Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network

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Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network

OKPAN is your connection to archaeology in Oklahoma. OKPAN is your connection to archaeology in Oklahoma! LINKTREE: https://linktr.ee/okpubarch

We link the archaeological community in the state and provide archaeology education and outreach opportunities by organizing Oklahoma's Archaeology Month (visit our other page!), the annual Oklahoma Archaeology Conference, and other educational and outreach events throughout the year. Join us to learn and share more about archaeology in Oklahoma!

06/16/2026

One of the oldest preservation methods known is the process of fermentation. Fermentation is when tiny microorganisms break down sugars and starches. This is done to preserve food, change texture, or to create new flavors.There are many fermented foods that are eaten all over the world on a daily basis including kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, sourdough, as well as drinks including beer, wine, and kombucha!

Evidence of fermentation has been found as far back as 7000 BC. The incorporation of fermentation in food preparation has been beneficial for multiple reasons including, longer storage, better taste, easier digestion, and safer consumption.

Archeological evidence of fermentation is abundant across the globe with some of the earliest evidence indicating that beer brewing was occurring 13,000 years ago! Historical archeologists also recover evidence of fermentation practices at Euroamerican settlement sites in North America by recovering sauerkraut crocks! You may find a similar one in your kitchen!

To learn more about fermentation, view the links below!

https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2021.568656
https://libguides.lindahall.org/fermentation/history/LouisPasteur
https://eatcultured.com/blogs/our-awesome-blog/fermentation-a-history
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8618017/
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2018/09/crafting-beer-lead-cereal-cultivation

06/10/2026

Event Highlight! On June 16th at 12pm, the Sam Noble Museum will be hosting a part of their lecture series called, Woven Voices: The Language of Beads—Narratives of Freedmen and Individuals in Indian Territory Interpreted Through Beaded Portraits. Cherokee Nation artists Jennifer Saenz and Vicky Watson create beaded portraits as a visual language of “beadtelling”, carrying voices across generations through beadwork. Their solo exhibition, Threads of Untold History, explores Oklahoma’s Indian Territory and honors Freedmen and Freedmen descendants of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Woven Voices lecture shows how even the smallest bead can hold immense histories, transforming portraiture into living testimony.

06/01/2026

Happy June and Pride Month! Take a moment to see what events the Sam Nobel Museum and Society of American Archeologists are hosting this month. Don’t forget to look at what events museums near you are hosting!

On June 6th, the Society for American Archeology will be hosting Opportunities for Archeologists in Public Communication. The public loves learning about archaeology through news stories, magazines, podcasts, and other mass media outlets. This session will provide guidance for anyone interested in pop-science, from those seeking to dip their toes to individuals who want to pivot careers to science journalism.

On June 6th, and every Saturday at 11am, the Sam Noble Museum will be hosting a series called Stories and Specimen! In this engaging program, children are invited to gather for a lively story time, where fascinating tales spark curiosity and set the stage for exploration. Each session dives into a themed topic, connecting stories to science and cultural history with museum objects that let kids see, touch, and discover. Best of all, Stories & Specimens is included free with museum admission, making it the perfect way for young learners to enjoy interactive storytelling and hands-on exploration all in one visit!

On June 16th, the Sam Noble Museum will be hosting part of their Lecture Series called, Woven Voices: The Language of Beads—Narratives of Freedmen and Individuals in Indian Territory Interpreted Through Beaded Portraits. Cherokee Nation artists Jennifer Saenz and Vicky Watson create beaded portraits as a visual language of “beadtelling”, carrying voices across generations through beadwork. Their solo exhibition, Threads of Untold History, explores Oklahoma’s Indian Territory and honors Freedmen and Freedmen descendants of the Five Civilized Tribes. The Woven Voices lecture shows how even the smallest bead can hold immense histories, transforming portraiture into living testimony.

05/21/2026

What’s the difference between a museum and a repository?

A repository is any place (physical or digital) where items, data, or materials are stored and managed. This includes archives, libraries, and databases.

Have you have ever heard the saying, “All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares”? Repositories and museums fit into this sort of saying too! All museums are repositories but not all repositories are museums!

A museum is a special kind of repository. According to the International Council of Museums (ICOM), museums don’t just store objects, they collect, preserve, research, and exhibit them for the public.

The key difference? Museums are public-facing, meaning that they interpret and display their collections to educate and inspire, not just store them.

