The University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist is returning to Elgin, Iowa, for our second archaeo-blitz in partnership with the Elgin Historical Society and Meskwaki Nation. This is an all-ages family friendly event featuring: Artifact identification (limit 5 per person, please!), cataloging and care advice, and site recording assistance with OSA archaeologists; traditional crafts demonstrations by Meskwaki and Ho-Chunk artists; a dance performance by Larry Yazzie of Native Pride Dancers; and a fundraiser meal featuring traditional Indigenous foods. A free will donation for this lunch will support the Elgin Historical Society's, future "Tribes of the Turkey River" interpretive exhibits.

This community partnership project allows us to record both new archaeological sites and locations of historic Indian presence in Fayette County, a surprisingly under-documented part of Iowa! Part of Iowa's "Neutral Ground," this area is both historically and presently important to the Meskwaki and Ho-Chunk Nations.

This project is supported by the University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research Community Engaged Scholars program.