Time Sifters Archaeology Society Newsletter February 2017

FEBRUARY-2017 February Program February 15 - at 6:00 PM - Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236Cahokia - North America’s Forgotten City Terri Tumlin RetiredDear Member:Time Sifters has always had a multi-level mission that incorporates education, research, and preservation ofarchaeological resources. Our monthly lectures are part of the education mission. The research and preserva-tion missions are accomplished through participation with area partners. A couple of these opportunities are coming up inthe next two months and will give interested members a chance to participate.Beginning February 19th, National Park Service archaeologist Margo Schwadron will be excavating at De SotoNational Memorial in Bradenton, pursuing answers to questions about the Tabby House Ruins and the EgretMound. On March 23rd, FPAN (Florida Public Archaeology Network) will be hosting a workshop in connectionwith Time Sifters and the New College Public Archaeology Lab to kick off its Heritage Monitoring initiative, whichwill train volunteers to monitor archaeological sites as a form of service to our community, the environment,and past cultures. And it can be very simple. If you are interested in either of these projects, shoot me anemail so I can send you more information as it becomes available.Also, VP Smitty notified me of classes coming up with the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy. Dr.Steven Derfler (our November speaker) is teaching Human Experience: the Neolithic World, World HeritageSites, and Ancient Egypt: the Ptolemies. Check the details at https://thelifelonglearningacademy.comYour membership renewal may be due. If that date is February 2017 or earlier, please renew now. You canrenew by credit card online at www.Timesifters.org or with cash or check at the January meeting.Thanks for being part of Time Sifters! [email protected] Svekis, PresidentFebruary 15th:Cahokia - North America’sForgotten CityTerri TumlinIn the period between 900 and called, was the center for the Mississippian Indians, who were the1300 a city arose in what is now premiere mound builders of North America. While the peoples of Egyptsouthern Illinois, the center of a and Central America are remembered and praised for their monuments andcivilization the spread over much achievements, the story of Cahokia has been largely lost. But until theof the area that is now the United early 19th century, Cahokia was the largest city that had existed inStates. Cahokia, as the city was what is now the United States.

Notes from a Time SifterDemocracy: A Work in ProgressThe elections of 2016 have, with could never be citizens even if important (de re publica 2.39).the help of television and the they were from another Greek The United States governmentinternet, brought our attention to city. That meant that of the was modeled after the Romangovernment structure. Since 250,000 people of Athens, only Republic. You can see that in ourmany of us did not pay much about 40,000 could vote. The symbols for power such as theattention during high school civics same was true for the Roman Roman fasces that flanks the flagclasses, a review of the topic might Republic. Roman people were at the House of Representatives,help us to understand it better. assigned to units but not all on Lincoln’s arm rests at his Memorial,History indicates that most units were equal. Male members or George Washington at thegovernments have been headed by of the unit (no women, resident leaning on the fasces (Virginiaan authoritative leader who inherited foreigners or slaves) elected State Capitol), and on the reverseor usurped the position, but modern representatives to sit in the of the Liberty dime issued fromwestern governments take pride in Assemblies (from Latin ad similis, “to 1916-1945.claiming that they have democratic be similar”) to vote for them. We have a Senate and an Assemblygovernments. They are mistaken. There were three Assembles: the (the House of Representatives).The word “democracy” comes from Curiate Assembly whose members Originally, most states allowedthe Greek words demos, which were from elite families, the only white property-owning adultmeans “common people”, and Centuriate Assembly whose males to vote, and only forkratia which means “rule” or members were military officers, representatives to the House.“power” so the only true democracies and eventually, the Plebian Members of the Senate wereare those where all of the people Assembly representing the chosen by state legislatures untilare equal and every member plays common folk. The members of 1913 (Amendment 17). All adultan active role in the government. the most powerful office, the male voters were not guaranteedThis kind of democracy existed in Roman Senate (from Latin senis suffrage until 1870 (Amendmentsmall Neolithic villages where all meaning “elderly man”) were 15). Adult women were given thepeople of the same age and gender appointed by the elite, and right to vote in 1920 (Amendmentwere considered equal and had the although they claimed universal 19). Individual voters have neverauthority to make legal decisions. suffrage (from Latin “suffragium” been permitted to vote for theAnother kind of “democracy”, a meaning “support”), Cicero tells President. Those votes come fromRepublic (from two Latin words, us that the majority of the votes the electoral college, two groupsrēs meaning “things”, and publica, were “in the hands of those to nominated by the political parties“the people”) is a government whom the highest welfare of the of each state. The number ofwhere representatives are chosen commonwealth was the most electors is equal to the number ofto vote for the general public. The its representatives and senators.ancient Greeks have been credited Your vote for the President onwith developing the first democracy, election day is merely a vote forand the Romans the first Republic. the electoral nominees of a specificNeither were true democracies. political party from your state.The “democracy” of the ancient There are at least 123 variationsAthenians was selective. Only to democratic governments suchadult, property owning men whose as ours, the English Monarchyparents were Athenian citizens and Germany’s Federal Parliamentarycould vote. Neither they nor their Republic (for more seefamilies could be guilty of any worldaudit.org). Denmark getsdishonors. Women could not be the highest ratings for having acitizens, nor could any foreigners. “democratic” government butForeigners had to pay taxes but none are true democracies.

Opening Reception Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 6 to 9 PM With RefreshmentsJoin us for an exhibit of Theodore Morris oil paintings depicting tribalmembers from the early tribes of Florida. Morris has exhibited throughoutFlorida at historical museums and also the State Capitol.Friends of Sarasota City History Center are hosting a reception at theHistorical Exhibits & Education Center located in the Chidsey Building,701 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL. Reservations required: (941) 361-2453World Heritage SitesMetéora is one of the largest and mostprecipitously built complexes of EasternOrthodox monasteries in Greece, secondin importance only to Mount Athos. Thesix monasteries are built on naturalconglomerate pillars, at the northwest-ern edge of the Plain of Thessaly nearthe Pineios river and Pindus Mountains,in central Greece. (Wikipedia)World Heritage Site #455Officers: Board of Directors Copyright © 2017Sherry Svekis, President Time SiftersArchaeologySociety,Inc.,Darwin \"Smitty\" Smith, Vice Pres. Directors: Evelyn Mangie All rights reserved.Bernice Jones, Secretary Valerie Jackson Bell Sharon McConnell We send newsletters to peopleCaroline Reed, Treasurer Robert Bopp Saretta Sparer who have attended or expressedKaren Jensen, Membership Glenn Cooper interestin our lecturesand given us their email address.

Membership Speakers & Events CalendarLifetime: $200 All to be held at 6:00 PMIndividual: $25 Selby Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota 34236Family: $35Sustaining: $50 February 15Student: $10 Cahokia Indians: Pre-Columbian settlers along the Mississippi RiverPay online at: Terri TumlinWWW.TimeSifters.org March 15Or mail checks to: “The Resurrection of Camp Lawton: the World’s Largest Prison “Time Sifters, Inc. John K. Derden, Ph.DPO Box 5283 Professor Emeritus of History, East Georgia State CollegeSarasota, FL. 34277 April 12 2017 Cornelia Futor Memorial Student Paper Winners 1st and 2nd Place Student Paper Presenters Time Sifters Archaeology Society A Chapter of the Florida Anthropological SocietyTime Sifters Archaeology SocietyP. O. Box 5283, Sarasota, FL 34277