NTER/SPRING 2015 THE FIELD MUSEUM MEMBER MAGAZINE WINTER/SPRING 2015 JANUARY~APRIL VOL, 86, NO. 1 EDITOR Franck Mercurio, mercurio-exhibits, com PHOTO CONTENT SPECIALIST Nina Cummings, The Field Museum DESIGN Bockos Design, Inc. AllLimages © The Field Museum unless otherwise specified. IN THE FIELD (ISSN 41051-4546) is published three times a year by The Field Museum, Annual subscriptions are $20; $10 for schools. Museum membership includes IN THE FIELD subseription, Opinions expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policy of The Field Museum, Notification of address change should include address label and should be sent to the membership department. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Membership, The Field Museum 1400 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605-2496 ON THE COVER Known as skilled mariners, the Vikings built different types of ships for travel, trade, and warfare. See a replica Viking ship (based on archaeological sources) in the new exhibition, Vikings, opening February 27. & AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM 1400 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, \L 60605-2496 312.922.9410 fieldmuseum.org GN91975_182D / JOHN WEINSTEIN In 2015, The Field Museum shares public exhibitions and scientific research that challenge perceptions. Vodou: Sacred Powers of Haiti defies stereotypes to reveal a striking spiritual and social force. Similarly, the word “Vikings” may conjure images of lawless invaders with horned helmets, yet there is much to discover in a new exhibition about these culturally and domestically advanced Norsemen (and women!) opening February 27. And though museum exhibitions have traditionally highlighted China’s art and design, you will see Chinese culture and history through a new lens when our Cyrus Tang Hall of China opens June 24. In their research, Field Museum scientists are illuminating mysteries and changing conceptions about our planet and its inhabitants. Consider the puzzling attributes of the short- eared Amazonian “dog” or the curious fossilized meteorite that led to exploration of Swedish quarries rich in equally aberrant examples of the same. Your support gives vital agency to these inquiries, among others. We are grateful, and we wish you a wonderful new year full of shared exploration and discovery! RICHARD W. LARIVIERE, PHD PRESIDENT AND CEO Opening at The Field Museum A preview of upcoming exhibitions Compiled by Franck Mercurio, Editor VIKINGS Opening February 27 Recent archaeological discoveries of Viking culture — which flourished more than a thousand years ago—have cast out common stereotypes of the infamous mariners and warriors. The Vikings exhibition reveals a dramatic and surprising story through rare Scandinavian artifacts and hands-on interactives. Encounter exquisite jewelry and metalwork, including striking silver pendants representing Norse gods and the earliest Scandinavian crucifix. Gain insight into domestic life, travel and trade, mythology and religion, and of course, Viking ships! (See pages 4 and 5.) ~enrmibesiatn eg oop © SWEDISH HISTORY MUSEUM MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS: TITANS OF THE ICE AGE Opening May 30 Back by popular demand, Mammoths and Mastodons returns to The Field Museum after a five-year international tour. Explore the vanished world of these Ice Age titans through fossils, artifacts, engaging interactives, and immersive media. Discover the habitats of mammoths and mastodons and meet their animal neighbors (including humans!). Investigate current theories about mammoth DNA and extinction, and journey with scientists who continue to study mammoths'’ living cousins: elephants. GN91394_01D / VELIZAR SIMEONOVSKI A115135D_004A / JOHN WEINSTEIN CYRUS TANG HALL OF CHINA Opening June 24 Explore a culture of deep tradition and dynamic change in the new Cyrus Tang Hall of China, the only major, permanent exhibition in the U.S. to examine Chinese culture and history from an anthropological perspective. Travel across thousands of years of history—through textiles, bronzes, ceramics, and sculpture—and discover one of the world’s most influential civilizations. Warfare and political upheaval repeatedly shifted power within China, yet certain traditions and ideals endured and united even the largest dynasties and empires. Learn how diverse spiritual and philosophical practices have flourished side by side, and how these belief systems have influenced and blended with each other throughout Chinese history. GREEKS: AGAMEMNON TO ALEXANDER THE GREAT Opening November 25 Take an extraordinary journey through more than 5,000 years of Greek history. This is the most comprehensive exhibition about ancient Greece to tour North America in a generation, displaying more than 500 exquisite artifacts from 21 major Greek museums—many of which have never been exhibited outside Greece. The exhibition tells the story of Greek culture—from the Neolithic age to the Hellenic—through the lens of historic figures, and explores the widespread influence of the Greeks across time and continents. 