Who we are

The Lost Towns Project is a team of professional archaeologists and historians, working closely with the government of Anne Arundel County, Maryland to discover and explore the County's rich heritage. The team is committed to sharing the discovery process of this incredible heritage with the public through hands-on experiences, publications, lectures, and exhibits. In this blog, we will share some of our exciting discoveries, updates, and events. Check out our website at www.losttownsproject.org for much more, or to learn how to become a volunteer or intern! No experience is required to assist us in field investigations, laboratory studies, archival research, and interpretive programs. Join us to rediscover the History in your own backyards!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

"Mummies, Bones and Hominids.....Another Day at the Museum"

Hello everyone,


Last week, some of the Lost Towns Project staff members took a work related trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.  As most of you know, not only do we work hard, but we play hard.  After meeting with staff from the Forensic Anthropology Department, we had the opportunity to explore the mysterious mummy room in the basement of the museum.  There were shrunken heads, mummies of humans and animals, and the infamous soap man.  You can view the soap man in the following article (#3 Hidden Treasure and Photo #7 when you go to the gallery) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012802985.html.  Here are a few other photos we would like to share with you, so that you can take a virtual tour of the mummy room too!

Mummy
Steve and the Sarcophagi



Peruvian Cave Mummy

Shrunken Head



Shrunken Head (Elaborate Headpiece)





After visiting the dead, we headed down to the "Human Origins" exhibit.....if you haven't been yet, I highly suggest that you go.....it's FUN, FUN, FUN!!!  We traced our ancestors steps through history and had the opportunity to transform ourselves back in time as well.  This exhibit has a photo booth that, after taking your picture, turns you into a hominid of your choice (Homo floresiensis or Homo neanderthalensis).  I will leave you all with a little matching game.  Can you figure out which staff members are which?

A. Stephanie
B. Jessie
C. Erin
















~Erin Cullen