E FIELD MUSEUM UMMER 2012 % DIANE ALEXANDER WHITE Blustery, windy days have turned into sunshine and blue skies as we welcome the arrival of summer. Escape the heat with friends and family this summer by spending a day exploring The Field Museum. We have had an exciting year thus far, opening exhibitions on a variety of subjects from mummies to a Mongolian ruler—and now, extreme mammals! Explore the ancestry and evolution of extinct and living mammals in our new exhibition, Extreme Mammals (opening May 25). Discover an astounding variety of animal fossils and reconstructions from a 200-ton whale to a tiny, now-extinct mammal weighing slightly more than one gram. Everyone is sure to learn something new. See pages 4 and 5 fora preview of the fascinating animals featured in the exhibition and pages 10 and 11 for a look at our scientists’ favorite extreme mammals! And don't forget to visit Genghis Khan (page 14) before it closes September 3. The exhibition's look inside the life of the 13th century Mongolian ruler offers intriguing videos, recreated scenes, and the largest collection of Mongolian artifacts assembled outside of Asia. While new exhibitions are exciting, our long-loved permanent exhibitions are always an essential part of a visit. Whether a first-time visitor to The Field or a seasoned member, use our summer visitor's guide of “must sees” (page 6) to help plan a fun-filled trip. As always we thank you for your continued support and hope to see you soon. MICHELLE CLAYTON Director of Membership Nature’s Toolbox: Contemporary Art with a Scientific Message By Libby Pokel-Hung, Exhibition Developer YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO SEE CONTEMPORARY ART AT THE FIELD MUSEUM, BUT ZOOLOGY CURATOR JOHN BATES, PHD, POINTS OUT THAT, “ONE OF OUR PRIMARY GOALS AS A MUSEUM IS COMMUNICATING SCIENCE. ART CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL FOR DOING JUST THAT.” Bates is co-curating Nature’s Toolbox: Biodiversity, Art, and Invention along with Peggy Macnamara, The Field Museum’s artist-in-residence. This exhibition looks at biodiversity through the eyes of artists, bringing together sculpture, illustration, photography, and video inspired by nature’s diversity. It also examines how biodiversity positively effects our lives as humans. Opening on May 22—the International Architect Vincent Callebaut shows how Day for Biological Diversity—the exhibition Amazon lily pads provide models for builds on the themes of the Gary C. Comer new housing structures designed to meet Family Gallery: environmental sustainability, the future challenges of climate change. conservation of biodiversity, and climate change. Throughout, brief labels provide comments from Museum scientists about the ways in which the exhibited works of art connect to scientific research. In artist Isabella Kirkland’s NOVA series, COURTESY OF FEATURE INC., NEW YORK fantastical images of plants and animals “ ,, 4 5 4: COURTESY OF VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES, PARIS share a common trait: each species is new to science, discovered only within the last two decades. And while you may know that birds and bees do it, lsabella Rossellini—aided by Donna Keiko Ozawa’s sculptures—created entirely from wood chopsticks— paper props and puppets—reveals the recall spiny sea urchins or haystacks. Ozawa’s work references her Japanese diverse ways deer, ducks, and starfish heritage, but also calls attention to the astonishing number of trees reproduce in her Green Porno video series. harvested for disposable chopsticks. Nature’s Toolbox is produced by Art Works for Change, an organization that employs contemporary art to start conversations Clockwise from above: about social and environmental issues. Isabella Kirkland, NOVA: Canopy, 2011 The Field Museum is the inaugural venue Vincent Callebaut, View of the Monaco Bay fromthe Series tahyoadeAlcloanteecopolisior for Nature’s Toolbox—see it before it closes Climate Refugees, Oceans of the World, 2008 on December 4, 2012! rtF Tse Beliaiossel tuppeeirali tne Art Works for Change presents Nature’s Toolbox: Green Porno Serles, 2009 Biodiversity, Art, and Invention, with generous support from: The Nathan Cummings Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; The Adobe Foundation; and the Sprint Foundation, SUMMER 2012 3 4 IN THE FIELD EXTREME MAMMALS WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO the surprising and often extraordinary world of extinct and living mammals. From mammals that hunted and ate dinosaurs (Repenomamus) to mammals that weigh less than a one dollar bill (Batodonoides vanhouteni) you'll be amazed at the variety of animals all related to you! Take a look below to get a sneak peek of some of the amazing creatures you'll meet inside Extreme Mammals. Ve Nia By Emily Waldren, Editor © AMNH/D, FINNIN BATODONOIDES VANHOUTENI The smallest mammal that ever lived, Batodonoides vanhouteni, was so small it could have perched on a pencil and weighed less than a one dollar bill! This tiny mammal lived approximately 50 million years ago in what is now Wyoming and is related to modern shrews and moles. The smallest mammal alive today is the bumblebee bat, which is only slightly larger than Batodonoides. INDRICOTHERIUM Indricotherium, an herbivore that lived in the forests of central Asia between 34 and 23 million years ago, is the largest land mammal ever discovered. A fully grown adult weighed up to 20 tons—the weight of three or four African elephants, the largest living land mammals today! Because of its size, Indricotherium needed massive amounts of vegetation to survive, and as the central Asian forests were replaced by grasslands, this massive mammal suffered and eventually became extinct. PLATYPUS Some mammals have evolved extreme ways of protecting themselves. This platypus may look harmless, but it carries a secret © AMNH / D. FINNIN weapon. The male platypus is one of just a few mammals to produce venom. Spurs on its hindfeet are connected to the gland that produces © AMNH/R. MICKENS the platypus’ venom. While not lethal to humans, the venom is deadly to smaller animals. MACRAUCHENIA One of the oddest looking mammals that ever lived is the extinct South American large-hoofed Macrauchenia. The Macrauchenia seems to be a combination of several mammals we know today— it had a camel-like body, a giraffe-like neck, and a flexible trunk, similar to that of an elephant. Organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada; and Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Major Sponsor: Discover pening May 25 t SHORT-BEAKED ECHIDNA © AMNH /D. FINNIN specialized patches. PROBOSCIS MONKEY © AMNH / D. FINNIN Native to Tasmania and New Guinea, the short-beaked echidna is amonotreme. Unlike most other mammals, monotremes never evolved live birth, so they instead lay eggs. While monotremes do produce milk for their young, they lack nipples; instead, their milk comes out of special ducts of the mammary glands onto © AMNH/D. FINNIN The endangered proboscis monkey lives on the coasts and near rivers in Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The nose of a male can grow up to seven inches and is believed to attract females, making it one of many mammals that show startling differences between sexes, often to attract mates. ITF SUMMER 2012 5 6 GEO86500_037D/ KAREN CARR Evolving Planet Take a journey through four billion years of life on planet Earth. Evolving Planet showcases evolution through an amazing diversity of specimens selected from the Museum's collections. See “Morgy,” one of the first known mammals that walked with the dinosaurs; “Tully,” the unusual sea creature and official state fossil of Illinois; and “Lucy,” the earliest known hominid and the “mother of humankind.” Learn the essentials of evolution through engaging animated videos that make science fun. Evolving Planet is made possible by Kenneth and Anne Griffin. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust is the generous sponsor of Evolving Planet’s Genius Hall of Dinosaurs. The Ancient Americas The Ancient Americas takes you on a journey through 12,000 years of human history in the Western Hemisphere. Walk beside Ice Age hunters and woolly mammoths. Visit ancient villagers who produced beautiful pottery and textiles—and deadly weapons. Explore sophisticated cities that rivaled those in Europe. Along the way, investigate questions about human societies: How were plants and animals domesticated? Is warfare inevitable? Why do some societies collapse while others last for millennia? GN90960_002CD / JOHN WEINSTEIN The Ancient Americas is made possible by the McCormick Foundation. Abbott Hall of Conservation: Restoring Earth How do Field Museum scientists put “science into action?” Visit the Museum’s newest permanent exhibition, Restoring Earth, and journey across the globe GN91147_013AD / JOHN WEINSTEIN through larger-than-life videos. Learn the roles of Museum scientists in studying, By Franck Mercurio, Associate Editor, In The Field SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME TO VISIT The Field Museum. In addition to temporary exhibitions like Extreme Mammals and Genghis Khan, you can experience the Museum's engaging permanent exhibitions. Step inside the Museum’s exhibition halls and (re)discover the world of science! DNA Discovery Center DNA contains the building blocks of life; itis the thread that connects every living thing on Earth, from bacteria to birds and hydrangeas to humans. Take a peek behind the scenes and learn from Museum scientists as they analyze DNA from thousands of specimens in the Pritzker DNA Laboratory. View videos and play interactives to better understand the science behind DNA. The DNA Discovery Center is generously supported by the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation. GN91573_041D / JOHN WEINSTEIN protecting, and conserving the Earth's biodiversity and diversity of human cultures. Rounding out the experience are engaging interactives and beautifully designed displays of flora, fauna, and human-made objects from the Museum’s permanent collections. Abbott Hall of Conservation Restoring Earth is made possible through the generosity of Abbott. IN THE FIELD cience AFTER SPENDING TIME AT THE FIELD, why not explore science in the great outdoors? The Museum Campus, Grant Park, Northerly Island, and even downtown Chicago provide opportunities to put “science into action.” Here are activities suggested by Museum staff: © iSTOCKPHOTO.COM / RIVERNORTHPHOTOGRAPHY Discovering Native Plants: William Burger (Emeritus Curator, Botany), sees Grant Park as an example of how humans use plants “to enhance our environment and our lives.” E NEISH A further enhancement is the use of native plants in landscape design. Becky Schillo (Conservation Ecologist, ECCo) recently created a native plant garden outside the Museum's north entrance in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. The garden contains wildflowers and grasses specially adapted to the local soil and climate conditions—it also attracts native @ iSTOCKPHOTO.COM/ LA birds and insects, supporting the local ecology. Take a walk to the native plant garden and see what types of flowers and insects you can identify. Bird Watching on Northerly Island: Doug Stotz (Senior Conservation Ecologist, Fossil Hunting on Michigan Avenue: ECCo) recommends Northerly Island as Quarried in Indiana, Salem Limestone (also known a great place to birdwatch. A short walk as Bedford Limestone) was used to construct east of the Museum Campus, Northerly many of Chicago’s historic buildings. Paul Mayer Island features both prairie and shoreline (Collections Manager, Geology) says this stone habitats and attracts a wide variety of birds is over 340 million years old and was formed from including species that breed and nest the shells of marine creatures that once lived during the summer season: song sparrows, in a warm, shallow sea that covered much of the savannah sparrows, dickcissels, and Midwest. Evidence of these animals are preserved