2006-2007 Speakers Bureau Catalog
THOMAS PLEGER
Thomas Pleger is associate professor of anthropology/archaeology and Campus Executive Officer and Dean at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County. He has taught anthropology and archaeology courses at UW-Marinette, UW-Madison, UW-La Crosse, Lawrence University, and UW-Fox Valley and directed five archaeological field school research projects for the University of Wisconsin Colleges. He has received numerous awards for his teaching and research.
Address: Dean's Office, UW-Baraboo/Sauk County, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo 53913
Phone: (608) 355-5222
Fax: (608) 355-5222
E-mail: Thomas.pleger@uwc.edu
The Old Copper Industry: The Origins of Prehistoric Metal Technology in Eastern North America
Great Lakes Archaic Indians were the first to experiment with metal fabrication technologies in North America. Nearly pure copper was discovered in the Western Great Lakes and, through experimentation, prehistoric Indians learned to hot and cold hammer the copper to produce a variety of projectile points, woodworking tools, harpoons, fishhooks, and jewelry. These tools were used for everyday subsistence activities and traded to cultures outside of the region for exotic materials. Archaeologists refer to these peoples, distinguished for their manufacturing of tools between 4000 B.C.E. and 1000 B.C. E., as the Old Copper complex or industry. Dr. Pleger provides an overview of what archaeologists have learned about the subsistence, social organization, and trade of these ancient peoples.
Prehistoric Site Investigator
How do archaeologists recover information about the past and how do they know how old something is? This presentation examines the science of archaeology and how archaeologists interpret humanity's prehistory. Dr. Pleger discusses how archaeologists identify and excavate ancient archaeological sites. He also describes how archaeologists use artifacts to reconstruct vanished cultures. Topics covered include: excavation methods, radiocarbon and other dating methods, analyzing artifacts, and testing hypotheses. Archaeological sites from around the world, including North America and Wisconsin, will be presented as examples.
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