Chelsea Reedy- The Cycling Archaeologist

🦴✨ 2024 Archaeological Conferences & Communities Recap – Part IV ✨🦴
Victoria, TX | Texas Archaeological Society (TAS) & Council for Texas Archaeologists (CTA)

In October, I had the opportunity to attend two amazing events that continue to shape and strengthen the archaeological community in Texas.

Instead of presenting, I focused this year on learning and listening, diving into the latest research in zooarchaeology to support my own projects. These conferences are where professors, students, CRM professionals like myself, landowners, and enthusiasts come together to build a more educated, connected, and inspired community—one committed to preserving our shared history. 💬🔍

One of the most meaningful moments for me was hearing my longtime undergraduate mentor, Dr. Lee Bement, deliver the closing keynote. His lecture wove together stories from decades of groundbreaking work on Paleoamerican hunting strategies—from painted Folsom skulls to the Beaver Creek Complex. It was heartfelt, hilarious, and unforgettable. 💡🎙️

I even had the chance to catch the moment he quietly shared his decision to retire with a longtime academic partner—a bittersweet honor to witness.

It was also so fulfilling to reconnect with other mentors from my journey, including Jodi Jacobson and Dr. Brit Bousman from Texas State University. These relationships continue to fuel my passion for this work and remind me how important community truly is in our field.

Fun Fact: my first field school was with Lee and was filmed by PBS’s Time Team America- Badger Hole. The non-TAS conference photos are from the 2012 Badgers Hole excavations and experimental bison butchering with stone tools, both with Dr. Leland Bement.

Official show link here: https://lnkd.in/gi_NnXtC
Or YouTube the episode for lower quality.

Feeling grateful, grounded, and energized for what’s ahead.

– Chelsea | The Cycling Archaeologist 🦬 🚴‍♀️ 🥾

📍 2024 Conferences & Community Recap – Part III

At the end of September, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the HDR South-Central Environmental Group All-Hands Summit in Houston, TX.

What sets HDR apart from other companies? It’s the commitment to building strong, connected teams through regional and discipline-specific gatherings like this one. 🌍✨

Over the course of three days, teammates from across the region—from field techs to leadership—came together to:
✅ Network and share knowledge
✅ Explore HDR’s values and mission
✅ Grow professionally and personally
✅ Strengthen our shared vision as employee-owners

I walked away from the summit feeling inspired, motivated, and proud to be part of a company that truly invests in its people.

– Chelsea | The Cycling Archaeologist

2024 Archaeological Conferences and Communities Recap: Part II.II

Continuing to update my social medias from my 2024 adventures, at the end of April 2024 into May off the heels of Society for American Archaeology 2024 in New Orleans, I was back in the field to finish up a project in the Texas Costal Plains region for a short stent. I was finally able to be back in the office for a few days, just in time for HDR’s internal appreciation and recognition program called Pathfinders.

HDR’s internal program called Pathfinders is intended to recognize employees whose dedication to quality, innovation and productivity goes far and beyond the norm. I was so proud to watch my best friend, Mary, receive recognition with the highest regard. While the awards highlight some of the standout employees, the event turns into a celebration for everyone enjoying the spoils of teamwork and success. In 2024, the North Texas region’s event was at Top Golf. I love to dress for the occasion, so I sported a bold golf themed attire for the event dripped out in all red with a splash of white, HDR logo correct of course!

The following week I was back down in the Texas Gulf finishing off the last remaining sections of a project. The mosquitoes were the worst I have ever experienced. Once finished with the project, I rushed to San Marcos to help celebrate a few of my Texas State University cycling team member’s graduations. This was important to me because these boys and Brenda have helped me tremendously over the last few years. I graduated a semester before them, but we all celebrated each other’s successes that night!

-Chelsea aka The Cycling Archaeologist
Forever

2024 Archaeological Conferences and Communities Recap: Part II.I

Continuing to update my social medias from my 2024 adventures, at the end of April 2024 into May off the heels of Society for American Archaeology 2024 in New Orleans, I was back in the field to finish up a project in the Texas Costal Plains region for a short stent. I was finally able to be back in the office for a few days, just in time for North Texas Archaeological Society’s Spring Social Event and HDR’s internal appreciation and recognition program called Pathfinders (Part II.II- see next post).

This was my first time attending a North Texas Archaeological Society’s event, so I was not sure what to expect. I had a wonderful time socializing and networking with fellow north Texas archaeologist from different Cultural Resource Management companies. To my surprise I met my Instagram friend Savana, in person at the event. We were introduced when I was working in California managing the archaeological program for the 2021 South Branch Wildfire Clean Up Project with my previous employer, by a crew chief who knew of another archaeologist from Denton, TX. We connected and have been friends ever since. It was so nice to finally meet in person through the event. Also, at the event and showing my age a bit, I spent time talking with my friend and long-time racing idol/ mentor/ peer’s child who I watched grow up over the years and they are now an archaeologist too. What a fun event and their guest speaker series is high quality and entertaining. Their society membership is quite affordable. Check out the website for more details https://ntxas.org/ .

-Chelsea aka The Cycling Archaeologist
Forever

2024 Archaeological Fieldwork Recap: Part I

2024 was by far one of my busiest years in a while for traveling and fieldwork. From January through May I had already conducted fieldwork in all regions of Texas.

January through February, I conducted a handful of shovel test and deep trench test surveys along with a monitoring project in the prairies of North Texas (Mineral Well, Wichita Falls, and Fort Worth). In January, I also found myself in west Texas deserts (Fort Stockton) conducting a mitigation site revisit. By the end of February, I was in mid-west Texas (Pacos) running another small phase I- shovel testing and pedestrian survey.

Early March, I was again back in far west Texas leading another phase I survey in El Paso. By the middle of March, I across the state in southeast Texas in the gulf coast region (Beaumont/ Port of Orange). There I was directing another phase 1 survey that was active intermittently until the end of May.

See 2024 January Archaeological Fieldwork Recap: Part II in another post.

-Chelsea aka The Cycling Archaeologist
Forever