Underground HistoryChelsea Rose, historical archaeologist and research faculty member at Southern Oregon University discusses historical findings in this region and beyond.
Chelsea Rose, historical archaeologist and research faculty member at Southern Oregon University discusses historical findings in this region and beyond.
'Oregon Black Pioneers' reveal the history where Black Oregonians lived, worked and played
The Oregon Black Pioneers (OBP) have been working to uncover, preserve, and tell the stories of Black Oregonians throughout the history of the state. Underground History host Chelsea Rose sat down with Kim Moreland, president of the Oregon Black Pioneers Board of Directors, to discuss the process of creating the reports and black history in Oregon. The work includes preserving sites and locations of historical significance, such as historical black-owned businesses, churches, and homes. Recently, OBP launched a line of merchandise with newly imagined logos for four historic black-owned businesses on the Oregon Coast. A much more complex project was the creation of multiple property documents (MPDs). These were submitted to the National Register of Historic Places as a means to consolidate information about related properties into one document and provide a framework for the nomination of individual sites to the National Register. In 2020, OBP released an MPD identifying sites with Black historical significance in Portland, which led to at least three sites being accepted to the National Register. In 2024, OBP submitted a document to the registry encompassing the entire state of Oregon. It spans from the first known arrival of an African-American in Oregon in 1788 to 2002, when Oregon voters approved the removal of all remaining race-related language from the Constitution. This was not a simple project, particularly considering the long history of erasure of black history in the historical narrative.
'Oregon Black Pioneers' reveal the history where Black Oregonians lived, worked and played
A burned commune offers archaeologists a window into 1960s counterculture
In the 19th century, when California was still under Mexican control, Rancho Olompali in current-day Marin County, California was the site of the only battle of the Bear Flag Revolt. That conflict resulted from a group of Americans attempting to break away from Mexico to form an independent California Republic. Though the conflict lasted less than a month, the California Republic flag, the "bear flag," was later adapted into the current state flag of California. A mansion was later built on the property, and in the 1960s, Rancho Olompali continued its legacy as a countercultural site. In 1967, following a brief stay by the Grateful Dead, it was leased by Don McCoy, who founded a hippie commune called the Chosen Family. This was a multi-generational and multi-racial community, and it lasted less than three years when a fire destroyed the mansion in 1969. The land was later purchased by the State of California and turned into a state park. Breck Parkman, retired senior state archaeologist with California State Parks, contributed to an archaeological investigation of the site, particularly the 93 vinyl records found at the site. He offers insight into the recent past with Underground History host, Chelsea Rose. While identifying the records posed a significant challenge, as covers and labels burned and the records were damaged by the fire, the 75 identified records are a time capsule offering unique insight into the world of 1960s counterculture.
A burned commune offers archaeologists a window into 1960s counterculture
The scars of colonialism in the archaeological record of the PNW
Between the 17th century and today, the Pacific Northwest underwent dramatic transformation with the arrival of European colonizers. Chelsea Rose visits with Douglas Wilson, an archaeologist with the National Park Service and adjunct associate professor of anthropology at Portland State University. He recently published "The Historical Archaeology of the Pacific Northwest," detailing the way that historical archaeology illuminates and links the past and present-day of the Pacific Northwest region.
The scars of colonialism in the archaeological record of the PNW
Archaeologists reunite wildfire survivors with deceased loved ones
One devastating byproduct of the rapid spread of wildfires is that precious items are often left behind. That includes the cremated remains of loved ones. In 2017, a group of archaeologists founded a nonprofit called the Alta Heritage Foundation to help reunite families with their loved ones' remains. The recovery process includes two steps. First, cremains are located with the help of specially trained dogs. Then, archaeologists carefully separate the remains from other debris. There is never a cost to families. (You can learn more about this work in this JPR story from 2022, featuring host Chelsea Rose as a volunteer archaeologist. ) The LA fires represent the biggest recovery effort yet. Chelsea Rose, host of Underground History, spoke with Alex DeGeorgy, chairman of the Alta Heritage Foundation board, and Mike Newland, the foundation's treasurer. One crucial way to help is by not disturbing any burned areas to search for cremains before trained teams arrive. You can also learn about donating or other ways to support this work at Alta Heritage Foundation. If you are interested in learning more, you can read this JPR story from 2022, featuring host Chelsea Rose as a volunteer archaeologist. Informational poster from the Alta Heritage Foundation about their cremains recovery program
Archaeologists reunite wildfire survivors with deceased loved ones
Underground History digs into the Oregon version of The Gold Rush
When we speak of The Gold Rush in American history, we usually mean the one in California, following the discovery of gold in 1849. That one still gets the headlines, but Oregon also had a significant gold mining history, and mining goes on--on a smaller scale--today. Underground History, our joint project with the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology, explores the efforts to unearth Oregon Gold Rush artifacts. Chelsea Rose from SOULA recorded this UH segment in the field, visiting with several people involved in the process, to talk about tools and techniques.
