Behind the Excavation: Stories from a Life in Archaeology
Go beneath the surface with Dr. Diane Beynon Landers as she reflects on her storied archaeology career.
In the 1970s, Dr. Landers was part of the groundbreaking excavation team at Meadowcroft Rockshelter when archaeologists uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back nearly 19,000 years.
That discovery not only transformed history’s understanding of when people first arrived in North America; it marked the beginning of Dr. Lander’s remarkable 40-year career.
Join Dr. Landers in conversation with Dave Scofield, Director of Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, as they discuss the discoveries that shaped her career and the people and places she encountered along the way.
Hear firsthand stories from her time at Meadowcroft and behind-the-scenes insights from a career spent uncovering the past.
Before the program, explore Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages on the History Center’s first floor. The exhibit features authentic Paleoindian tools and artifacts from Meadowcroft, including an elk tooth and passenger pigeon bones recovered from the Rockshelter.
Admission
Admission is $10 for non-members and $5 for members. The program will take place in the museum’s fifth floor Mueller Center.
As part of the History Center’s Third Thursdays, your ticket also includes access to the Heinz History Center for the entire day (10 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] in advance to request accommodations.
About Dr. Landers
Dr. Diane Beynon Landers is a seasoned archaeologist with over 40 years of experience. A graduate of Muskingum University with an MBA from Point Park University and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh, she studied under Dr. James Adovasio, renowned for his work at Meadowcroft Rockshelter. Dr. Landers wrote her dissertation on Meadowcroft and later became an Associate Professor at Indiana University, where she developed the first archaeology program at the Fort Wayne campus.
Returning to Pittsburgh, she joined GAI Consultants, where she became the first female Vice President and Board Member. As a consulting archaeologist, she managed significant historic and prehistoric excavations, including projects in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and at National Battlefields like Fort Necessity and Gettysburg.
Dr. Landers is also a native Pittsburgher with deep family ties to the city’s real estate development. She volunteers on the board of the Pittsburgh CLO and serves as Chair of the Meadowcroft Advisory Board, where she continues her work in archaeology.