1TF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF AIGAI, VERGINA WINTER/SPRING 2015 3 WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD “VIKINGS,” WHAT COMES TO MIND? RUTHLESS WARRIORS AND MERCILESS INVADERS? | OR PROSPEROUS FARMERS AND ENTERPRISING MERCHANTS? A NEW EXHIBITION, | VIKINGS, EXPLORES FACT AND FICTION BEHIND SCANDINAVIA’S 4 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM IN THE FIELD ANCIENT—AND INFAMOUS—SEAFARING RAIDERS. The Field Museum’s presentation of Vikings is the only U.S. stop on an international tour. The exhibition transports visitors to the Viking Age (AD 700-1000) brought to light through archaeological discoveries. Nearly 500 artifacts—many never before seen outside of Scandinavia—reveal new insights into the legendary people traditionally characterized as heartless marauders. Objects on display provide glimpses into family and community, religion and rituals, travel and trade, aristocracy and slavery, and the roles of women. The exhibition also presents the significance of craft in Viking life, the power of Norse mythology, and the importance and symbolism of Viking ships. A highlight of the exhibition is the Krampmacken, a replica Viking ship from Sweden based on historical and archaeological sources. IMAGES © SWEDISH HISTORY MUSEUM Vikings also challenges common miscon- ceptions about the early Scandinavians. Visitors may be surprised to see a Viking helmet without horns. In fact, no Viking helmet has ever been discovered with horns; the image of the horned-helmet emerged in the 19th century, popularized by authors and artists who romanticized Norse culture. Another myth surrounds the name “Vikings.” The word derives from Old Norse and is thought to mean “going on a voyage or an adventure.” But during the Viking era, people were not always out on expeditions; most lived as farmers, merchants, and craftsmen. They did not call themselves “Vikings,” but named themselves after the farm, village, or region in which they lived. Exclusive Vikings Events for Museum Members For more information, contact Member Services at 312.665.7705 or visit fieldmuseum.org/membership. Tuesday, February 24 Founders’ Council Preview Exclusively for Founders’ Council donors Thursday, March 5 Annual Fund Private Viewing Saturday, March 14 Exclusively for Annual Fund donors Members-only Viewing Exclusively for Museum members of all giving levels. The day begins with a lecture at 8am. Exhibition doors open at 9am and close at spm. IELD! By Emily J. Waldren, Public Relations Manager Striking examples of Viking craftsmanship are displayed, including exquisitely designed brooches, depictions of Norse gods, as well as gold and silver pendants— including the oldest known Scandinavian crucifix (pictured above), reflecting the transition between Old Norse religious practices and Christianity. Viking Age swords and other weapons are also exhibited, highlighting exceptional metal- working technologies. Vikings features a number of interactives, allowing museum visitors to take part in the excavation of a virtual boat grave, spell a name in runes, explore Norse mythology, and play an early Scandinavian board game. Visitors can pick up an accurate replica of a Viking Age sword and test the weight and balance between grip and blade, discovering the skill it takes to master sword handling. Vikings brings a new appreciation of the people remembered mainly for their plundering ways. And while raiding and pillaging were mainstays of their culture, Viking society was much more complex and multifaceted. Come see a complete picture when Vikings opens at The Field Museum on February 27. 1TF 2» WING CRUISES Exploring the World in Comfort® Major Sponsors: DISC®VER This exhibition is a joint venture between and produced by the Swedish History Museum in Sweden and MuseumsPartner in Austria. FACT VERSUS FICTION From Erik the Red to Hagar the Horrible, we certainly have heard a lot about the Vikings, but what's fact and what's fiction? Learn some surprising truths and discover how Viking culture has influenced our own. You may know that Thursday translates to “Thor's day” and is named for the Norse god of thunder and lightning. But did you know several other weekday names come from Norse mythology? Wednesday translates to “\WNoden’s day” and is named for Odin, the chief god and Thor’s father. Friday is named for either Freya, the Norse goddess of love, marriage, and fertility, or Frigg, the peer of marriage and motherhood, wife of Odin. Recent archaeological discoveries indicate women had more equal status during the Viking Age than they would during the Christian era in Scandinavia; on the farm, free women ran the households. Inside the exhibition, you'll see examples of keys (pictured above)—symbols of the housewife — which were worn proudly. The idea of a Viking burial at sea—when a corpse and ship would be set on fire— is popular in Hollywood films, but archaeolo- gists have found little evidence that this was widely practiced, perhaps because ships required so much time, labor, and materials to build. However, some Viking burials contain remnants of ships, suggesting that ships also symbolized vessels for carrying the dead into the