Illinois Archaeology Lecture Series

Illinois State Archaeological Survey’s Dr. Michael Aiuvalasit, Director of the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory will present Illinois History Through the Microscope: Applying New Science to Old Questions in Archaeology at this month’s Illinois Archaeology lecture, on Sunday, July 16 at 2:00 p.m.

CATS scans? Metabolites? Near infrared spectroscopy? No, we're not talking about a trip to the doctor's office. Many big questions in Illinois history have the potential to be understood through microscopic and microanalytical approaches. The Environmental Archaeology Laboratory at the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) is leveraging campus-wide resources at the University of Illinois to apply cutting-edge sciences to archaeology. This presentation will highlight research investigating how and why Indigenous people of Illinois harnessed fire to manage prairie landscapes, and how archaeologists can identify and interpret "microhistories" within the archaeological record. This presentation will excite those who like their history mixed with STEM and who also want to learn how scientists develop new research in consultation with Tribal Nations. Dr. Michael Aiuvalasit is the Director of the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory, and he specializes in environmentally focused interdisciplinary archaeological research. More information on the lab can be found at: https://eal.isas.illinois.edu/

The lecture begins promptly at 2:00 p.m. followed by an opportunity to meet with the speaker and museum staff.  Admission is free; however, donations are appreciated.