Dr. Sarah Neusius, Retired Professor of Anthropology and Archaeology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Research Associate in Anthropology at CMNH, will present the program Forest, Field, and River: Use of Animals by Monongahela People on Wednesday, October 16th at Lutherlyn, 500 Lutherlyn Lane, Butler, PA 16001.The social half hour starts at 6:30 p.m. and the regular business meeting at 7:00 p.m. For more information contact Laura DeYoung at deyoungl59@gmail.com.

Although there has been considerable research on the Monongahela, including some faunal analyses, there has been little effort to summarize their use of animals. Examination of published and unpublished faunal reports from Monongahela sites, including several recent and on-going studies done by zooarchaeologists at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), suggest that although the Monongahela used a variety of animal resources for food and raw material, there was a strong emphasis on forest and forest-edge mammals. Turkey and other terrestrial birds, both pond and terrestrial turtles, and a variety of fish also were utilized. Not only were these animals used for food, but their bones were modified into an array of utilitarian and decorative items. It is possible, given this forest emphasis, that the Monongahela did not clear the forest as extensively as other Late Prehistoric groups such as Mississippians did.