An excellent National Geographic article describes a new five-year project funded by the Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) to survey the seabed and find better ways to identify archaeological sites hidden beneath it.
That important project warrants public attention. However, what immediately caught my eye was the reference to a prior study by an admired colleague, Dr. Melanie Stright.
Melanie was a leading expert in Gulf of Mexico submerged prehistory and authored important publications that contributed to the field. Her McFaddin Beach research (more below) has been widely cited. Sadly, she died too young in 2011.
In 1994-96, Melanie Stright, an archeologist with the Minerals Management Service (US Dept. of the Interior), began a detailed study of 880 McFaddin Beach artifacts, or about a third of the total known from the site at the time. She examined sources of toolstone, degree of wear, resharpening, the spatial position of the artifact along the beach, ages of the artifacts based on typology, and functional classes of artifacts.
During her last years with MMS, Melanie focused primarily on the proposed CapeWind Energy Project in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts. She worked to ensure that the comments and concerns of the Native American Tribes were fully considered. During this time, she cultivated a deep and sincere friendship with tribal leaders and worked closely with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
Demonstrating a lifelong dedication to historic preservation and profound respect for Native American culture and heritage, Melanie requested that, upon her death, memorials be made to the Mashpee Wampanoag Youth Scholarship Program. Through this program, a scholarship was awarded to a Mashpee Wampanoag youth in her honor.
Her MMS colleagues drafted the touching memoriam (below) that was included in the bureau’s Ocean Science publication.
