The Kansas Anthropological Association (KAA) will have their 2015 Fall Fling and International Archeology Day Observance at Fort Larned Friday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 1. KAA is a group of individuals and institutions interested in the prehistoric and historic peoples of this area, and in the preservation and interpretation of archeological and ethnological remains within the state. Events include an archeological/metal detecting field work exercise on property next to the fort on Friday, and talks by retired NPS archeologist, Dr. Doug Scott on how metal detecting and archeological data collection can help us better understand past events on Saturday. Dr. Scott will also speak on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. about his experiences using archeology to uncover and preserve historical evidence.
Dr. Scott’s talk on Sunday afternoon is free and open to any members of the public who wish to attend. Any members of the public interested in attending the entire KAA event can participate without joining for a $30 fee, but will be asked to sign the KAA Code of Ethics to participate in the field exercise.   
Dr. Scott retired from the National Park Service in 2006 after more than 30 years with the Department of the Interior. His last position was as Great Plains Team Leader, Park Programs at the Midwest Archeological Center in Lincoln, Neb. He is currently an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Visiting Research Scientist at Colorado Mesa University. He has worked throughout the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain West on a variety of archeological projects. He completed his Masters and PhD research on Fort Larned.
Dr. Scott specializes in nineteenth century military sites archeology and forensic archeology. He is particularly noted for his expertise in battlefield archeology and firearms identification, having worked on more than 40 battlefield sites, including Palo Alto, Sand Creek, Big Hole, Bear Paw, Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, Centralia, and Santiago de Cuba.  He was awarded the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award in 2002 for his innovative research in battlefield archeology that started with his work at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. His 2013 book Uncovering History, on the archaeology of the Little Bighorn battle, has received several book of the year awards.
Dr. Scott has also been involved with human rights and forensic investigations since the early 1990s. He has worked with the United Nations and various human rights organizations in El Salvador, Croatia, Rwanda, Cyprus, Iraq, and on an animal welfare case in Canada.
In celebration of the National Park Service Centennial, Fort Larned National Historic Site invites you to discover the meaning of national parks, how your park inspires you - both in personal connections and memorable experiences.   Fort Larned National Historic Site is located six miles west of Larned on Kansas Highway 156. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., information on visiting is on the internet at www.nps.gov/fols, or by calling 620-285-6911.  There is no admission fee.
Learn more at www.nps.gov.