eastern king birds. In July, many shore © iSTOCKPHOTO.COM / JIM JURICA as fossils in large limestone deposits. After visiting birds—notably killdears and spotted the Museum, go to the Magnificent Mile and see sandpipers—begin their migration back if you can find brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids, north to Northerly Island. Don’t forget to and trilobites embedded in the Michigan Avenue bring your binoculars, field guide, and Bridge and the Chicago Tribune Tower. rTF logbook to record your sightings. Want to make a contribution to science? Then participate in the “School of Ants” Visit the website www.schoolofants.org to learn project this summer on your own or with how to collect ants and send them to the School of Ants your school class. Dr. Corrie Moreau, zoology research facility where they will be analyzed and mapped, curator and ants specialist, is leading this giving us a better understanding of which ant species national “citizen-scientist study” for Chicago. are inhabiting which locales throughout the U.S. © ALEX WILD SUMMER 2012 7 Images of the Afterlife: Facing the Ancient Egyptians By Sarah Sargent, Exhibition Developer THE RECENT EXHIBITION Opening the Vaults: Mummies featured CT scanning technology that revealed new information about The Field Museum’s mummy collection. Its companion exhibition, Images of the Afterlife, opens June 8 and goes a step further; in this smaller exhibition, CT scans of Egyptian mummies are used to produce realistic portraits of people who lived and died thousands of years ago. Curated by Dr. Robert Martin, A. Watson Armour II! Curator of Biological Anthropology, the exhibition allows visitors to come face to face with two of the Museum's mummies. Using CT scanning technology, Museum staff created incredibly detailed images of mummy skulls without unwrapping them. Examinations of the scans revealed that one skull belonged to a teenaged boy and the other to a woman in her forties. A local firm, Paradigm, used a process called stereolithography—passing a laser through resin in minute layers— to create three-dimensional replicas of these skulls from the CT scans. Resin skull replicas were then shipped to Atelier Daynés in Paris, a studio famous for facial reconstructions including one of King Tut. Using the skull replicas, artist Elisabeth Daynés will reconstruct the faces of the woman A110657C / RON TESTA and the boy. The two mummies, the scans, and the portraits will serve as the center- pieces of Images of the Afterlife. These objects will be joined by Elisabeth Daynés’ reconstruction of the head of King Tut, recently purchased by The Field Museum. An interactive allowing visitors to virtually explore a mummy will also be on display. 1TF J.P. BROWN / THE FIELD MUSEUM Combining Science + Art Elisabeth Daynés’ realistic reconstructions of ancient people are famous the world over, and are shown in many museums. Daynés works from skull casts and replicated bones. Starting with the skeleton, she builds up layers of muscle and skin to produce a life-like sculpture. In addition to Images of the Afterlife, The Field Museum also features her reconstruction of the early human Lucy in Evolving Planet. ® PHOTO AND RECONSTITUTION: ELISABETH DAYNES PARIS 8 IN THE FIELD FRESHWAT Eh FSH OETUWAN IMAGES: THE FIELD MUSEUM / EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Badge Day at The Field: A New Program for Boy Scouts By Lindsey Snyder, Public Programs Coordinator THE FIELD MUSEUM’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT has unveiled anew program for Boy Scouts entitled Badge Day at The Field. This program was first piloted last fall and reached nearly 800 Scouts and parents; it offers Scouts the opportunity to earn all of the requirements for specific badges by completing a full day of activities on a Saturday at the Museum. Badge Day at The Field offers several badges for Scouts to earn. They include Mammal Study, Indian Lore, Geology, and Environmental Science. Scouts will be able to engage in a range Saturdays of hands-on and interactive experiences to receive their badges including scavenger hunts, 9am-3pm behind-the-scenes tours with Field Museum scientists, and conducting science experiences. For example, in order to earn the Environmental Science Badge, Scouts will explore Museum exhibitions and research animals to become an expert on an endangered animal such as an American bison, whooping crane, gray wolf, or California condor. Afterwards, Scouts will use the results of their research to create their own mini-exhibition, which will be put on September 22 public display for Museum visitors to enjoy. October 6 Due to the successes of the pilot, the Museum is hosting six Badge Day at The Field events October 20 this fall, between the months of September and December (left). Tickets will become November 3 available beginning in July and are $25 per Scout per event, and $5 per chaperone per event. November 17 For additional details, please visit fieldmuseum.org/happening/badge-day-field. rrr December 1 Above: Scouts become experts on an endangered species (left). Field Museum scientist shows off some amazing specimens on the behind-the-scenes tour into the Fishes division (right). SUMMER 2012 10 B, e est of the Best OUR NEWEST EXHIBITION WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME MAMMALS OF ALL TIME. BUT WHAT MAMMALS DO FIELD MUSEUM SCIENTISTS GET EXCITED ABOUT? WE ASKED THEM TO WEIGH IN AND TELL US THEIR PERSONAL FAVORITES. Compiled by Emily Waldren, Editor GN91604_09D IN THE FIELD CRABEATER SEAL MOUNT DATA SHREW RAT (LOBODON CARCINOPHAGA) (RHYNCHOMYS SORICOIDES) BILL STANLEY ANNA GOLDMAN Negaunee Collection Manager, Division of Mammals Collections Assistant, Preparator, Division of Mammals While difficult to tell you my favorite On a mountain, in a mossy forest on extreme mammal, the Crabeater seal Luzon Island in the Philippines, lives an (Lobodon carcinophaga) is right up extreme, nosey rat named the Mount there. One of the most populous Data Shrew Rat (Rhynchomys soricoides). 