afterlife. WINTER/SPRING 2015 5 Searching the Amazon for THE SHORT-EARED DOG By Renata Leite Pitman, DVM, Wildlife Veterinarian / Research Associate and Museum Volunteer ONE OF THE LEAST-KNOWN CARNIVORE SPECIES IN THE WORLD, THE SHORT-EARED DOG (Atelocynus microtis) makes its home in the lowland forests of the Amazon River basin, from eastern Peru to western Brazil. For the past 14 years, | have observed Its scientific name means “imperfect dog with short-ears” reflecting the Atelocynus microtis at three sites in the animal's dog-like appearance and cat-like grace. Yet Atelocynus microtis is Peruvian Amazon: Cocha Cashu Biological not a domesticated dog (Canis familiaris), but rather a distinct member of the Station in Manu National Park, Alto Purus Canidae family—which includes foxes, jackals, coyotes, wolves, and dogs. National Park, and Los Amigos Biological The Zoological Society of Station. London first described the My studies have yielded the first data on species in 1882 based on a live population ecology and behavior of the specimen. The Field Museum’s species in the Amazon. Short-eared dogs legendary mammalogist Philip live in burrows made by the giant armadillo Hershkovitz made extensive (Priodontes maximus) and spend up to 50 observations of two captive percent of their time underground. Pumas, specimens at the Brookfield jaguars, and boas prey on short-eared dogs, Zoo. He presented his research so their populations might be greater at in a 1961 volume of Fieldiana, COURTESY RENATA LEITE PITMAN sites where burrows provide good hiding The Field Museum’s scientific places. By radio-collaring short-eared dogs journal, and included a study of skins and skulls from the American Museum and giant armadillos, and monitoring over of Natural History (New York) and Michigan State University. 150 burrows, | discovered that 25 other However, no field study on the ecology of the short-eared dog was conducted mammal species share giant armadillo until 2000, when | started the first long-term research of the species. burrows with short-eared dogs. 1TF 6 ENATA LEITE PITMAN COURTESY R Renata and colleague prepare to return a captive short-eared dog to the wild. IN THE FIELD RENATA LEITE PITMAN Renata Leite Pitman, DVM, became a Field Museum volunteer in 2013 when husband Nigel Pitman, PhD—now the Mellon Senior Conservation Ecologist—joined the Museum’s scientific staff as a visiting scholar. Her background in biology and wildlife veterinary studies provided the foundation for her first project as a Museum volunteer: a field guide to Peruvian mammals. “Curiosity and fate” led Renata to study the short-eared dog. While working as a researcher at Duke University, a colleague told her about Atelocynus microtis. Renata traveled to Peru to see the species for herself, never expecting it would become the subject of a 14-year research project. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) recently recognized Renata’s long-term research efforts with a Natural Born Hero Award. Cosmic Bodies Frozen in Time: FOSSIL METEORITES By Philipp R. Heck, PhD, Robert A. Pritzker Associate Curator of Meteoritics and Polar Studies ONLY 101 OF MORE THAN 50,000 KNOWN METEORITES ARE FOSSILIZED—AND FOUR OF THEM WILL BE EXHIBITED AT THE FIELD MUSEUM IN 2015. Their fascinating story begins in Sweden in 1952. The manager of a limestone quarry noticed an unusually dark object in a slab that his workers had cut. He gave the slab to a paleontologist who set it on a shelf in his office and forgot about it. Twenty-seven years later, a mineralogist and meteorite enthusiast walked into that very same office, and exclaimed, “That looks like a meteorite!” P.R. HECK Museum Research Associate Birger Schmitz stands in front of an outcrop that contains fossil micrometeorites and meteorites and spans nearly one million years in time. ROBERT A. PRITZKER CENTER FOR METEORITICS AND POLAR STUDIES This fossil meteorite (Ark 014) spent about 100,000 years in space before it arrived on Earth about 470 million years ago. The discovery of this fossilized meteorite—nearly three decades after it was removed from the 470-million-year-old quarried limestone— led to a systematic search for more. An idealistic amateur geologist named Mario Tassinari teamed up with quarry workers and taught them to recognize fossilized meteorites. They loyally reported every find to him. Mario then made the finds available to his friend Birger Schmitz, PhD, a Swedish geology professor and research associate at The Field Museum. Over the next 20 years, 101 fossilized meteorites were uncovered in three Swedish quarries—more than 100 times what would be expected statistically. Similar to animal and plant fossils, these meteorites became fossilized when other minerals replaced most of the original ones during the transformation of soft seabed into sedimentary rock. The meteorites, however, contain a mineral called chromite that was preserved in its pristine form that matches the composition of L chondrites, the most abundant type of meteorites that fall to Earth today. The fossilized meteorites all came from the same parent planet that was Shattered by a violent collision