Office of University Communications
Missouri Archaeological Society moves headquarters to Missouri State
Date: October 27, 2006
Contact: Dr. Lorene Stone
(417) 836-6259
SPRINGFIELD — The Board of Directors of the Missouri Archaeological Society (MAS) approved the move of its headquarters to Missouri State University from the University of Missouri, where it was established in 1931. The move, which was approved Oct. 15, is expected to substantially increase the visibility of Missouri State with respect to archaeology at the state and national levels.
The day-to-day management of the MAS is the responsibility of the society's secretary, assisted by a program manager. Dr. Neal H. Lopinot, director of the Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State, was appointed to replace Dr. O'Brien, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri, as MAS secretary. The MAS office will eventually be located in Strong Hall in the College of Humanities and Public Affairs (CHPA).
" I am pleased that the Missouri Archaeological Society has chosen Missouri State University as its new home," said Dr. Lorene Stone, CHPA dean. "Under the able leadership of Dr. Neal Lopinot, the Society will continue its quality work and highlight archaeological issues in the state. This certainly aligns with the university's public affairs mission."
The MAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational and charitable purposes. It is the foremost organization for archaeology in Missouri, with membership consisting of both professionals and avocational archaeologists. The state journal, The Missouri Archaeologist, and four issues of the Missouri Archaeological Society Quarterly are published each year. Currently, there are about 800 subscribers to the journal, which includes institutions in Washington, D.C., 40 states in the United States and several foreign countries. The MAS also publishes a number of books, including "Human Osteology," which is still used commonly in human osteology, physical anthropology and forensics courses throughout the United States and Canada.
There presently are 11 chapters of the society throughout Missouri, including the Ozarks Chapter, sponsored by the Center for Archaeological Research. There are also many members who do not belong to an in-state chapter or reside elsewhere in the United States and Canada.
The MAS also has a series of eight scholarship funds available to students and others doing archaeology in Missouri.