19D large mammals, Crabeaters live only This rat is different from most other rats GN91603 in Antarctica, and in many ways because of its affinity for earthworms. look like any other seal. But anyone who sees the teeth Its skull has evolved to have a long rostrum, or snout, greatly of this seal is stopped in their tracks. All seals in the reduced molars (in size and quantity) and needle-sharp family Phocidae have cusps on most of their cheek teeth, incisors specifically designed for consuming soft-bodied but those of the Crabeater are long so that the seals invertebrates. They construct little trails throughout the can filter feed, much like a baleen whale. They take forest floor and flick away any debris. When an earthworm a mouthful of the sea, close their teeth together to form presents itself, the Mount Data Shrew Rat will pounce on it a strainer, and push the water out using its grasshopper-like thighs, grabbing the earthworm leaving their mouth full of shrimp- with its front paws. It bites down on one end, and as if it like krill. What a mind-blowing were playing a trumpet, he takes one paw and cleans the result (and example) of evolution! dirt off the worm with one “swoosh,” then sucks the worm ABOVE: Z94335C / JOHN WEINSTEIN down its throat whole! LEFT; ©@iSTOCKPHOTO.COM /STEVE HUMPHREYS ABOVE: REBECCA BANASIAK / THE FIELD MUSEUM BELOW: DANILO S. BALETE/ THE FIELD MSUEUM FAIRY ARMADILLOS (CHLAMYPHORUS TRUNCATUS) BRUCE PATTERSON MacArthur Curator of Mammals In the rain-shadow of the Andes Mountains—in Bolivia, Paraguay, AFRICAN GIANT POUCHED RATS (CRICETOMYS) CARRIE SELTZER and Argentina—live fantastic creatures that are fittingly named “fairy armadillos.” These GN91606_21D FOO UnCoreninnalstarenecineted Resident Graduate Student, Division of Mammals to arid habitats with loose soils. They diverged from African Giant Pouched Rats (Cricetomys) don’t look the other South American armadillos roughly 32 million extreme at first glance, but these aren't “normal” years ago. The two living species have been separated rats by any definition. These rat cousins are about for 17 million years! With enormous hands (a quarter four times the weight of a typical city rat which the length of their bodies) for burrowing, they live their Pon aerameanouithoteizoro te cortontalrabbit GN91607_18D entire lives underground, feeding on soil invertebrates. The four species in the genus all have large hamster- WPIRSTEES STING AMEN SIES SES teers ToL anh PENA like cheek pouches which they stuff full of seeds and fruits to hide for SRLS Mes Fels gehinnl hells ei o Os aM Ies eh eating later. Throughout sub-Saharan Africa, they are like unintentional mantle. On exhibit today in World of Mammals, our little foresters planting trees all over the place. Easily acclimated to specimen has amazed captivity, their skillful noses benefit people and can be trained to sniff out OS aa via ios ets land mines and detect tuberculosis. Between planting trees and saving the Columbian Exposition lives, I'd say these rodents of unusual size are extremely helpful! of 1893. ABOVE, LEFT: 294580_02BD / JOHN WEINSTEIN LEFT: 294227C / MICHAEL TROPEA ABOVE, RIGHT: BILL STANLEY / THE FIELD MUSEUM MARSUPIAL SABERTOOTH (THYLACOSMILUS ATROX) WILLIAM SIMPSON Collections Manager, Fossil Vertebrates, Department of Geology Starting about 55 million years ago, there have been at least four separate lines of sabertoothed mammals. These carnivores are often cited as among the best examples of convergent evolution, or unrelated species evolving similar features. The most extreme of all these sabertooths is Thylacosmilus atrox from Argentina. It was discovered in 1926 by Field Museum’s GN91605_09D first paleontologist, Elmer Riggs, who was prospecting in rocks dated at just over six million years in age. Riggs christened his new fossil Thylacosmilus (“pouched carving knife”) because this carnivore is closely related to marsupials. Relative to the size of the skull, canines are bigger in this animal than in any other sabertooth. And unlike all the others, including sabertooth “tigers,” the huge sabers in Thylacosmilus never stopped growing—as they wore at the tip, more tooth was Created inside the skull. rte RIGHT, TOP: GEO84563C / RON TESTA RIGHT, BOTTOM; VELIZAR SIMEONOVSKI / THE FIELD MUSEUM ALL PORTRAITS: JOHN WEINSTEIN © THE FIELD MUSEUM SUMMER 2012 11 rx hk Balen oon, ro he fa eK rand \ a ts Fa SS Sap > SS ee + Es | ‘ a ( somata | 1 " ; C = d A Mogadishu 1 ) ; cr yf KENYA : D di i ecodain ral Nes r . _ Rs \,2 East Africa's Past ioe \ Manda : By Chapurukha M. Kusimba, Curator, Anthropology and ny a Meuane Sloan R. Williams, Adjunct Associate Curator, Anthropology ws Mombasa Wey ) HISTORICALLY, LIFE IN CITIES HAS BEEN ALMOST ENTIRELY DEPENDENT TANZANIA UPON PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR BASIC NECESSITIES . INCLUDING FOOD AND RAW MATERIALS. aa Zanzibar wy we _ Yet for a long time, archaeologists Ze a o g 1 g ales 2 COURTESY CHAP KUSIMBA Excavation team members Janet Monge and Chap Kusimba (back row); Sloan Williams and Samantha Cox (front row). COURTESY CHAP KUSIMBA Remains of an 11th century mihrab of the main Friday Mosque at Manda. IN THE FIELD underestimated the contributions of rural communities in the making and sustaining of urban areas. Trade and migration are major components of this urban-rural interaction and can be used to measure a city’s vitality. Our research on the Kenyan Coast centers around two ancient port towns: Manda (circa AD 800-1450) and Mtwapa (circa AD 1000-1750). Our goal is to understand the origins of the people who settled in these cities and the relationships they had with their rural neighbors and other cities in the western Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. National Science Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities funding is supporting extensive excavations of archaeological sites—both residential and mortuary—in Manda and Mtwapa. The data gleaned from this work will help us examine the