2024 Fall Meeting

This autumn’s Iowa Archeological Society meeting will take place in central Iowa. We are partnering with the Big Creek Historical Society and will hold morning presentations in the community room of the City Hall in Polk City. IAS president, Dan Higginbottom will lead an afternoon field trip to some of central Iowa’s pioneer cemeteries.

Registration

You do not have to be an IAS member to register for the meeting, but we encourage you to join.

Call for Papers (Ended)

Deadline for submissions: October 12

Please consider presenting your research or activities to the membership at the meeting! Topics can relate to archaeology, history, anthropology, and similar disciplines of interest to IAS members. If interested, please e-mail the IAS president with your name and contact information, as well as the topic/tentative title. The deadline for paper submissions is October 12.

Weekend Details

Meeting: Saturday, October 26, 2024; 8am-3pm
Place: City Hall in Polk City (Community Room), 200 S. 4th Street, Polk City, Iowa
Cost: $10 per person. Register in advance online or via mail or pay via cash/check at the door.
Saturday Lunch: On your own. See area restaurants. *Restaurants on the Square (La Familia Mexican Restaurant, Papa’s Pizzeria, Rising Sun Café, and Polk City Pub) have been notified that we will be in town and ask that members call their lunch orders in early to avoid delays.
Souvenirs: The IAS will have a selection of coffee mugs, tote bags, zip pouches, and other items for sale at the meeting. Preview these items or order online from the Iowa Archeological Society collection at the Threadless Iowa Archaeology store!
Nearby Hotels:
Polk City – The Qube Hotel
Ankeny – Comfort Inn, Courtyard, Quality Inn & Suites (other options available)
Ames – Quality Inn Suites, Country Inn Suites, Econo Lodge (other options available)
Field Trip: IAS President, Dan Higginbottom, will be conducting brief visits to some of central Iowa’s pioneer cemeteries, beginning with the historic Polk City Cemetery and ending at Vegor’s Cemetery and mound group situated above the mouth of the Boone River in Webster County. Following the lunch break, drivers can convoy to Polk City Cemetery located just northeast of town. The entrance is on the south side of East Northside Drive. From there, we will travel north along Hwy 415, stopping at the Leonard Small Family Cemetery and Hopkins Grove Cemeteries (time and weather permitting). Next stop on the tour will be at the Milton Lott Grave site along the Des Moines River in Boone County, and finally on to Vegors Cemetery, the location of the Henry Lott frontier homestead and grave site and monument of Mrs. Lott. The trip from Polk City to Vegor’s Cemetery is approximately 60 miles, and the time to complete the tour is estimated at 2-3 hours depending on how long we spend at each stop. Expect normal, unpredictable Iowa fall weather and Be sure to bring along appropriate cloths and footwear.

Those preferring not to go on the cemetery excursion are invited by the Big Creek Historical Society to visit the Polk City School House Museum just across the street from City Hall. The museum will be open until 4:00 pm.

Cemetery addresses:

• Polk City Cemetery – East Northside Drive, Polk City
• Leonard (Lem) Small Grave Cemetery – (Polk County) Highway 415, one-half mile north of NW 125th intersection.
• Hopkins Grove Cemetery – (Polk County) NW Nissan Drive, next to the Olofson Shooting Range.
• Milton Lott Grave Site – (Boone County) 848 Leaf Road
• Vegor’s Cemetery – (Webster County) 3240 Xavier Ave., Stratford

Agenda

Presentations