefs and other phases of the lives and cultures of the American Indian occupants of New York State up to and including their contact with the Europeans. Recently, the Association has expanded its focus to include research upon Euro-American archaeological sites post-dating European Contact.
- NYAC Fall Program
Exploring African American Contexts in New York Archaeology
Contrary to popular belief, the percentage of slave holding households was higher in New York than many places in the south. Unlike the plantation economies to the south, enslaved people in the north rarely lived in clusters of separate quarters. Most often enslave people of African and Indigenous lived in the main house, an outer kitchen, or other multi-functional outbuilding. Such complex households as well as free and Maroon communities have been investigated on archaeological projects in urban and rural settings. Surprisingly, there are few publications which address these households and communities that existed in New York. Only in cases where a household or a community was known to have been occupied by African Americans are deposits considered reflections of their lives. Archaeologists have struggled to interpret the lives of enslaved people through the material culture of plural households. Recent investigations however suggest that there are ways of ‘seeing’ African Americans in diverse households. This program brings together archaeologists to share what they have learned from their experiences working with plural households and communities in New York, suggestions for better material culture analyses, and the importance of working with descendant populations and vested communities. Format is short presentations followed by discussion with the audience.
- NYAC Fall Meeting Notice
NYAC will host the fall meeting on October 1, 2022 at the New York State Museum in the Huxley Theater. The general business meeting will be from 12:45-1:45 and the program from 2-4:30. Details are provided available for download below.
2022 NYAC Fall Meeting Notice (100.3 KiB)