Why does Hollywood Love the Ice Age?

Why is the ice age such a popular topic for Hollywood? The ice age (or Pleistocene period, from 2.7 million years ago to 10,000 years ago) is a period of great interest to archaeologists because of the numerous watershed events in human evolution that occurred before the ice melted and the climate became more-or-less what it’s like today. For most parts of the world, the ice age is also the time of the classic cave-dwelling humans. Film-makers have also shown their enthusiasm for this lengthy and cool period of human history. Right from the earliest days of motion pictures, depicting human life during the ice age has been a favorite topic for films. For example, in 1914 the pioneering American director D. W. Griffith released the 33 minute silent film In Prehistoric Days and Charlie Chaplin released his 10 minute silent film His Prehistoric Past. In the following year, Willis O’Brien released one of the first ever stop-motion animated films, a six minute comedy called The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: a Prehistoric Tragedy.






Charlie Chaplin's His Prehistoric Past. To watch the rest of the film, click here.

Since these early days, cave men and women have been an almost constant feature in film. Notable more recent productions include Caveman (1981) starring The Beatles’ drummer Ringo Starr, Quest for Fire (1981) including Ron Perlman and a special prehistoric language invented by Anthony Burgess, Clan of the Cave Bear (1986) based on the prehistoric fiction novel by Jean M. Auel, the animated Ice Age (2002) which recently had a third installment in the series released and a prehistoric-Woody-Allen-style comedy National Lampoon’s Homo erectus (2007).

As an archaeologist and teacher of a class that looks at archaeology in film, I often wonder why films are so frequently made about people in the ice age. Many details of these depictions are impressively accurate, such as clothing, stone artifact technology, social organization and subsidence. This is testimony to the both the dedication of the film-makers and the effectiveness of archaeologists’ efforts to communicate with the public. My thought about why the ice age is so popular in films is that through the depiction of cave people film-makers can explore ideas on contemporary cultural issues like technological change and racism that might be too confronting to directly depict. Watching the story of ice age people is like holding a mirror to ourselves at a safe distance, allowing for reflection on our contemporary human condition without the discomfort that sometimes interferes with more direct self-examination.





Willis O'Brien's film The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: a Prehistoric Tragedy. To view the rest of the film, click here.


Posted by: Dr. Ben Marwick, Assistant Professor, UW Department of Anthropology

Dr. Ben Marwick spoke at the Burke Museum’s Ice Age Archaeology event in his lecture Reel vs. Real: Prehistoric Archaeology and Ice Age Movies on Oct. 18.

Dinosaurs at the Burke

Have a passion for dinosaurs? Then come to one of the many events the Burke Museum offers about these magnificent prehistoric creatures.

Our first event is Dinosaurs on Ice: Jurassic Dinosaurs from Antarctica, a lecture for those who are interested in an academic viewpoint of dinosaurs. On Thursday Nov. 12, 7 pm at the Burke Museum, the museum is honored to have Dr. William Hammer of Augustana College, Illinois speak at the event. What started as a trip to Antarctica in 1977 in search of fossilized vertebrates has blossomed into over 30 years of research and numerous expeditions. For more information on Dr. Hammer's lecture, click here.

Next is the premiere of Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway, on view from December 19 - May 31. Based on the book with the same title, artist Ray Troll and paleontologist Kirk Johnson have created a "road trip" through the American West exploring fossils and stories from the past. On opening day, Ray Troll and Kirk Johnson will give tours with Burke Curator of Vertebrates and Micropaleontology, Dr. Liz Nesbitt.

This spring the Burke has dinosaur events for those who like hands-on experience. March 6, come to Dino Day and meet experts from the Burke's paleontology department and learn some interesting facts about dinosaurs. Be sure to check the Burke Museum's website for upcoming information!

Burke Museum members have a special opportunity to explore the collections and meet Burke Staff at the Members' Behind the Scenes Night in April. If you have thought about becoming a member, we recommend supporting the Burke in order to take advantage of this wonderful benefit.

Allosaurus fragilis, on long-term display at the Burke Museum

From exhibits to lectures, the Burke Museum has many options for dinosaur fans of all ages and interests. Open the doors to the Burke and step into the past!
Posted By: Andrea Barber, Communications

Behind the scenes with Ray Troll

Ever painted a giant T-Rex onto a wall? I have! With expert instruction from celebrated Alaskan artist Ray Troll, a group of volunteers came together this week in a make-shift studio down in Magnuson Park to paint five large wall murals for the upcoming Burke exhibit Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway, featuring Troll’s latest work.

Troll has hunkered down in Seattle for the past two weeks to create these murals showcasing some of his favorite subjects: dinosaurs, killer pigs, hamburgers, and giant ammonites. The fantastical murals will ultimately hang in the gallery alongside dozens of actual fossils from the Burke’s own paleontology collections beginning December 19th --when the exhibit opens.

The Burke Museum is partnering with Ray Troll and Seattle-born paleontologist Kirk Johnson (who together wrote a book called Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway) to present this new exhibit exploring the abundance of fossils in our midst - and specifically in Washington State - and how fossils shed light on Earth’s past.

As you can see, Ray Troll’s recent “art happening” was both fun and productive:

Ray's team of friends and volunteers worked tirelessly to produce large mural reproductions, such as "Sleeping with the Ichthyosaurs"

Ray Troll grabs a paintbrush for some detail work on "Night of the Ammonites"

Once finished, these murals will hang in the Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway gallery alongside real fossils

I'm not the only one who learned to paint with Ray. Burke Museum director Julie Stein also jumped at the chance to pick up a paint brush. When I asked her how it went, she told me, "My friend Edie and I were afraid we would paint outside the lines. Ray showed us how he adds highlights and we discussed how he comes up with these ideas (he dreams about them!). This was very fun!"

