Nebraska State Historical Society
Date of this Version
1904
Citation
E.E. Blackman. “Report of the Department of Archeology, Nebraska State Historical Society for 1903 and 1904” in Robert W. Furnas, Annual Report, Nebraska State Board of Agriculture for the year 1904 (Lincoln, NE: the Society, 1905), 207-229.
Abstract
In this document, E. E. Blackman, the State Archeologist, reports to the Nebraska State Historical Society regarding recently completed work in the field of archeology. Blackman first reports on his 1903 archeological explorations and lecture presentations. Fieldwork emphasized an investigation of flint quarries and geological formations across the central and eastern parts of the state of Nebraska. In the same year, Blackman set out on an expedition along the Blue River, with the hopes of gathering additional relics from previously excavated sites as well as from those yet to be investigated. Of primary importance was artifact collection and interpretation. Although continuing to visit additional sites, Blackman notes that a great deal of work was spent reorganizing the museum during the year 1904. He urges that efforts be made to catalog the extensive artifact collections, since the focus of previous work had been on their collection and display artifacts. This report is a good example of the kind of archeological work occurring across the country in the early 20th century prior to passage of legislation regarding cultural resources.
Included in
American Material Culture Commons, History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons, Indigenous Studies Commons, Museum Studies Commons
Comments
The Nebraska State Historical Society is also the official state archives, and the archeologist is a state official.
The Annual report of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture was often used as a vehicle for distributing reports from various state agencies and officials as well as miscellaneous agriculture related documents.