Dr. Leland Gilsen
Dr. Leland Gilsen was the State Archaeologist for Oregon from 1978 to 2002 within the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of Oregon State Parks. He has a Ph.D. in Anthropology with a specialization in Archaeology from the University of Arizona. Before coming to Oregon, he was the SHPO archaeologist for the Maryland Historical Trust in Annapolis for two years.
As a graduate student, Dr. Gilsen worked for the National Park Service programs in Tucson: Interagency Archaeological Services (IAS) under Garland Gordon, and (SOAR) Park Management Plans under Keith Anderson. This is where he began work in Cultural Resource Management (CRM).
Since his retirement in 2002 he has devoted more time to art pursuits. Each year he is a volunteer of Echoes In Time, early living skills workshops held in late July at Willamette Mission State Park just north of Salem, Oregon. Typical courses include: Fire by friction, flintknapping, stone bowls and tools, bone and antler tools, bows and arrows, atlatls (dart thrower) and darts, braintanning, rawhide containers, moccasins, cordage, plant walks, gourd work, soap making, pottery, felting, dying and weaving, fiber crafts, quill work, beading, and blacksmithing. There is a You Tube video by Patrick Rosenkranz available.
Oregon Archaeology Virtual Tour
Leland has been focused on Archaeology and explores it in his art.