history of migration in East Africa, clarify settlement dates, and better understand who these people were. To do this, we are extracting genetic material (both mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome DNA) from human remains to determine the geographic and ethnic origins of the citizens of Manda and Mtwapa both before and after colonial times. Several other outcomes are anticipated from this study including potential answers to long-standing questions about urbanism in East Africa, such as: What are the ethnic and biological identities of Swahili-speaking peoples? Who built the ancient cities of coastal East Africa? What were the cultural, technological, and biological relationships between urban and rural populations of the coast? When and in what ways did East Africa become part of the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf trading systems? These questions have potentially transformative implications for under- standing Old World relationships with Africa. Our research will likely increase the public’s awareness of the shared ancestry among Kenyans and have positive implications for Kenyan national unity. The study also opens up new avenues in interdisciplinary research and trains a new generation of American and African anthropologists. tTF This research is supported by grants from The Field Museum’s Africa Council, Irene D. Pritzker, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Filmmaking at The Field By Franck Mercurio, Associate Editor, In The Field BOTANICAL EXPLORATIONS IN FIJI. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO ENIGMATIC PRIMATES. CT SCANNING OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIES. These are just a few of the topics covered by filmmaker Federico Pardo in his role as Science Media Producer for The Field Museum. This relatively new position was created to highlight the role of the Collections In August 2011 Pardo journeyed to and Research division in furthering the Museum’s scientific mission and Mozambique on a scientific expedition increasing the Museum's public outreach via the Internet. organized by Shannon Hacket (Zoology, Division of Birds) and Julian Kerbis In his brief time at the Museum, Pardo has produced several documentaries (Zoology, Division of Mammals). While including the series of short videos “The Field Revealed” which is accessible there, he filmed the research team in on the Museum's website. This series consists mainly of two-minute videos Gorongosa National Park. The video about fascinating scientific research conducted by Museum scientists and showcases the work of Museum scientists the personal stories behind their work. in the field and their collaborations with Pardo is uniquely positioned for his local people and African scientists in job at The Field. He studied biology as conducting joint research. an undergraduate in his native Colombia, The second season of “The Field Revealed” before earning an MFA from Montana was launched this past Spring. To see State University in Science and Natural the latest films, check out the Museum’s History Filmmaking. website or the Museum's YouTube and The first film in “The Field Revealed” Vimeo channels. rtF series, Fossil Carrion Feeders, features COURTESY FEDERICO PARDO Museum zoologist Margaret Thayer and visiting student Chenyang Cai. It was Above: Federico Pardo (center) with local people in Mozambique. Top of page: Stills from two short films Fossil Carrion Feeders (left) and Field Work in Mozambique (right), THE FIELD MUSEUM an official selection at the 2011 Imagine Science Film Festival in New York City. More than 20 films were produced for “The Field Revealed” in its first season. fieldmuseum.org/explore/ the-field-revealed youtube.com/thefieldmuseum vimeo.com/fieldmuseum SUMMER 2012 13 14 From Ancient Iraq to Genghis Khan: Bow and Arrow Technology By Alan Francisco, Anthropology Collections Registrar THE GENGHIS KHAN EXHIBITION (OPEN THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3) PRESENTS MANY WEAPONS IN THE MONGOLS’ ARSENAL, INCLUDING THEIR FAMOUS BOWS © iSTOCKPHOTO.COM / ANTHONY BAGGETT IN THE FIELD AND ARROWS. THE FIELD MUSEUM’S PERMANENT COLLECTION CONTAINS OTHER EXAMPLES OF BOW AND ARROW TECHNOLOGY FROM AROUND THE WORLD. THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLING. A UBIQUITOUS TECHNOLOGY Until the invention of firearms just a few hundred years ago, the bow and arrow was the preeminent projectile weapon in almost every corner of the globe. Used in hunting and warfare, games and contests, and even in rituals, the bow was—and in some societies remains—an item of great importance. The Field Museum's Anthropology Collections contain a great number of bows, arrows, and other archery equipment, as well as depictions of the bow in use. The incredible diversity of age and places of origin of these objects reflect the bow’s worldwide significance from ancient to recent times. ANCIENT IRAQ Archaeological evidence for the use of the bow in the remote past usually exists in the form of arrowheads rather than the bow itself. This is due to the fact that wood, sinew, and other materials which comprise a bow tend to deteriorate much more rapidly than harder substances used to make the projectile point. These beautiful and well-crafted flint arrowheads (pictured left) in The Field Museum collections come from the site of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Kish in Iraq. They date to the Akkadian period (about 2350-2150 BC) and were most likely ceremonial, although their precise function Is not yet known. Field Museum researchers are exploring the possibility that Kish may have been the production center for stone arrowheads like these that are found at sites throughout the region, from Susa in Iran to Tel Brak in Syria and to the south at the famous site of Ur. These fine points were made by a technique called pressure flaking, and their serrated edges were formed by a piece of bone or antler pressed firmly against the stone to remove tiny flakes, resulting