Luther College anthropology department hosts documentary screening Oct. 20

Luther College anthropology department hosts documentary screening Oct. 20

In celebration of Iowa Archaeology Month, the Luther College anthropology department is hosting a screening of “Landscapes that Shape Us” at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, in Room 102 of the F.W. Olin Building on Luther’s campus. A question and answer session with the producers of the documentary will follow the screening.

The event is open to the public with no charge for admission.

“Landscapes that Shape Us,” a short documentary produced by The Iowa Department of Transportation, tells the story of a cultural resources discovery identified during the planning stages of the U.S. Route 20 expansion project in Woodbury County. It documents how government agencies, Native American tribes, historians and archaeologists worked together to balance transportation needs while protecting cultural resources and the integrity of the land.

The documentary also highlights work done by archaeologists at Bear Creek Archeology, Inc. from Cresco, Iowa, as well as historical finds from the area and unique perspectives on the significance of this location. One of the most remarkable discoveries made during the process was the unearthing of geoglyphs, or large man-made designs etched into the earth.

Among other topics discussed in the documentary are the consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act, various viewpoints about the project and land and human history of the area.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,050, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu.