The Extreme History Project: The Dirt on the Past

Join Nancy and Crystal as they discuss the most recent Montana Archaeological Society Annual Meeting, highlighting presentations and awards. The Montana Archaeological Society (MAS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, study, and understanding of Montana's rich archaeological heritage. The society was founded in 1958 and is made up of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including professional archaeologists, students, and interested members of the public. One of the key activities of MAS is its annual meeting, which brings together members from across the state and beyond to share their research and insights. The meeting features a series of presentations, posters, and workshops, as well as opportunities for networking and socializing. In addition to its regular events, MAS also sponsors archaeological research projects and provides funding for student scholarships and research grants. The society is also involved in outreach and education activities, working to increase public awareness and understanding of Montana's archaeological heritage. The Montana Archaeological Society is a vibrant and active organization that plays an important role in promoting the study and preservation of Montana's rich archaeological heritage. If you are interested in archaeology or Montana's history, joining MAS is a great way to get involved and learn more. To join, visit the website at mtarchaeologicalsociety.org. 

 

Join us as we talk with Tim Urbaniak about his new book, Men of the Cave: The Excavation of Empty Gulch. We discuss the 1937 archaeological excavation of Empty Gulch, now known as Pictograph Cave State Park. This project was financed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and employed a group of men, and one woman, to excavate this significant archaeological site. We discuss the key players including Oscar Lewis, William Mulloy, Mel Sayre, and others involved in this excavation. We also talk about the importance of the artifacts documented by Oscar Lewis and his team and what the artifacts can tell us about the people who lived in Pictograph Cave. If you would like a copy of this book, please contact Tim Urbaniak at turbaniak@bresnan.net. A BIG thank you to the Museum of the Rockies for sponsoring this episode of The Dirt on the Past. 

 

Join us as we have a wide-ranging conversation about the history of red-light districts, including the Los Angeles Red-Light District during the 1920's and 1930's. AnneMarie Kooistra is a historian who has conducted extensive research on the history of prostitution in Los Angeles during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her research has focused on the red-light district of the city which was located in the heart of downtown LA and was home to a thriving underground economy centered around sex work. Kooistra's work has shed new light on the lives of the women who worked in the LA district, many of whom were immigrants or women of color who faced significant discrimination and marginalization in wider society. She has also explored the social and economic factors that contributed to the growth of the sex trade in LA during this period, as well as the efforts of reformers and social activists to combat prostitution and regulate vice in the city. The conversation wraps up with a discussion about why this history matters today in light of the MMIW and sex trafficking. A BIG thank you to the Western Heritage Center located in Billings, MT for sponsoring this podcast episode!

 

Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute where they discuss how Bronze Age women had stronger arms than today's elite female rowers, due to grinding grain for hours a day. "This is the first study to actually compare prehistoric female bones to those of living women," said lead researcher, Dr Alison Macintosh. 

Join us as we talk with Amanda Hendrix-Komoto about her new book, Imperial Zions: Religion, Race, and Family in the American West and the Pacific which was published in 2022. We discuss the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, focusing in on the women of the historical narrative including the wife of Joseph Smith. We talk about polygamy within the church, and when the practice started to take shape, and we talk about how the Latter-day Saints created their understandings of polygamy at the same time they tried to change the domestic practices of Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto is Assistant Professor of History at Montana State University. 

Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!

 

Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!

 

Join Crystal and Nancy, co-hosts of The Dirt on the Past podcast, for a history minute!

 

Join us as we speak with Micah Chang about his time working on the first joint archaeological field school between the University of Montana and Montana State University. This field school, initiated by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, was held to immerse students in federal archeology. Students conducted field surveys and carried out archival research on an African American mining and homesteading community east of Butte, MT currently called the Camp Caroline Mining District. Professional and practicing archeologists and historians worked alongside students to survey, uncover, and interpret this community that left behind scant evidence of their presence and history. The story of Montana’s African American community and their lived experiences has seldom been examined archaeologically. The intention of this field school was twofold: to teach students federal archeology and to elevate African American history in Montana. Micah Chang is a PhD candidate in the Department of History and Philosophy at Montana State University. He is defending his dissertation in April. His research focuses on race, agriculture, and environment on the Northern Great Plains and the American West.

 

Join us for our conversation with Sarah Rosenberg, the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Bozeman, MT. We discuss all things historic preservation with Sarah including her vision to tell stories of the underrepresented communities and promote the protection of intangible heritage. We do a little myth busting about what you can, and cannot, do to your house if you live in a historic district or if your house is listed on the National Register. We also discuss historic preservation in the face of growth and how the two can be compatible. Join us for this riveting conversation with Sarah!