in very sharp edges. PHOTO, LEFT: A114652D_001 / JOHN WEINSTEIN PLAINS INDIANS For many of us, the bow and arrow is most readily associated with Native Americans, and in particular, the tribes of the Great Plains whose prowess at both archery and horseback riding offer a striking comparison with the Mongols. The Field Museum's outstanding North American ethnographic collections contain many examples of the centrality of the bow to Plains Indian life. In addition to the weapons themselves, there are toy bows and games that would have served not only as a form of entertainment, but as a way for young boys to hone their archery skills. This spectacular Cheyenne buffalo hide painting (pictured above) is a vivid source of information about the use of the bow in Plains warfare. The painting depicts several battles of the 1860s and 1870s. Plains warriors did not always fight on horseback. The detailed image (pictured below) shows an archer on foot seemingly facing off against a mounted opponent. The hide painting would originally have lined the inner wall of a tipi or served as a bed curtain. PHOTO, ABOVE/LEFT: A107621C_96808 / RON TESTA CSA46385 / JOHN ALDEN MASON ARCHERY IN OTHER SOCIETIES Field Museum expeditions undertaken in the early 20th century to South America, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and West Africa, produced documentary photography of contemporary cultural practices including archery. A man from Colombia’s Guajira peninsula (pictured above) provides a demonstration of the bow and arrow used by his particular society. The photo was taken by Assistant Curator John Alden Mason during the Museum's 1922-1923 Captain Marshall Field Expedition to Colombia. Mason and his colleagues collected hundreds of archaeological and ethnographic objects for the Museum, including bows and arrows like those featured here. 1TF © YU SHAN even while facing backwards. Conquering the World By Franck Mercurio, Associate Editor, In The Field The Mongol bow was arguably superior to any other in the world during the time of Genghis Khan. It could out-shoot its closest competitor, the English longbow, by 100 yards. The secret to the Mongol bow's power was in its design. The composite construction—of animal horn, sinew, and glue—made it incredibly strong and resilient. Coupled with the Mongol’s infamous “whistling” arrows (which made a terrifying screaming noise when fired by the thousands), the Mongol bow was a formidable weapon. Expert horsemanship enabled Mongol archers to shoot at their enemy while galloping on horseback— SUMMER 2012 15 In the Spotlight: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Buddha °°? ves. NEXT TIME YOU VISIT THE FIELD MUSEUM, TAKE A STROLL ALONG THE WEST MEZZANINE THROUGH THE EAST ASIA COLLECTIONS. THERE, YOU WILL FIND DAVID WHEATLEY AN EXTRAORDINARY OBJECT RESIDING IN AN UNASSUMING CORNER OF THE EXHIBITION. It is a representation of the Amida Buddha or the “Buddha of Infinite Light,” an outstanding example of Japanese religious sculpture. Besides its beautiful aesthetic qualities, this work has a remarkable provenance: it belonged, at one time, to the famous American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright's love of all things Japanese is well documented. He made his first trip to Japan in 1905 and later made several return trips to supervise construction of the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. During his sojourns, Wright collected Japanese art, most notably wood block prints by Hiroshige, Hokusai, and other important Japanese artists. In fact, Wright collected so many Japanese prints that he set-up a sideline business as an art dealer. Many of his prints now reside in museum collections across the United States. But Wright also collected other forms of Japanese art, including sculptural works like the Amida Buddha. He eventually sold this piece to the Chicago art dealer, Hisazo Nagatani, who donated the sculpture to The Field Museum in memory of his wife, Chica. At first glance, the sculpture appears to be cast in metal, but it’s actually carved from wood; its gold lacquered surface mimics the qualities of a bronze patina, a testament to the skill, devotion, and artistry of the Japanese craftsmen who produced it. Buddhism spread from China to Japan in the 6th century AD. Soon after, a distinct form of Japanese Buddhism developed called “Pure Land.” A central figure in this movement is the Amida Buddha, and artistic representations of this celestial being abound in Japan. The Frank Lloyd Wright sculpture and others like it are important components of the Museum's East Asia collections, reflecting the cultural traditions and spiritual beliefs of peoples from Japan, China, and other East Asian countries. ITF Special thanks to Alan Francisco and Deborah Bekken for their contributions to this article. PHOTO, TOP OF PAGE: PROVIDED BY THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATION PHOTO, LEFT: A114878D_012/ KAREN BEAN 16 IN THE FIELD The McCarter Fund for Science rT iia) We are pleased to announce a special endowment initiative with our Museum members. You may already know that The Field Museum's President, John McCarter, recently announced his retirement, effective this fall. In honor of his extraordinary leadership at The Field Museum as well as in the Chicago community for the past 15 years, the Board of Trustees recently launched an endowment effort that will leave a lasting legacy for scientific innovation across the Museum: The McCarter Fund for Science. For more information please contact Robin Mucha at 312.665.7285 or rmucha@fieldmuseum.org. Become an Annual Fund Donor GN91345_028D / KAREN BEAN Annual Fund donors enjoy exclusive access to Field Museum scientists, special after-hours events, and help advance our mission and broaden our reach in the community and around the world. Tax-deductible gifts ensure that our education Field Museum Memberships programs, exhibitions, research and collections continue to thrive, maintaining our position as one of the leading natural history museums in the world. Make an impact i ip? today by supporting the Annual Fund! For more information, contact Madalyn Kenney, Time to renew your membership? ee . Call 312.665.7700 Mon.