about 470 million years ago in the asteroid belt. This generated innumerable fragments, ranging from sand-grain to boulder-size, that were quickly delivered to Earth. Such fragments have been found within sedimentary rock in Russia, China, and Sweden. Scientists speculate that meteorites generated from this planetary collision can also be found on Mars and the Moon. But you don't have to travel that far to see the fragments for yourself. Check out these rare fossilized meteorites on display in Stanley Field Hall until the end of January. Don't worry if you miss them this winter—the fossil meteorites will be back later this year in a more permanent display. ITF WINTER/SPRING 2015 Seriously Cool: Programs for Teens By Eduarda Briseno, Public Programs Manager and Eve Gaus, Digital Learning Manager THIS SUMMER, THE FIELD MUSEUM WILL OFFER MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INQUISITIVE TEENS TO FOSTER THEIR CURIOSITY. A range of programs, tailored to specific interests, provide a great way for students to meet an engaged peer group and explore career options in museums and science. Students can go behind the scenes and meet members of the exhibitions and scientific staff. They can also investigate permanent and temporary exhibitions while interacting with the public. FIELD MUSEUM / ERIN MCHUGH SUMMER TEEN WORKSHOPS In these intensive programs, teens explore the natural and cultural sciences with Museum staff and learn about the Museum’s various scientific research projects. Students then work in small groups to create digital media projects about scientific discoveries happening at The Field. Open to students ages 12 to 18. TEENS@THEFIELD After receiving training from Museum staff, teens interact with and educate the public about science at The Field. Students convey scientific concepts to Museum visitors through hands-on carts—showcasing specimens and artifacts—or engage families with young children in the Crown Family PlayLab. Open to students ages 14 to 19 who have completed at least one year of high school, this program meets Illinois service learning requirements. FIELD MUSEUM / EDUCATION GN92004_079D / JOHN WEINSTEIN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS Teens explore the Museum’s collections and research areas and then tinker and experiment in the Digital Studio. Students can create interactive books, 3D design projects, and computer-based games based on the scientific concepts they learned while exploring behind-the-scenes areas of The Field. Open to students 14 to 18. YOUTH COUNCIL For teens looking to dive more deeply into the museum world, Youth Council is the answer. Open to students who have participated in at least one other teen program at The Field, Youth Council is a yearlong commitment for teens seeking to make an impact on the Museum. Applications open in late summer, after students complete their summer programs. ITF It’s not too early to think about summer teen programs! The application process opens January 16. For more information, visit fieldmuseum.org/at-the-field/teens. 8 IN THE FIELD a Z =) (UL. — ze =) Z Zz — LU ae ke ‘weiBoid siji6 Bulyoyew e sey s9A0|dwe INOA }1 99s 0} $yy16-BHuryszew/ys0ddns/610° winssnwipjaly MMM SIA pue 1J16 INOA Jo JOedWU! By] Bjqnog “‘BUIAID PoUuUR|g }NOGe UOI}eELUIOJU! ALU PUSS ased|q [) 9 JeuONIppe ue oye O} a>|I| PjNOM pue puny jenuuY ey] Voddns AjjuaNS any/| J $ 110 ( 666$-00S$ isijesnyeN plaid a) 6v7$-L$ JoynqiujUuoD plel4 () 66v'7$—-000'L$ Ja10|dxq plal4 667$-0SZ$ Jainjuanpy pjal4 () aio pue 0QG‘Z$ unoy ,siapuno4 ‘JaAe] Buimojjo}s Gy} YE puny jenuuy eu} 0} UOINGIUJUOD e Buljew Aq diyssaquiaw ino/AW puoheg Wnesn|\ Pje!4 e4y{ Woddns 0} aI] Ppj|nom a/j/| ‘sioddns pun diysiaujind snog sof nok yuvyL, ‘volqnInpa puv ‘SqIGIyxa ‘YoIvasad WNasnY plal{ ulpysns sdjay pun{ jonuuy ay 04 Wfib y Deep Dive: Discovering Diversity on the Ocean Floor | By Janet R. Voight, PhD, MacArthur Associate Curator, Invertebrates, Science @ Education | IF A TREE FLOATS OUT INTO THE OPEN OCEAN, FAR AWAY FROM THE COAST—THEN SINKS—WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? Once on the dark, cold seafloor, the tree seems as out of place as a whale in a forest. My research focuses on a diverse, deep-sea ecosystem that relies on the wood of dead trees for survival. This entire aquatic community requires that wood be eaten, digested, and converted into energy that marine animals.can use. Deep-sea xylophagaid bivalves (wood-boring, two-shelled mollusks) consume wood to live. These clams scrape wood with-their toothed shells and then digest the shavings. Bacteria living on their gills provide the necessary chemical to transform wood into food. (Don't try this yourself; humans can’t digest wood!) The marine clams perform a vital task: releasing energy that would otherwise remain locked in the sunken, dead trees on the ocean floor—an area of the planet where consumable energy for organisms is scarce. GN91500_103D / JOHN WEINSTEIN These ecosystem-building bivalves are themselves surprisingly diverse, with as many as four species found in a single length of wood. Perhaps living head-down in a blind hole doesn’t sound like much of a