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D&E archeologist is researching collection

Submitted photo Richard 'Richie' Rosencrance, an archaeologist working at The Stirrup Gallery on the campus of Davis & Elkins College, takes a digital measurement of a piece of Mississippian pottery. The artifact is part of The Darby Collection, which includes approximately 1,100 items believed to be affiliated with Native American culture.

ELKINS — Ever look at a piece of history and wondered about its past? Richard “Richie” Rosencrance has turned that curiosity into a career, and now he’s examining artifacts from The Darby Collection housed in The Stirrup Gallery on the Davis & Elkins College campus.

The Beverly native and 2015 graduate of West Virginia University is working at the Gallery through a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act grant D&E received last fall. While he completes his research, the public is welcome to stop by to learn more about the process. In addition, the public is encouraged to bring Rosencrance items they believe to be prehistoric artifacts and would like to learn more about. Hours have been adjusted to allow visitors more flexibility. Continuing at least through the end of February, the Gallery will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Enacted in 1990, NAGPRA requires museums and federal agencies to inventory and identify Native American human remains and cultural items in their collections and to consult with various tribal entities regarding repatriation.

Approximately 1,100 items representing 14,000 years of history contained in The Darby Collection are believed to be affiliated with Native American culture. However, since no official documentation is available for many of the items, their cultural origin is unverifiable by museum standards.

That’s where Rosencrance steps in to research, photograph and catalog the items with the goal of making the information more accessible to Native American tribes and the public. The identification process can be simple or very involved, depending on the artifact characteristics.

“As an archaeologist, I try to determine cultural affiliation in various ways,” Rosencrance said. “It will be a little easier to determine the cultural affiliation of some of the items in The Darby Collection — pottery, beads and baskets — because of the distinctive styles.”

For other items, Rosencrance will consult researchers and documents to learn more about the artifacts’ origins.  Mark Lanham, coordinator of Special Collections at Davis & Elkins who is serving as project director, said Rosencrance’s background in academics and field study, along with his special interest in Native American culture, provides a solid foundation for his work with The Darby Collection.

Rosencrance holds bachelor’s degrees in history, sociology and anthropology with a minor in Native American studies. He’s also worked on the Northern Great Basin Prehistory Project at the University of Oregon, on historic preservation with Arthurdale Historical Society and as a cultural resource field technician with the Great Basin Institute in the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest of Nevada, a field excavator at Florida Atlantic University and a field technician with the Louis Berger Group Inc.

“Native American history is incredible, and I hold it in the highest esteem,” Rosencrance said.

Eventually, Rosencrance’s findings will be catalogued in a database making consultation with Native American tribes a smoother process, Lanham said.

“The consultation isn’t just a one-time conversation,” Lanham explained. “It’s ongoing and, in some cases, could take years because of the number of people and tribes and their level of interest in our artifacts. Having everything in one place for anyone to review will make this a lot easier.”

In addition to the database, Rosencrance and Lanham will present their findings at the 2018 West Virginia Association of Museums Conference and will also be available to speak to area organizations. Although classes, groups and clubs are welcome to visit the museum, those wanting a guided tour are asked to make a reservation.

“The Darby Collection is amazing,” Rosencrance said. “Being here at D&E, I can help educate the public and bridge the gap between archaeology and Native American groups.”

In addition to The Darby Collection, The Stirrup Gallery in Myles Center for the Arts houses collections representing more than 14,000 years of history and culture: The Lincoln Collection, Howard-Sudbrink Collection, Foster Collection, Senator Davis Collection, Swezy Collection, Gary North Collection and J. Richard and Dotty S. Kendig Collection.

For additional information, call Lanham at 304-637-1980 or 304-642-6705 or visit www.dewv.edu/arts-entertainment/stirrup-gallery.

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