Spring 2026: New research grant & upcoming Wyoming Chinatowns Presentations

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Far Western Foundation, we will be able to continue archaeological research on the Evanston and Rock Springs Chinatown and investigate transnational connections between these Chinatowns and home villages in the Pearl River Delta Region of China. Read about the award here: https://www.grinnell.edu/news/professor-ng-receives-grant-advance-archaeological-research

Below is a list of upcoming posters or talks that relate to our archaeological research on the Evanston and/or Rock Springs Chinatown. All presentations are in-person with links to register for some of the posters/talks. Dr. Gardner will also give a talk some time this August at the historic Beeman Cashin Building in Evanston, WY titled “Section Camps and Labor 1868-1942.” Unfortunately, there are no virtual options for any of these presentations.

Special thanks to Ria Pretekin (Field Museum), Jeremy Wilson (IU Indianapolis), and Sue Hyatt for my speaker invitations. Archaeological research in the 2025 field season was funded by the Frison Institute’s Fund for Wyoming Archaeology and Grinnell College.

VenuePresentationAuthor(s)Date/Time
Field Museum, Chicago, ILTalk Transpacific Chinatowns in Rural Wyoming: The Archaeology of Chinese Labor, Racial Violence, and CommunityLaura NgWed. April 15, 2026

12-1pm CST
Field Museum, Chicago, ILEducator workshop The Rock Springs Chinatown DigLaura NgThurs. April 16, 2026

10-11am CST
Iowa Human Rights Research Conference, Grinnell, IAPoster Burn Layer: The Depositional History of the ​Rock Springs Chinatown and 1885 Chinese MassacreLaura Ng, Julia Ghorai, Avajane Lei, Luis Lopez, Jorge SalinasSat. April 18, 2026

11-11:45am CST
Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, INTalk Transpacific Chinatowns in Rural Wyoming: The Archaeology of Chinese Labor, Racial Violence, and CommunityLaura NgWed. April 22, 2026

5:30-7:30pm CST
Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CATalk Integrity of Setting: Issues in Cities or Towns Where Cultural Deposits Possess High Integrity but the Site is in a Slum or Blighted AreaA. Dudley GardnerSat. May 2, 2026

8:45-9am PST
Society for American Archaeology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CAPoster Burn Layer: The Depositional History of the ​Rock Springs Chinatown and 1885 Chinese Massacre​ Laura Ng, Jorge Salinas, Luis Lopez, Julia Ghorai, Avajane LeiSat. May 2, 2026

1-3pm PST
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3 responses

  1. Val Vetter Avatar
    Val Vetter

    Great you will be sharing your work and these important stories are being told.

  2. Dan Kaiser Avatar
    Dan Kaiser

    So cool that you and your students have so many venues at which to tell the story of Rock Springs that you are excavating. The archeological record embedded in the “burn layer” reminds us of the consequences of intolerance and hatred, phenomena still thriving more than a century after the Rock Springs fire. Keep up the good work!

  3. Laura Ng Avatar
    Laura Ng

    Thank you Val and Dan!

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