Underground History digs into the Oregon version of The Gold Rush
Ancient Egypt was one of the longest-lasting civilizations, spanning more than 3,000 years. That gives modern researchers of ancient Egypt, called Egyptologists, a lot to study. In this edition of Underground History, host Chelsea Rose of the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology speaks with Dr. Arto Belekdanian, an Egyptologist with a penchant for public history. They discuss misconceptions about Ancient Egypt, the field of Egyptology, and more.
Generational keepers of American history and culture
On this episode of Underground History, host Chelsea Rose talk about the intersection between fire, culture, and history. Rose and guests discuss why archaeologists and culture keepers are an important part of the fire response team, and why we should look to the past to make it easier to live with fire in the future. GUESTS Jason Nez is a Fire Archaeologist/Resource Advisor at Grand Canyon National Park and a member of the Dine Nation from Coalmine Mesa, Arizona. Vikki Preston (Karuk, Yurok, Paiute and Pitt River), grew up In Orleans in Northern Ca along the Klamath River. She works at the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources in Cultural resources working on land stewardship and collaborative projects; her work centers around protection and of cultural places for ecosystem and community futures.
Generational keepers of American history and culture
Chelsea Rose "Senses Sasquatch" at the High Desert Museum
Sasquatch is a cultural mainstay of the Pacific Northwest, appearing on all kinds of products from alcohol to T-shirts and everything in between. But the history of Sasquatch goes back much further, and for many Indigenous people, he is much more than his common portrayal as a mysterious hairy beast. A depiction of Bigfoot emerging through a portal by Nez Percent and Onondaga artist Frank Buffalo Hyde at the High Desert Museum in Bend, OR.(Chelsea Rose / Underground History) In this edition of Underground History, Chelsea Rose tours the "Sensing Sasquatch" exhibit at the High Desert Museum in Bend, which looks at the past, present and future of Sasquatch through the eyes of Indigenous Oregonians. She's led by Hayley Brazier, the Donald M. Kerr Curator of Natural History for the High Desert Museum.
Chelsea Rose "Senses Sasquatch" at the High Desert Museum
Digging into the history of America's love of Halloween
Underground History explores the origins of spooky stuff on this special Halloween episode. Mike Green, host of the Jefferson Exchange, with Chelsea Rose, host of Underground History(Photo by Jefferson Exchange Senior Producer Natalie Golay) Tina Sharp Reuwsaat and Marion Held join the Exchange to discuss how the historical relationship Americans have with collectables, costumes and the iconography of Halloween, and how it has evolved over the past century plus. Tina Sharp Reuwsaat is a retired curator with the Southern Oregon Historical Society and Baroness of Darkwing Manor, one of Southern Oregon's most beloved haunted houses. Marian Held is curator of the Devil-ish Little Things Museum in Vancouver, Washington. Jefferson Exchange host Mike Green with Underground History host Chelsea Rose(Photo by Jefferson Exchange Senior Producer Natalie Golay)
Digging into the history of America's love of Halloween
Real Archeology launches truth bombs on landscape of false narratives
(Real Archaeology / Underground History) Underground History joins fact-based archaeological content creators from around the world as part of a coordinated blitz to promote Real Archaeology. Chelsea Rose visits with Dr. Flint Dibble, who has been on the front lines confronting the rise of pseudoarcheology and conspiracy theories to discuss the challenges of promoting Real Archaeology in a post-truth era. This Underground History interview will be among a variety of archaeological content showcased October 25-27th across a variety of platforms: Podcasts, TikTok, YouTube channels and others.
Real Archeology launches truth bombs on landscape of false narratives
