Stegosaurus Pedicure

Chief Preparator, Carrie Herbel, puts the finishing touches on the rear feet of the Stegosaurus. This beast is getting a mani/pedi and then it will be a completed mount.

Press Release - Uinta Greyware Pot Now On Display

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

JULY 18, 2014

Christine K. Trease, 435-613-5757: christine.trease@usu.edu

WHAT’S COOKING At The Prehistoric Museum,

Utah State University Eastern

 

FRIDAY, July 18, 2014, Price, Utah: –  A complete Fremont cooking vessel which was recovered from Nine Mile Canyon in the Spring of 2013 has been placed on display at the museum. Located on public lands managed by the BLM, the pot was first noticed by a field crew of the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance.  Archaeologists have identified it as part of the Uinta Grayware ceramic tradition based on the small particles of crushed limestone used to temper the clay before firing.  The center of production for this pottery type is the Uintah Basin.  This region of Utah has an early Fremont occupation, with evidence of farming in the basin as early as 2000 years before present. 

The museum’s Archaeologist, Dr. Tim Riley, stated, “While it is always a surprise to find any complete pottery vessel, the fact that this pot is Uinta Grayware makes this find even more intriguing.”  Most of the pottery recovered in Nine Mile Canyon over the last century has been Emery Grayware, which is the dominant pottery tradition south of the Tavaputs Plateau and along the San Rafael Swell.  Recent excavations in the canyon suggest that the presence of Uinta Grayware may have been overlooked in the past.  This cooking vessel adds to that picture and reminds us how much we still have to learn about the history of Eastern Utah.  Were these San Rafael Fremont groups sharing Nine Mile Canyon with groups from the north?  Did the Uinta Fremont occupy the Tavaputs Plateau before the San Rafael Fremont?  Were the Nine Mile villages trading for pottery from both the Uinta and San Rafael villages?  Come by the museum and dwell on these questions while thinking about the people who made this spectacular pottery so long ago. 

 

Now on display for the public to view, this spectacular Greyware pot is the latest exhibit at the Prehistoric Museum. The Prehistoric Museum, located at 155 East Main Street - Price, Utah, is a multi-faceted venue that includes paleontology, archaeology, geology, and an art gallery. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed Sunday. (general admission rates apply)

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Prehistoric Museum

Utah State University – Eastern

155 East Main, Price, Utah 84501 USA

usueastern.edu/museum

Press Release FREMONT CULTURE Comes To Life At The Prehistoric Museum

PRESS RELEASE

JULY 15, 2014

Christine K. Trease, 435-613-5757: christine.trease@usu.edu

FREMONT CULTURE Comes To Life At The Prehistoric Museum, Utah State University Eastern

TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014, Price, Utah: –Comfortably nestled along the far wall in the Hall of Archaeology is a remarkable example of a bygone way of life. Native Americans conversations round the hearth are overheard as dinner cooks in a ceramic pot over the hearth fire as cornmeal is prepared on a metate. Baskets and other Fremont tools displayed throughout the exhibit demonstrate the Fremont lifestyle in Eastern Utah from 400-1300 AD.

In a continuing effort to bring the best possible experience to the public, the Prehistoric Museum’s completed exhibit renovation has breathed new life into their pithouse diorama. There is no need to wonder what life might have been like among the Fremont a thousand years ago; this exhibit clearly displays the life of the Fremont. Giving the pithouse a lived-in look and feel complete with sound effects and additional small details has elevated the visitor’s experience to another level of understanding and entertainment. The museum’s dedication to bring interactive, educational, accurate, and realistic exhibits to the public is evident in this renovated exhibit. It is a main goal of the museum to ensure a level of authenticity that educates and regales the visitor with a story they are not likely to forget. 

Dr. Riley, the museum’s Curator of Archaeology states, “While the Valley Village pithouse reconstruction has always been a highlight in the Hall of Archaeology, the recent changes bring a Fremont household to life.  The additional details and detailed signage allow the visitor to imagine living in a Fremont community while highlighting the cultural differences and similarities with our own households today.”

The Prehistoric Museum, located at 155 East Main Street - Price, Utah, is a multi-faceted venue that includes paleontology, archaeology, geology, and an art gallery. Regular hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed Sunday. (general admission rates apply) see the website for additional closures, admission rates, and other important information.

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Prehistoric Museum

Utah State University – Eastern

155 East Main, Price, Utah 84501 USA

usueastern.edu/museum

 

 

Now On Display, The Museum's Latest Acquisition

This cooking vessel is an example of Uinta Grayware pottery made and used by the Fremont communities who lived in the Uintah Basin and Tavaputs Plateau. This type of pot was used to cook stews and gruels over a fine hearth, so it had an important place in a family's home. This pot was damaged and patched with pine resin to extend its life.

Discovered during a survey of Nine Mile Canyon by the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance. Located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the pot was recovered in the Spring of 2013.