05/15/2026

Since 2008, the Exploring Joara Foundation (EJF) has invited the public, from near and far, to be a part of discovering our nation’s past with a focus on Native American and early colonial history. The Berry site field school in Morganton, North Carolina began in 2001 under EJF, as part of a larger project to study the Upper Catawba Valley. The field school integrates both students and non-students, with no previous archaeological experience necessary. The EJF also hosts a variety of workshops open to the public. For more information on how to get involved see the link below!

https://exploringjoara.org/

05/12/2026

On May 19th, Dr. Susan Nash will present on how the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History inspired her to write two books. In Residuals: Cotylorhynchus Rises, Nash connects the energies between the mass casualties of Permian extinction and of the Griffin Memorial Hospital fire. In her memoir, Shells and Shadows, Nash recalls growing up in Norman, Oklahoma in the 60s and 70s when the land on which the Sam Noble Museum is situated was a long-abandoned WWII naval base.

https://samnoblemuseum.ou.edu/calendar/a-treasure-trove-of-inspiration-how-i-wrote-sci-fi-horror-and-a-memoir-around-the-sam-noble-oklahoma-museum-of-natural-history-collections/

05/09/2026

Oklahoma Archaeology Highlight! The Spiro Mounds are the only archeological site in Oklahoma open to the public. Spiro began to be continuously occupied around 800 AD, and continued to be occupied until about 1450 AD. The communities at Spiro had ties to people from the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Mexico and from the coast of Virginia to the Great Lakes.

During the 1930’s excavations began to take place at the site, which have continued today. Regular looting at the site gave Oklahoma the motivation to become one of the first states to create laws to protect archeological sites. Spiro was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Visitors can explore the trails in the area that is accessible through the Visitor’s Center which opened May 9, 1978. To learn more and plan your visit, view the links below!

https://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.7170
https://www.okhistory.org/sites/spiromounds

05/05/2026

The Texas Archaeological Society (TAS) will be hosting its Annual Meeting October 2-4, 2026, at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Abstracts and creative ideas are being sought for papers to be presented by students, professionals, and avocational archaeologists. All presenters must be TAS members and be registered for the meeting. Members are also encouraged to consider poster presentations as an alternative to paper presentations. The deadline for both paper and poster abstracts is August 3, 2026. For more information, please visit the TAS website at the link below!

https://txarch.org/Annual-Meeting

05/01/2026

Join us in recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. It has been recognized as the month for mental health since 1949, when it was established to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide resources and support for those who might be struggling with mental health, ensuring that no one struggles alone. Check out the link to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) below for help with mental health resources.
https://www.nami.org/stay-connected/events/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/

On May 6th, the Society of American Archeology will be hosting part of their Deeper Digs series called Isotope Analysis in Archaeology to introduce non-specialist archaeologists to the essentials of isotope analysis: what it is, how it works, and what it can be used to understand. The seminar will cover the major isotope systems commonly used in archaeological analysis and provide a detailed case study to illustrate how they can be applied and interpreted. The seminar will close with a discussion of scientific and ethical concerns in sampling for isotope analysis.

Join the Sam Noble Museum on May 9th for their Curiousiday: Collections Celebration! featuring a guest appearance by renowned paleontologist Dr. Matt Wedel. Explore some of the most amazing hidden treasures that are normally housed in the secure museum collections, away from public view. From live fossil preparation to rare and spectacular fossils, artwork and cultural objects, there’s something to captivate every curious mind. This event is free for the first 25 visitors!

On May 19th, Dr. Susan Nash will present on how the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History inspired her to write two books. In Residuals: Cotylorhynchus Rises, Nash connects the energies between the mass casualties of Permian extinction and of the Griffin Memorial Hospital fire. In her memoir, Shells and Shadows, Nash recalls growing up in Norman, Oklahoma in the 60s and 70s when the land on which the Sam Noble Museum is situated was a long-abandoned WWII naval base.

04/23/2026

Did you know the Society for American Archeology has resources for K through 12 education? Age-appropriate activities and lesson plans have been developed by educators to teach students how scientists study people of the past. The materials provided also teach students how they can connect to how past peoples lived. Share these resources with your local educators to expand your student’s minds! You can find the resources at the link provided.

https://www.saa.org/Member/SAAMember/Education-and-Outreach/Teaching-Resources.aspx?hkey=b6b02ac3-1ec7-40f6-9c4c-b217104cbb0c

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Norman, OK

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https://www.ou.edu/okpan

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