Campus Archaeology at the Midwest Archaeological Conference

Things have been quite busy here at the Consortium for Archaeological Research!  We’ve been busy planning and preparing for a major conference that our department is hosting – the upcoming 2012 Annual Midwest Archaeological Conference (MAC) – which will be held from October 18th – 21st.  The MAC is a regional organization with about 500 members from across the midcontinental U.S. and publishes Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology, a well-respected, peer-reviewed journal.  Archaeologists from all levels of academia attend the MAC annual conference, thus fostering a connection between faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students.

Since 100’s of people are expected to attend the MAC this year, Campus Archaeology is excited about the opportunity to showcase some of our work to our guests!  So, what does CAP have in store for the upcoming MAC conference?

CAP Appearances in the MAC Schedule

1)   On Thursday, October 18th, from 2:30 – 4pm: Dr. Lynne Goldstein (Director of CAP) is the Chair and Co-Organizer (along with Dr. Ethan Watrall) of a session titled: “Communicating Archaeology in the 21st Century.”  Dr. Goldstein will present the following paper: “Teaching Archaeology via Campus Archaeology: What Have We Learned?”. This talk will discuss the benefits of the program and how it has evolved over the past 5 years.

2)   Once this session is over, the MSU Campus Archaeology Walking Tour commences at 4:15pm.  This tour – which will last approximately 1 hour – will highlight several important historic parts of MSU’s campus, including Saints’ Rest. This tour will take place either as a walking tour, weather permitting, or a ‘dry’ indoor tour that will consist of a powerpoint and talk, which participants can then explore campus on their own later.

Things to do while visiting MSU for the MAC: Food & Drink

Since attending professional conferences can be exhausting, it might help to take some time off and enjoy the beautiful scenery on and around campus and the wonderful shops along Grand River Avenue!  Here are some basic tips.

1)   In need of coffee and people watching? Head on over to Espresso Royale for the opportunity to decompress after a long day of papers and meetings.  Weather permitting, you might even be able to enjoy your coffee in their outdoor seating area.  For those that enjoy options, Wanderer’s Teahouse also has excellent coffee and tea (note: I’m a big fan of their crepes!).

2)   In need of a delicious and greasy burger? Crunchy’s has been providing excellent food, beer, and overall service for 30 years!  If you’re lucky, the female servers might happen to be sporting their fake mustaches.

3)   Hungry AND thirsty? In need of delicious fermented beverages?  The Peanut Barrel (located right next door to Espresso Royale) is able to satiate most of your needs; they offer several kinds of beer on tap – including Michigan brews.

4)   For more tips on where to go and what to see, just ask any CAP staff member and/or any MSU department of anthropology faculty or student; we are more than happy to help!

Happy Conferencing!



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