life, but Scientist Spotlight: these bivalves are incredibly important. Without them, an entire ecosystem J = anet R. Voight would not survive. Larval clams (less than 0.02 inches in diameter) continually find By Christine Thom, Science Writer spots to settle and then dig holes into the As a scientist who studies the biology wood themselves. These miniscule clams and ecology of the deep sea, Janet attract predators like flat worms and R. Voight, PhD, considers 1,000 meters sea stars. Although these creatures may Belcin con Ievelto be shallow water not seem as terrifying as a T. rex, they The recipient of numerous grants, Janet's must be scary to tiny clams who can fieldwork includes 21 research cruises Rene racunpaorinice! and eight Alvin (Deep Submergence JANET R. VOIGHT For a decade, I've used various methods— Vehicle) dives. After receiving a BS from deep-sea submersibles to robotic submarines—to recover wood from in biology from lowa State University, the seafloor along with the diverse inhabitants that form a dazzling array Janet attended the University of Arizona, of invertebrate life. The specimens that | bring back from these expeditions Tucson, for graduate school. There, are revealing much about this dark, underwater environment that, until she found her calling to study life in the recently, remained hidden and relatively unknown, even to scientists. 1TF oceans, specifically octopuses. After receiving her doctorate in 1990, Janet joined the staff of The Field Museum and has been discovering new things IELD ENCOU NTERS about octopuses and other marine Want to learn more about scientific research at The Field Museum? invertebrates and their deep-sea See back cover for details. environment ever since. WINTER/SPRING 2015 9 10 IN THE FIELD GN92050_083AD GREG MERCER GN92050_057AD GN92050_053BD / JOHN WEINSTEIN SPRING BREAK IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT THE FIELD MUSEUM. WITH SO MANY EXCITING THINGS TO SEE AND DO, WHERE DO YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY? HERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM IN THE FIELD’S EDITORIAL TEAM TO HELP YOU ORGANIZE YOUR VISIT. Say hello to old friends Two displays in iconic Stanley Field Hall have recently received facelifts: the African elephants and the Haida totem poles. Learn new things about these old friends through updated interpretation and engaging digital graphics. Take the road less traveled In addition to big blockbuster exhibitions, The Field Museum offers an engaging slate of smaller temporary shows this spring, including Madagascar, Into the Bat Caves of Kenya, Bunky Echohawk: Modern Warrior, and Lichens. Great things DO come in small packages! © VELIZAR SIMEONOVSKI ROBERT LUCKING A11506D_011A / JOHN WEINSTEIN See things in a new light This spring, The Field Museum presents two big exhibitions that shatter long-held misconceptions. Both Vikings and Vodou: Sacred Powers of Haiti take a fresh look at misunderstood subjects through stunning objects, gorgeous images, and compelling narratives. © SWEDISH HISTORY MUSEUM (ABOVE) © CANADIAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY Prepare to be awestruck The Field Museum’s state-of-the-art 3D Theater sponsored by Ernst & Young offers four movies that bring science to life. Don’t miss Waking the T. rex 3D: The Story of SUE, where movie-goers come face-to-face with this roaring, earthshaking, prehistoric beast! Fuel your explorations The Field Bistro and the Explorer Café offer great food in a sustainable way. After enjoying a healthy meal, you'll feel good knowing that both restaurants extend The Field Museum's D3D CINEMA conservation mission with a focus on energy and water conservation, waste reduction—including composting—and improved air quality. 1TF ARAMAK ARAMAK WINTER/SPRING 2015 11 12 Societal Shifts: Excavating Oaxaca’s Ancient Cities By Ronald K. Faulseit, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow and Gary M. Feinman, PhD, MacArthur Curator of Mesoamerican, Central American, and East Asian Anthropology ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH CAN INFORM HOW WE UNDERSTAND THE EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF HUMAN SOCIETIES HAPPENING TODAY. Throughout history, civilizations have experienced cycles of growth, collapse, and reorganization. Some of these cyclical patterns are well documented in historical writings, such as the rise and fall of the British Empire. But for prehistoric societies, scientists often rely on clues provided through the archaeological record to determine the origins, scale, and resilience of past human social networks. With the help of our colleague Linda Nicholas, we (Ronald “Sonny” Faulseit, PhD, and Gary Feinman, PhD) are investigating the rise and fall of communities in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, both during and after the collapse of Monte Alban, the capital of the region for more than a thousand years between 500 BC and AD 850. Scientist Spotlight: Sonny Faulseit By Christine Thom, Science Writer Ronald “Sonny” Faulseit, PhD, received an MS in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame and later