Cave Archaeology Investigation & Research Network 501(c)3

In 2011, CAIRN conducted an archaeological survey of an undisclosed historic brewery cave beneath St. Louis, Missouri.  Artifacts (such as the bottle neck fragments seen in the photo) were documented along with several archaeological features, and brewery architecture.  Historically, St. Louis was a major site for the development of  American beer and prior to mechanical refrigeration, caves were used for lagering and cool storage.  CAIRN has been working with cave specialists and architectural historians to help preserve the history these caves hold.  They represent a time of great change and innovation in St. Louis history. To read more about this archaeological survey, support CAIRN by becoming a sponsor.

This film is sponsored by the Missouri Humanities Council. In June 2011 the C.A.I.R.N. research team visited the Center for Archaeological Research, Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The research team examined artifacts using the portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF). The film is a recent interview with Neal Lopinot, Research Director, regarding the analysis results.

Field Update: Dr. Chris Begley (Transylvania University), Peter Campbell (CAIRN), Larry Hassebrook (University of Kentucky),  and Eli Crane (University of Kentucky) are currently investigating archaeological sites in Spain using the portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF) that was provided by Olympus Innov-X to test the elemental composition of some material in the large mortuary cave in Menorca, Spain.

This research was made possibly through a grant from The Missouri Humanities Council with support from The National Endowment for the Humanities.  Additional thanks to Olympus for loan of the portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF).

In May 2011, CAIRN was invited by John Kelly to use the pXRF scanner that is under loan from Olympus, to analyze basalt samples from a site near Cahokia Mounds to those from a region near Lake Superior in Canada.  This elemental analysis may tell John if the basalt came from a local source within Mo. or hails from glacial erratics deposited long ago in the region.

This was the first test of the new Olympus Innov-X Delta pXRF by the CAIRN team. Washington University is a well-known research university located in St. Louis, Missouri.

This research was made possible through a grant from The Missouri Humanities Council with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

CAIRN is proud to announce a recent grant through Missouri Humanities Council! This grant will be used to help fund the Portable XRF scanner by Olympus, which CAIRN will use to perform on the spot analysis of parent materials from rock art to artifacts. The pXRF (portable/handheld X-Ray Florescence) was acquired through a grant from Olympus, awarding us temporary 4 month use of the equipment. The pXRF is a valuable tool for many samples of archaeological importance – metallic artifacts like coins, construction materials such as tiles, and mortars; and decorative pigments used on pottery and in rock art. The quick analysis times of this non-destructive, portable instrument make it ideal for archaeology. The number of samples that must be removed for later analysis at a laboratory is minimized because many more analyses can be done in situ. Should be exciting work!
http://www.olympus-ims.com/en/applications/portable-gps-xrf-protocols-field-archaeology/

http://www.mohumanities.org/

CAIRN in the field in August 2010.

Watch the film documenatry ’Footsteps into the World Beneath’ online for free!

Watch CAIRN collaborate with cave specialists, engineers and archaeologists trying to figure out what happened in a Missouri cave 600 years ago.

The cave yielded prehistoric footprints, rock art and more!

The film was directed and Produced by Emmy award winner and St.Louis Public Radio’s Christian Cudnik (www.triptone.com).

See it here on The Archaeology Channel:  http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/video/footsteps.html

CAIRN would like to thank the Missouri Humanities Council and Phelan Foundation for their support to help make the research for this film possible.

2011/30 minutes

Footsteps into the World Beneath (documentary)

CAIRN welcomes you to attend the documentary premiere of Footsteps into the World Beneath. The film will premiere March 1, 2011 (7pm) at The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

The film was produced and directed by NPR’s Emmy award winning Christian Cudnik (triptone.com) and follows CAIRN as we investigate a cave in Missouri that yields footprints, rock art, and more.

Join us for this fascinating journey below Missouri!

CAIRN would like to thank the Missouri Humanities Council and Phelan Foundation for their support to help make the research for this film possible.

This site is dedicated to the investigation and research of caves and archaeological sites located across the United States as well as abroad.  You will find insightful articles, amazing images, startling video, and vetted research from the minds of some of the foremost experts in the field.  We hope that as this site grows, your knowledge and appreciation for the magnificent finds that we bring you will grow as well!