EUGENE, Ore. -- (Oct. 14, 2009) – The Museum of Natural and Cultural History will celebrate Oregon Archaeology Month with a series of lectures. Three archaeologists will discuss their latest research and share their explorations in understanding past cultures. Topics include a 19th century African American family, Oregon’s first Americans and the Vikings of Iceland’s pagan and early Christian eras.

The UO professors are Julie Schablitsky, a star of PBS’s new TV series "Time Team America"; Dennis Jenkins, the 2009 winner of the High Desert Museum’s Earle A. Chiles Award; and Jon Erlandson, Knight Professor and director of the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Lectures will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays in October, beginning Oct. 16. The free lectures take place in Knight Law Center, 1515 Agate St.

October 16 – "The Archaeology of Hoodoo: African American Spiritual Practices in Maryland," Julie M. Schablitsky

October 23 – "Oregon’s Earliest Inhabitants: Pleistocene Archaeology at Paisley Caves," Dennis L. Jenkins

October 30 – "The Vikings in Iceland: Archaeology Meets History in the Mosfell Valley," Jon M. Erlandson

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