returned to school to pursue his lifelong interest in archaeology. As a doctoral student at Tulane University, Sonny directed excavations in the Oaxaca Valley of Mexico and corresponded with The Field Museum’s Gary Feinman, PhD, which eventually led to his current two-year postdoctoral fellowship. In his position, Sonny is organizing a colloquium series designed to stimulate integrative research dialogues between Field Museum scientists. DIN ais UD) RONALD K. FAULSEIT With support from a National Science Foundation senior research grant and a postdoctoral fellowship at The Field Museum, Sonny is directing a mapping and excavation program this spring at the site of Dainzu-Macuilxdchitl to continue an investigation of the changes and continuities in ritual life, economic prosperity, and settlement patterns during and after Monte Alban’s decline. In collaboration with Gary’s and Linda’s investigations at the site of Lambityeco, just a few kilometers away, Our goal is to examine which political, social, and economic strategies and practices endured—as well as which others changed—during this dynamic era. So far, our findings suggest that changes in external trading networks promoted competition for resources in the Oaxaca Valley. This led to a shift in power that ultimately destabilized Monte Alban’s ruling elite and eroded their influence over other centers. Our research program also harnesses The Field Museum's laboratory resources, incorporating chemical analysis of artifacts made from ceramics, including effigy vessels from the Museum's Zapotec collections (currently on display in The Ancient Americas). These studies probe and define networks of economic exchange in Mesoamerica at local, regional, and “global” levels. This “big picture” approach increases our understanding of the dynamic shifts that occurred in communities across the Valley of Oaxaca during this time period and informs how we understand changing societies today. 1TF High status individuals in Zapotec society honored their ancestors by placing elaborate ceramic urns inside their tombs. Museum researchers will conduct chemical analysis on selected Zapotec urns to help determine their original contents. FIELD MUSEUM / ANTHROPOLOGY 16.6 cm onpep Xe} UO!}NG!4JUOS 941]Ue a4} Huly IUsi : “snowAuoue aq 0} 1416 USIM NOA JI aJay }D9YO esea|d TIWW-4 Ssidyd # YAGWAW AWVN :BUIMO]JO} BU} 929|/dWIOD asea|d J1Vd ‘dX3 N LNNOOOV sseidxg uediewy (} Jeaoosig () pseogisisey) () esiA () :Aw abseyo eseald | LLLL'G99'CLE “uInasny\| pjal4 eu, Oo} ajqeAed apew yOeyUD [) ‘edAy juawiAed punjjenuue/6i0 wnasnupjelp MMM ANOHd A@ YO ANIINO 3LNSIYLNOD OSTV AVW NOA ¢ JO UOIING!4}U09 4no/AW Ss! pasojouy a lige | NO POSTAGE re F1eld : Museum | the Annual F NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUS EPL AIL FIRST-CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 7401 ICAGO, ILLINOIS POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE THE FIELD MUSEUM The Annual Fund — 40308 1400 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago IL 60605-9907 Fishing for Fossils in Wyoming By Emily Graslie, Chief Curiosity Correspondent LAST SUMMER, THE BRAIN SCOOP TEAM JOINED FIELD MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGIST AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST Lance Grande, PhD, fossil preparator Akiko Shinya, and Collections Manager Jim Holstein on a “fishing” expedition in Wyoming. The catch? A “boatload” of 52-million-year-old fossils from the early Eocene epoch, excavated from a quarry that has turned up everything from the remains of freshwater turtles and 13-foot crocodiles to pregnant stingrays. Pictured above: Spiny-finned teleost fish and stingray. GE0O86416_112D / DOV SCHER Jim Holstein (left) and Lance Grande (right) use saws to cut limestone slabs containing fossils. TOM MCNAMARA Lance and various team members have returned each season to Kemmerer, Wyoming, for decades, but scientists and collectors have been finding fossils in this region for about 150 years. The location's ideal conditions for fossilization and excavation provide a reliable source of material for the Museum and Lance’s research program. A light-colored limestone layer about 18 inches thick is bookended by thin, oil-rich “capping-layers” which have prevented groundwater from weathering away the fossil-rich limestone in between. This fossil-rich zone—called the “18-inch layer”—is about 16 to 20 inches thick, yet it represents tens of thousands of years in time. Entire life cycles of certain fishes are caught frozen in limestone, from their larval stages through adulthood. “BRAIN SCOOP ~= Emily Graslie, YouTube personality and the Museum’s first-ever Chief Curiosity Correspondent, In order to search for fossil fishes, as well as fossil plants and other animals, we carefully pried the limestone layers apart with knife-like tools, similar to turning pages in a heavy book. Each time we lifted a new slab, we held it at an angle so the sun could catch traces of relief; a shadow was cast across the surface if a fossil was hiding underneath the fine surface layer. With every “page turning” we reached a brief moment of suspense, wondering