For Immediate Release — Tuesday,
July 14, 2008
Contact:
David
Irwin
Media Relations Officer
(585) 245-5516
irwin@geneseo.edu
MEDIA ADVISORY: Indiana Jones at SUNY Geneseo?
GENESEO,
N.Y. – Well, not exactly but 60 Rochester City School District middle school
students may feel like the fictional archaeologist when they spend two weeks on
the SUNY Geneseo campus July 14-27 at the Rochester
Young Scholars Academy. As part of this
year’s theme, “Discovering the Iroquois in Geneseo,”
students will take part in several days of actual archaeological digging on
campus at an excavation site believed to be the location of prehistoric Native
American artifacts. They also will
participate in indoor lab analysis of their finds and other activities related
to archaeology.
We anticipate excellent photo and
interview opportunities at the excavation site and in the laboratory and invite your coverage of
the event. Please contact David Irwin
in the SUNY Geneseo Office of Communications and
Publications (585-245-5516) for days and times when students will be digging at
the site or working in the lab. NOTE:
Digging is weather dependent and scheduled weekdays only. A town hall presentation showcasing the
students’ work and a graduation ceremony are scheduled during the last day of
the camp, July 25, in the ballroom of MacVittie
Union.
The
recent release of the popular film “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the
Crystal Skull” coincides with the camp, which has been in the planning stages
since last year’s program.
“We’re
fortunate that we can ride the tide of the recent ‘Indiana Jones’ film,” said
Susan Norman, camp director and director of the Xerox Center for Multicultural
Teacher Education at SUNY Geneseo. “Even though most of our campers will know
little about archaeology, they probably will know about Indiana Jones and will
quickly learn there is real science involved in uncovering our past.”
The
excavation the 7th and 8th grade students will be doing
is part of a project that SUNY Geneseo archaeologists
have been pursuing after discovering Native American artifacts on the SUNY Geneseo campus.
“We have
suspected for quite some time that a Seneca longhouse, or multi-family
residence, existed on campus and were able to confirm a prehistoric site
recently using ground penetrating radar,” said Kristi Krumrine,
who teaches anthropology at SUNY Geneseo. “We aren’t sure yet of the time period of
this find but these campers are joining us on the front end of the discovery,
which is very exciting for them and us.”
Last
summer’s camp theme was “C.S.I. – Crime Scene Investigation” and activities
focused on forensic science.
Funding
for this year’s camp is being provided by the Xerox Corp., SUNY Geneseo, the Rochester City School District and the New
York State Assembly.
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