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Painting Party

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As International Archaeology Day (October 15, 2016) approaches, we’re celebrating by sharing posts about what we’re working on now—the daily work of archaeology. It could easily be argued that in this regard, Allen has the most fun of any of our staff on a daily basis!
Allen Denoyer, Preservation Archaeologist and Ancient Technologies Expert
Allen Denoyer - blog

(October 10, 2016)—We run Hands-On Archaeology programs at Steam Pump Ranch in Oro Valley, Arizona, every second Saturday over the fall and winter months. We have two pithouses we have built in the garden area to teach people about how people lived in this area in the distant past.

Volunteer Jaye Smith passed out fact sheets all day!
Volunteer Jaye Smith passed out fact sheets all day!

At each of these events, I endeavor to have different things for people to try out and learn about. For this past Saturday, Joyce Rychener and I decided to make some pigment paints using mesquite sap as the binder. I had never played with mesquite sap as a binder before.

Painting Shells

I brought a bunch of small tabular stones people could paint designs on using five different natural pigments. We mixed the paint in Laevicardium shells and painted on the rocks with yucca brushes. We showed visitors how to make the yucca brushes, and we encouraged them to try painting with things like bone awls. The paint mixed with the mesquite sap dried nicely and could not be easily rubbed off.

Some of the shells with the paint mixed in them.
Some of the shells with the paint mixed in them.

We had a steady stream of visitors all day long. It seemed like everybody really enjoyed playing with the paints. I want to thank my helpers—Jaye Smith, Katie Bubnekovich, and Joyce Rychener.

Steam Pump Ranch Visitors Steam Pump Ranch Visitors

I was even able to teach my young son Nathan how to paint his thumbnail black with a hammerstone.
Nathan Denyoyer
 

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