The Council for Minnesota Archaeology incorporated on May 13, 1971 by founding board members Timothy Fiske (Curator at the St. Paul Science Museum), Vernon Helmen (Professor at Hamline University), Elden Johnson (State Archaeologist and Professor at the University of Minnesota), and Alan R. Woolworth (Chief of Archaeology Department at the Minnesota Historical Society).

From the beginning, the Council has been dedicated to promoting archaeological research and interpretation within the State of Minnesota by:

  1. Stimulating, encouraging and supporting scientific archaeological field research

  2. Initiating responsible action to conserve and preserve archaeological resources

  3. Engaging and supporting others in interpreting and disseminating the results of scientific archaeological research

  4. Providing a corporate entity representing the community of scholars who conduct archaeological research within the State of Minnesota.

Check out our By-laws, which recently changed on February 22, 2025.

  • CMA President

    Lucy Harrington

    PRESIDENT

    Lucy's interest in Minnesota archaeology began when she first started working here in 2018. She is particularly interested in Paleoindian and Archaic occupations and using post-processual archaeology theory to develop "thick descriptions" of the past. Contact Lucy @ luharrington@gmail.com

  • CMA Past President

    Jammi Ladwig

    IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

    Jammi began her archaeological career in 2007 and has worked in both private and public sectors doing cultural resources management. She has worked in field, office, and laboratory settings. Her geographical area of archaeological focus has always been the North American Midwest, and specifically Minnesota.

  • CMA Vice President

    Vacant

    VICE PRESIDENT

    The Vice President is also the Chair of the Membership and Ethics Committee. If you have any interested in being VP, please reach out to Lucy.

  • CMA Secretary Treasurer

    Laura Meier

    SECRETARY/TREASURER

    Laura values a community engaged, interdisciplinary approach to historical research. She holds a bachelor’s in anthropology and a master’s of heritage studies & public history from the University of Minnesota. She is currently Tribal Archivist of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community while studying tribal sovereignty & federal Indian law at UMD.

  • CMA Newsletter Editor

    Ivy Faulkner

    NEWSLETTER EDITOR

    Ivy Faulkner was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology, History, and Classics at Arizona State University and her master's and doctorate degrees in Anthropology at the University of Minnesota. She currently works in the field of cultural resources management at Bolton & Menk, Inc., primarily on projects in the State of Minnesota.