—Fri., 8:30am—4:30pm Manager of Annual Giving, at 312.665.7801 or mkenney@fieldmuseum.org. d ee 2 #308 Visit fieldmuseum.org/membership Field memberships also make great gifts! The Field Trip—A Mammals Extravaganza! The President's Leadership Council invites you to join them for their annual benefit for the Education Department on Saturday, June 2. Extreme Mammals Extravaganza celebrates the opening of Extreme Mammals in a family-friendly format. Join us in Stanley Field Hall to explore this fantastic temporary exhibition in a festive party atmosphere complete with live music, a buffet dinner, scavenger hunt and a wide range of additional activities designed to engage guests of all ages. For more GN90695_03D / JOHN WEINSTEIN information or to purchase tickets, please visit fieldmuseum.org/PLC. m eee eH! pu gneighbors SHEDD AQUARIUM When was the last time you sat down with a penguin, took part in a dolphin training session, or got a kiss from a beluga whale? You haven't experienced the Shedd Aquarium until you've signed up for an Extraordinary Experience program. Tours show you Shedd staffers at work behind the scenes. Extraordinary experiences are unforgettable and make great gifts. Find out more at sheddaquarium.org. ADLER PLANETARIUM Take a journey through space to learn about orbital debris that threatens Earth in Space Junk 3D. Join the search for planets beyond our solar system in Undiscovered Worlds and come aboard a starship to experience space in Deep Space Adventure. Don't miss Adler After Dark. This 21+ event offers museum access, music, and the best view of Chicago's skyline! Visit adlerplanetarium.org for more. SUMMER 2012 17 Program Tickets + Info 312.665.7400 Dp ro Gg re General Museum Info 312.922.9410 i] june Comer Symposium* adult program 6.2, 2pm > Join us as WGN radio host John reg iste |? Williams moderates a spirited discussion f & Us am iM = ir focused on climate change solutions. Panelists or ro ra mM sl prog ; include Chicago Department of Transportation Dino Camp > ages 3-4 Commissioner Gabriel Klein; author of The Conundrum and Green Metropolis David Owen; as Well as Mark Hertsgaard, author of HOT: ; | spy a dinosaur, do you? Join us for two days of dino discovery Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth. where we will learn how to spot a dinosaur, see SUE’s skull, and The Gary C, Comer Family, in fostering education, research, and dig for dinosaur bones! This is an early childhood camp, designed THE FIELD MUSEUM public awareness of climate change, has funded the establishment of a five-year series of symposia at The Field Museum. expressly for young explorers ages 3-4 with their caregivers. Program takes place from 9am—Noon in the Crown Family PlayLab. i) Artists and Authors* family program 6.16, 11am-2pm > Splish, Splash, Sand, and Choose from the following two-day sessions: : 1: Mondays, June 4 & 11 5: Mondays, June 18 & 25 Seashells! Join us.as we explore an‘oceal of 2: Tuesdays, June 5 & 12 6: Tuesdays, June 19 & 26 beautiful Soe cule nls ea sense of touch in 3: Wednesdays, June 6 & 13 7: Wednesdays, June 20 & 27 our sensory bins to:dig for hidden shells under 4: Thursdays, June 7 & 14 8: Thursdays, June 21 & 28 COURTESY OF MORGUEFILE.COM the sand. Create a unique piece of artwork using the sand, sea, and shells as inspiration. $75 general, $65 member (one adult included in the price per camper). july (3 Artists and Authors* family program 7.21, 11am-2pm > Join artist lan Sherwin in the Art Studio to create your own extreme mammal. Add claws, teeth, horns, antlers or Register online at fieldmuseum.org or by phone, 312.665.7400. Sign up for the Crown Family PlayLab E-News! This e-newsletter is an early science literacy resource geared towards families D MUSEUM with young children ages two through six. Each quarterly issue will feature Ue Lhigrra SONS ee theme-based, downloadable activities and articles designed to encourage outdoor exploration, creative play, and self-expression. tusks to your creature to make it EXTREME! Email us at playlab@fieldmuseum.org to start Grab a seat and enjoy a reading of the book receiving emails. Actual Size by Steve Jenkins. Crown Family august PLaYtab i) Artists and Authors* family program 8.18, 11am-2pm > The Field Museum's resident artist joins us for an up-close look at birds and their nests. Visit artist Peggy Macnamara in the East Entrance Hallway outside of the Crown Family PlayLab as she works on one of her paintings using specimens from the collection as her inspiration. After Badge Day at The Field Boy Scouts—Earn a Merit Badge at The Field Museum! listeninasta arread ne Orhan ve ORME rtsroein Badge Day at The Field will have Boy Scouts trekking across ‘ is useum with fun scavenger hunts, exploring natural the Art Studio to create your own bird’s nest ene. Muse g P g P : sciences through hands-on activities, and experiencing using clay and natural materials. ; ; ress a behind-the-scenes tour with a Field Museum scientist. For more details, please see article on page 9. *FREE with Museum Admission iy) inthe Crown Family PlayLab THE FIELD MUSEUM ——e =v ne = =F c Ever wondered what treasures lie hidden within The Field Museum’s ; : vaults? Unlock the Museum’s secrets via the new Specimania iPhone and iPad app available at the iTunes App Store. event details are available online! digital programs for teens! The following programs are designed for students ages 13-18 and are FREE, including meals and CTA assistance. All applications are due on May 11. Space is limited so early application is strongly encouraged! Please visit fieldmuseum.org/schools/summer- 2012-teen-digital-program-applications for more information. I Dig Tanzania Weekdays, 6.25-7.13, 11am-3pm > Dig for virtual fossils at The Field Museum! This summer join the | Dig Tanzania team and use