P.S. - Mark your calendars for opening day of Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway Saturday, December 19, when Ray will be on hand to give tours of the exhibit.

Posted by: MaryAnn Barron Wagner, Communications

Q: What will you find at a natural history-themed pub quiz?

A: Over 70 intrepid quiz-takers, ready to prove their knowledge of the natural and cultural world!

Burke Museum Trivia Night is a brand new outreach program that started last Thursday at the College Inn Pub in the University District. We were treated to a hugely successful turnout of UW graduate students and others who came to test their knowledge of the natural and cultural world. Fifteen teams competed for prizes (drink vouchers from the Pub and museum passes from the Burke) and everyone seemed to have a really great time.

I’ve been excited to start this program for a while now, so it was really gratifying to see it come together so seamlessly. The idea came to me this summer as I was brainstorming creative ways to share the collective knowledge of the Burke Museum with people beyond the walls of the exhibit galleries. A regular pub quiz seemed like a good way to expose new audiences to the many, many subjects covered by our museum. I mean, who doesn’t love drinking beer with friends and showing off how much you know about random subjects?

I was lucky to receive instant support for the idea from the Burke’s director, along with generous financial support from the UW Graduate School . Then, I found the perfect venue for Burke Museum Trivia Night—the College Inn Pub. I liked the College Inn Pub because it’s close to campus, has a nice, laid-back atmosphere, and already attracts a lot of grad students who I thought might be interested in coming to a natural history-themed pub quiz.

The quiz consisted of 6 different rounds (the topics for each round will change each month) of 5 questions each plus a bonus round at half-time. All of the questions had to do with subjects that relate directly or indirectly to Burke collections, exhibits, or research. We also featured a picture ID round and a rock ID round, using images and objects from the Burke’s collections. Here are some sample questions from the first Burke Museum Trivia Night:

From the “Mount Saint Helens” round: In what year did Mt. St. Helens erupt?
From the “Antarctica” round: The United States operates three Antarctic bases devoted to research. Name 1 of those stations.
From the “Where in Washington” round: Where in Washington will you find a Washington city whose name means “place of many waters” in the Nez Perce language for its proximity to both the Columbia and Snake Rivers?
From the “Dinosaur Movies” round: Which dinosaur does NOT make an appearance in the first Jurassic Park movie? A: Stegosaurus B: Tyrannosaurus Rex C: Brachiosaurus D: Triceratops
From the “Holidays” round: Which Mexican holiday honors and remembers friends and family members who have passed away?

Think you know the answers to these questions and others like them? Then come to the next Burke Museum Trivia Night on November 5. If you miss that, we’ll be back on the first Thursday of every month.

Oh, and that's me, hosting the first Trivia Night, wearing a moose hat that one of the teams let me wear for the second half of the game. It never hurts to be cheesy!

Posted by: Julia Swan, Communications

Hands-on experience: the Burke Museum and Museology

The field of museology is undergoing exciting changes and facing new questions which challenge even the most skilled and experienced people in museums. Interdisciplinary skills, new technologies and debating the purpose of museological institutions are a few reasons why I have been anxiously awaiting the start of my graduate studies at the University of Washington’s Museology program.

My name is Andrea Barber and I am the new Outreach Assistant in the Burke Museum’s communications department. Continuing my education while gaining practical knowledge in a field that I am passionate about has been my main goal while applying to graduate schools, and I knew the moment I heard about the Museology department at the University of Washington that it was a perfect fit for me. While completing a Master of Arts, Museology students can get hands-on experience in museums by walking up one flight of stairs and stepping foot onto the Burke Museum’s floors. Internships are available in virtually every department, and there are even audience research courses that have a readily available visitor base at our fingertips.

The Burke Museum provides Museology students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they’re learning as it is being taught in the classroom while simultaneously participating in an environment that could potentially be a source of future employment. During the next two years, I, along with all other 32 members of my class, have the opportunity to explore my particular interests, form lasting connections with Burke Museum mentors and learn how to enhance my skills as part of a museum team. These experiences are invaluable, and I look forward to every minute of it.

Posted by: Andrea Barber, Communications

Photo: UW Museology student takes measurements for artifact catalog records in the Archaeology department

Introducing "Green Museum"

This post is part of a Burke Museum Blog series called "Green Museum" that explores what sustainability means to the Burke Museum.

Why is sustainability important to the Burke?

As a museum charged to preserve, study, and educate on issues relevant to the natural and cultural world, we have an opportunity and obligation to educate by example. Our mission is to create a better understanding of the world and our place in it. Therefore we are an institution where shared values of conservation, stewardship, and sustainability are showcased, not only in the exhibits we display, but also in the actions and everyday operations inside our walls.

From planning a LEED Platinum building, to shifting our newsletter online, to facilitating cultural collaborations between native peoples across the Pacific, the Burke Museum is making choices to positively and proactively impact the future of our world.

The “Green Museum” segment of this Blog is another such choice. Please share with us your ideas for insuring the future of the biosphere.


Posted by: Julie K. Stein, Executive Director

Indonesian and Samoan communities respond to earthquake tragedies

The Burke Museum is deeply saddened by the lives that were lost after two earthquakes and a tsunami struck Indonesia and Samoa this week. The museum wishes to express sympathy to all members of the Indonesia and Samoan communities, especially those people living in the Puget Sound who may have family or friends affected by these disasters.

International aid is being distributed to both nations. The following organizations are among those accepting contributions to the recovery efforts.

Donate to the Red Cross

Donate to AmeriCares

Donate to UNICEF

Donate to MercyCorps