which slab would next reveal a fossil that hadn't seen the light of day in tens of millions of years. You can see many remarkable examples of fossils collected from the Kemmerer, Wyoming, region in the Museum’s Evolving Planet exhibition. For more information about the context of these fossils, read Lance's book The Lost World of Fossil Lake: Snapshots from Deep Time available for sale in the Museum Stores and on Amazon. ITF hosts the popular web series The Brain Scoop. To see videos of Emily’s fossil-hunting expedition in Wyoming, check out youtube.com/thebrainscoop and facebook.com/TheBrainScoop. WINTER/SPRING 2015 14 THE CHICAGO REGION IS HOME TO MORE THAN 157 MILLION TREES. COLLECTIVELY, THESE TREES REMOVE NEARLY 25,000 TONS OF POLLUTANTS FROM OUR AIR EVERY YEAR. For this reason—and many others— “F z 3 Z| 4 3 E | PS ~ SE By Catie Boehmer, Individual Giving Specialist The Field Museum has helped launch the Chicago Regional Trees Initiative (CRT). Field Museum scientists use satellite imagery, among other tools, to create maps of the region’s urban tree canopy. Dark green areas above show the densest tree concentrations. IN THE FIELD Led by the Morton Arboretum, the CRTI is a major campaign to study and understand Chicagoland’s tree population and identify opportunities for its collaborative management. The long-term goal is to create healthier woodland environments distributed across seven counties (Cook, DuPage, Lake Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will). Michigan Today, invasive plant species (Such as buckthorn and honeysuckle) threaten Chicagoland’s urban forests, while trees that once dominated the landscape prior to human settlement—namely oak and hickory—have become less abundant. These conditions make urban woodlands vulnerable; forests dominated by a single tree species face increased risk with the onset of climate change and the destructive forces of parasites, such as the emerald ' z £ ash borer beetle. As a result, many local communities face the possibility 7 2 x Ss of nearly treeless streets and degraded forests. < = Enter The Field Museum's Science Action team and Mark Johnston, geographic information manager. Using a combination of satellite imagery, Ea on-the-ground surveys, and 3D elevation data, Mark's team creates REGIONAL : i , ; é i sheer TREES interactive online maps which paint a more accurate picture of the region's INITIATIVE urban tree canopy—and help identify potential problems. “We're looking at seven counties, hundreds of plots to survey and map—both on the ground and aerially—its a huge quantity of information to analyze and consolidate,” explains Mark. The CRT will use this information to increase and diversify tree populations, combat invasive species, and strengthen and update reporting and mapping tools. “The Field Museum is critical to the foundation of CRTI,” says Lydia Scott, community trees program manager at the Morton Arboretum. “We need to understand our forest composition to make informed decisions about their care, diversity, and where efforts should be expended. The Field is helping us map and understand this information, so that it will be available in a format easily accessible to decision makers.” ITF iSTOCK.COM/NAZDRAVIE (TOP OF PAGE) ju bE fon < Zz S = Zz ) | the Chicago Park District. TU Council Agency. 7: WINTER/SPRING 2015 ART AND SCIENCE SPOTLIGHT @ Crown Family PlayLab Listen to storytellers, sing with musicians, and create with artists in the Crown Family PlayLab. Programs include: Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival (1.17); Connections to Collections: Objects Tell Stories (2.21); Viking Games (3.21); and, Plants of the World (4.18). For children ages 6 and under. FREE January 17 / February 21 / March 21 / April 18 / 11am-2pm FAMILIES se e CULTURAL MATERIAL: 3D Objects tell stories. Learn how Museum researchers use 3D technologies to preserve objects and the stories they tell. Experience working in 3D software and design your own 3D object to be printed at the end of the program. FREE and open to teens ages 14-18 with a valid school or state ID. February 25-April 1 / 4:30-6:30pm TEENS IN THE FIELD BIODIVERSITY ARCADE Like playing video games? Join us this winter as we design video games about life on Earth! We'll explore The Field Museum's collections and research on the evolutionary tree of life. Teens will learn to code in Scratch and program what they learn about Field Museum science into a biodiversity video game. FREE and open to teens ages 14-18 with a valid school or state ID. January 14-February 18 / 4:30-6:30pm TEENS DOZIN’ WITH THE DINOS Spend the night at The Field Museum! Overnights are held on select Fridays from 5:45pm to Yam the following morning for families with children ages 6-12 years old. Tickets for the 2015 season are on sale now. Standard Overnight: $63, $55 members/groups Premium Package 1: $76, $66 members Premium Package 2 with Tour: $88, $78 members January 16, 23 / February 6, 13 / March 6, 20, 27 / April 10, 18* / May 8 FAMILIES *Saturday from 5:45pm to gam Sunday morning DINO CAMP 2015 I spy a dinosaur! Do you? Dino Camp is an early childhood camp designed expressly