virtual worlds to go on a scientific expedition to Africa. Teens will get to excavate virtual fossils and create a virtual museum exhibit, get special behind-the-scenes access to fossil specimens, collaborate in real time with an international team of scientists in Tanzania and teens across the country, understand the connections between climate change and extinctions, and use the latest in digital media. Digital Planet 7.16-7.20 > Travel the globe (virtually) for a week with Field Museum scientists this summer! Digital Planet 2012 will be embarking on another stellar expedition, this time to the Mummy Vaults! You can make your own movie magic based on the research of the Museum's fearless scientists. You'll meet and interact behind the scenes with the scientists and specimen that are not only changing the face of science but changing the future of our planet! You'll also get to work with real-world videographers who can help you improve your cinematic skills. Overnights at the Museum Plan Your 2013 Overnight Now! Youth Design Team* 7.23-8.10 > The Museum is your playground during this three-week summer internship. You'll go behind the scenes to meet the scientists and staff members who make The Field Museum work! From Egyptian mummy experts, to web developers, to the security guards (who have the BEST stories); you'll get to see the Museum from the inside out...and then tell your own story about it. Using game-creators, mobile experience-makers, video, audio and social networking, you'll create a project that blows the top off how the world interacts with the Museum's 26 million specimen...less than one percent of which is actually on public display! *Must have participated in a Digital Planet, previous Youth Design Team, iDig Science or other Field Museum digital program to be eligible. Minimum GPA requirement is 3.2/4.0 Digital Planet and Youth Design Team are implemented in partnership with the New Learning Institute of the Pearson Foundation. 2012 Dozin’ with the Dinos are already sold out! Plan your 2013 experience soon. Dates for the 2013 season will go on sale July 1st. Visit fieldmuseum.org or call 312.665.7400 to register. SUE the T. rexis having a sleepover! Join us for a night of family workshops, self- guided tours and fun activities. Explore ancient Egypt by flashlight, prowl an African savannah with man-eating lions and take a stroll through the Royal Palace in Bamum, Africa. Then spread your sleeping bag amidst some of our most popular exhibitions. The event includes an evening snack and continental breakfast in the morning. Fridays at 5:45pm to 9am the following morning. Premium Packages Families can sign up for Premium Package 1 ($75, $65 members) and sleep in our Evolving Planet exhibition, or book Premium Package 2 ($87, $77 members) and sleep in Evolving Planet and add a behind-the-scenes tour with a Field Museum scientist! THE FIELD MUSEUM COURTESY OF MORGUEFILE GOM Don’t miss these exhibitions before they close! Science on the Half Shell Through August 19 Did you know there are over 20,000 species of clams, scallops, oysters, and mussels living today? Discover bivalves through touchable models, real specimens, and hands-on activities. Science on the Half Shell is organized by the Paleontological Research Institution and made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Genghis Khan Through September 3 Discover the history, technological innovation, and culture of one of the world’s greatest conquerors. View more than 200 artifacts from the reign of Genghis Khan including gold jewelry, weaponry, silk robes, and religious relics. Genghis Khan is produced by Imagine Exhibitions, Inc. Lead Sponsor: Allstate Insurance Company. Getting to The Field Museum Many buses and rail lines provide access to The Field Museum. For more information, call 888.YOURCTA or visit www.transitchicago.com. Visit www.rtachicago.com for regional transit information. What do you think about In The Field? For questions about the magazine, call 312.665.7107, email ewaldren@fieldmuseum.org or write Emily Waldren, Editor. For general membership inquiries, including address changes, call 866.312.2781. always be discovering. Museum useulmn 1400 South Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605-2496 DAVID QUEDNAU / THE FIELD MUSEUM SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES wD iin = ~...vAGO, IL PERMIT NO. 2309 ZATION STAGE Adopt Your Own T. rex! Become a proud supporter and Adopt a T. rex! You receive a carrier crate for your very own plush Tyrannosaurus rex, a fact sheet, your certificate of adoption, an official species tag, and a sticker! Your Adopt a T. rex package also includes an invitation to the most exclusive, engaging event at The Field Museum: Members’ Nights! At Members’ Nights our members and adopters explore our vast collections, interact with our curators and staff, and witness behind-the-scenes work that defines The Field Museum as a distinguished institution. You can Adopt a T. rex for only $39.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling. Adopt your T. rex by going online at fieldmuseum.org/support/adopt-t-rex, calling us at 312.665.7700, or visiting the museum. Please allow ten business days for processing and delivery. “But, Mom, it followed me home!” Take home your very own Extreme Mammal when you visit our Exhibition Store. Whether you are fascinated by enormous creatures like the elephant and wooly mammoth, or prefer the unusual like aardvarks and armadillos, you will find great toys, games, books and other curios to tickle your fancy. We've shopped around the world to bring you the extraordinary including this life-like plush aye aye, the large-eyed nocturnal native of the rainforests of Madagascar. Shop the Museum Stores 24 hours a day at fieldmuseum.org. Remember that all proceeds from the Stores directly support the Museum's public and scientific programs, and that all Field Museum members receive 10 percent off their purchases in the Museum Stores. LINDSAY KREMENAK / THE FIELD MUSEUM