for young explorers ages 3-4 with their caregivers. Tickets are on sale now. $76, $67 members 1 Tuesdays / June 2 + 9 / 9-11:30am 2 Wednesdays / June 3 +10 / 9-11:30am 3 Tuesdays / June 16 +23 / 9-11:30am 4 Wednesdays / June 17 + 24 / 9-11:30am FAMILIES SUMMER WORLD’S TOUR Summer World's Tour offers a week of adventures in Chicago's premier museums for children entering kindergarten through fifth grade in the fall of 2015. Please visit www.adlerplanetarium.org/camps to register starting February 3 at 10am. $305, $275 members 1 Mon-Fri / July 6-10 / 9am-3pm 2 Mon-Fri / July 13-17 /9am-3pm 3 Mon-Fri / July 20-24 / 9am-3pm 4 Mon-Fri / July 27-31 / 9Iam-3pm FAMILIES PROGRAM TICKETS + INFO 312.665.7400 For event details, program registration, and to explore the Museum's MEMBERSHIP full events calendar, please visit fieldmuseum.org/at-the-field. 312.665.7700 SUMMER TEEN VOLUNTEERS HOP TO IT AT THE FIELD CONNECTIONS TO COLLECTIONS: Summer teen volunteers commit to one day Taste The Field Bistro’s latest craft beer, Objects tell stories. What's your story? per week between June 15 and August 17 learn more about brewing and its history The unique objects in the Museum’s collection and interact with the public in the Museum’s from Museum scientists and local brewers, tell the stories of the world, but they also have exhibition halls and the Crown Family PlayLab. and see beer-related artifacts from the behind- the power to tell our own personal stories. Interested candidates must complete an the-scenes collections. Tickets include two Take a sneak peek at the upcoming permanent online application form. Application deadline pints of The Field’s new beer, food pairings exhibition, Cyrus Tang Hall of China, to examine is Friday, March 13. For more information, from The Field Bistro, and a Hop To It pint glass some of its featured objects up close and email teens@fieldmuseum.org. for guests to take home with them. share what they mean to you. FREE $35, $30 members June 15-August 17 Saturday / February 21 / 10am-2pm For dates and details, visit Museum website. TEENS ADULTS ADULTS CHECAGO <-> INTERNATIONAL PUPP ST THEATER Ts O FESTIVAL MINECRAFT @ THE MUSEUM THE HOT MIX DANCE PARTY CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL What exhibition would you like to add to The Join SUE the T. rex for a night of old school PUPPET THEATER FESTIVAL Field Museum? Explore the world of Minecraft house parties! Presented by The Field Museum Take a magical journey through the Museum and create an exhibition you think is missing and V103, the evening features an all-star as Jabberwocky Marionettes hosts “Open from the Museum. FREE and open to teens lineup, including Scott Smokin’ Silz (Original Mic Puppets” featuring local puppeteers ages 14-18 with a valid school or state ID. Hot Mix 5), Andre Hatchett (Chosen Few), Terry performing family-focused puppet shows. March 19-May 20 / 4:30-6:30pm Hunter (Chosen Few), Maurice Ice Culpepper See Rich in Tradition Chinese Shadow Puppets (V103), and Steve “Miggidy” Maestro. VIP by renowned New York-based Chinese EEN S Packages and food and beverages available. Theater Works. FREE For dates and details, visit Museum website. Supported by The Chicago Community Trust. ADOLIS Saturday / January 17 / 11am-3pm FAMILIES WINTER/SPRING 2015 19 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE useum ge CHICAGO, IL 1400 South Lake Shore Drive PERMIT NO. 2309 Chicago, IL 60605-2496 IELD ENCOUNTERS All Annual Fund supporters can now opt Depending on your level of support, you may choose into.the brand new Field Encounters program! up to three Field Encounters: Tailored to your interests, Encounters offers unique e Field Adventurers ($250-$499) = one encounter opportunities to learn more about your favorite Field Museum e Field Naturalists ($500-$999) = up to two encounters topics—while supporting scientific research and public outreach. e Field Explorers ($1,000-$2,499) = up to three encounters Choose from three different Encounters subject areas: To learn more about Field Encounters or to make your e Anthropology gift to the Annual Fund, call 312.665.7777 or visit e Creatures + the Environment fieldmuseum.org/encounters. e Exhibitions + Public Learning From Villages to Cities: An Archaeological Encounter On May 2, join us for an archaeological adventure! In conjunction with Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, a research center and “living classroom” located in southwestern Colorado, The Field Museum presents From Villages to Cities: An Archaeological Encounter. In this day-long symposium, Field scientists and Crow Canyon researchers will present seminars on anthropological and archaeological topics ranging from pueblo community dynamics to the evolution of trade. Annual Fund donors who opt in for the Anthropology Encounters (see above) are invited to register for this symposium free of charge. Field Museum donors and members may register at a discounted fee for the day-long session. For more information, contact Erica Osterloo at 312.665.7593 or eosterloo@fieldmuseum.org. ITF Connect with The Field Museum online! Ei ca > | PHOTO COURTESY WWW.CROWCANYON.ORG