Meetings are a crossroads to knowledge. The full story discusses the April 2012 statewide preservation conference. You’ve missed that meeting, but it’s not too late—May also has interesting events scheduled for 2012 Archaeology Month, including the SGA’s Spring Meeting, which will be held Saturday, May 19th, at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Spring Meeting co-sponsored by SGA and Georgia Gwinnett College! The date is Saturday, May 19 starting at 8am in the state-of-the art Student Center. Click here to access a PDF of the Spring Meeting Program (final version).

The SGA’s 19th annual Georgia Archaeology Awareness promotion, Archaeology Month 2012, has as its theme Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Our request for a proclamation designating May as Georgia Archaeology Month was received and acknowledged by the Governor’s office. Representatives from Georgia’s archaeological community, including the SGA, attended the proclamation signing by Governor Nathan Deal on Wednesday, May 2nd.

The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance, Inc. and Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division (HPD) are partnering in a public archaeology project at the Lyon Farm in DeKalb County. The public is invited to attend and participate in excavations planned over two weekends in 2012. Fieldwork is designed to 1) locate cabins that housed slaves prior to the Civil War; and 2) uncover evidence of Creek settlement prior to the establishment of Lyon Farm around 1800. You must notify HPD ahead of time if you want to participate in this fieldwork.

The Augusta Museum of History and the Augusta Archaeological Society, a Chapter of the SGA, invite you to attend Archaeology Day at the 1797 Ezekiel Harris House, 1822 Broad Street, in Augusta, on Saturday, May 6th, 2012. Admission is free. This event is one of many celebrating Georgia’s 2012 Archaeology Month.

The Greater Atlanta Chapter of the SGA will meet on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, at 7:30 pm to hear a presentation by Michael Bunn, of Columbus. He will speak to the GAAS about the poorly known Creek Wars as they relate to the War of 1812. As Mr. Bunn notes, “Too few of the sites at which they were fought are interpreted for the public, and too few people understand their importance.” The topic is in accordance with May being Archaeology Month in Georgia, with a theme this year of the War of 1812 Bicentennial. The GAAS monthly meeting will take place at Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta. The meeting is free and open to the public.

On 11 April 2012, the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources announced that Georgia has a new State Archaeologist, Dr. Bryan Tucker. Dr. Tucker succeeds Dr. David Crass, who is now Director of HPD.

SOGART, the South Georgia Archaeological Research Team, a Chapter of the SGA announces that its 2012 Symposium on Southeastern Coastal Plain Archaeology will be held at Stubbs Hall, South Georgia College, Douglas, on August 18th. Presentations are now being solicited for the meeting. Click here for an announcement suitable for posting.

The SGA is proud to present the 2012 Archaeology Month event brochure, accessible by clicking here. All events listed in the brochure are also entered in the SGA’s online calendar All programs, events, and ongoing exhibits listed in the brochure are listed in the full story. Not all events are in May, although May is Archaeology Month in Georgia.

The Gateway to the Past: Georgia’s Leake Site exhibition will be on display through Sunday, September 23, 2012 at the Columbus Museum, on Wynnton Road east of downtown Columbus. Using excavated artifacts from the Leake site and the Columbus Museum’s collection of Chattahoochee Valley objects, this history exhibition shows visitors what life was like for prehistoric American Indians living in what is now northern Georgia. The exhibition also includes an interactive audio/visual tour. Admission is free. Read more about the Leake site on this website by clicking here.

The Annotations: George Cooke & Thomas Hope and the Influence of Antiquity exhibition is on view at the Columbus Museum through Sunday, July 22, 2012. George Cooke (1793-1849), who began his career as a self-taught painter, sought to increase his skill and knowledge by following the custom of many American artists in traveling to Europe. The Columbus Museum the second largest general museum in Georgia, and admission is free.

The Society for Georgia Archaeology is a volunteer organization. It only can achieve its goals if you help. So, join the SGA and become an active participant in SGA activities. Click here for more information on joining the SGA. Help our wonderful organization achieve its goals, and help preserve Georgia’s archaeological heritage in the process! Begin your involvement in the SGA by attending our Spring Meeting, to be held at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville on Saturday, May 19, 2012, in conjunction with 2012 Archaeology Month.

SGA President Catherine Long discusses the Society for Georgia Archaeology’s plans for Archaeology Month 2012, in May, and the Society’s associated Spring Meeting on Saturday, May 19, with the theme Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. President Long also highlights other activities of the Society.

Please make plans to attend the Spring 2012 Meeting of The Society for Georgia Archaeology on Saturday, May 19th, at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville. The meeting will be held in the Student Center (Level 1, LVIS Room), and registration begins at 8:00am. The SGA has reserved rooms at the nearby Country Inn & Suites—Lawrenceville. These rooms will be available at the group rate until Wednesday, April 18th.

The Society for Georgia Archaeology is proud to present the preliminary program for our Spring Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, May 19, at Georgia Gwinnett College. This meeting is in conjunction with 2012 Archaeology Month. The Archaeology Month theme this year is Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. The meeting will be held in the Student Center (Level 1, LVIS Room), and registration begins at 8:00am.

The Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA) and the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists (GCPA) gave two awards at the Georgia Social Studies Fair 2012. The SGA and GCPA are pleased to give awards at this event because it supports our mission “to unite all persons interested in the archaeology of Georgia and to work actively to preserve, study and interpret Georgia’s historic and prehistoric remains.” The 2012 winners are fifth-grader John Hendricks of Jasper Elementary in Pickens County and eighth-grader Connor Hynek of Herschel Jones Middle School in Paulding County. Awards include a copy of the book Frontiers in the Soil, also available from the SGA.

As you consider your charitable gifts for the 2011 tax year, the SGA asks that you add the Society’s Endowment Fund to your list. The Fund supports educational outreach and the preservation of archaeological sites. The SGA is a registered non-profit organization. If you have already donated to the SGA for 2011, the Society thanks you.

Chica Arndt, President of the Coastal Georgia Archaeological Society (CGAS), will be speaking at the Tuesday, November 15th, 2011, meeting of the Hilton Head Chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina. The meeting is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn at 1 pm.

Are you looking for funding for educational or outreach activities? The Southeastern Archaeological Conference offers one grant per year, not to exceed $2000. The end of this grant cycle is December 1, 2012. Read more on the SEAC website here.

What places in Georgia with historic importance are most under threat right now? In late October 2012, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its list of 2012 Places in Peril. This year all are standing structures, and four have white (or nearly white) columns. One is a pavilion from an amusement park in Gainesville and another is an embattled historic dormitory on the UGA campus in Athens.

This week, 24–31 October, 2011, the SGA’s ArchaeoBus is at Fort Hawkins and open to the public, while excavations are in progress. This is the first time the ArchaeoBus has visited active excavations! Fort Hawkins, on a hill above the Ocmulgee National Monument and downtown Macon, dates to 1806, before Macon was founded. On the 31st, attend a Press Conference at 3:00PM, when you can see all that was found during the week, and tour the ArchaeoBus. At 5:00PM, the first Fort Hawkins Halloween Hauntings will begin, with ArchaeoBus tours a major highlight of this free, fun, family event.

Leading national archaeological organizations are partnering to participate in National Archaeology Day, on 22 October 2011. What will you do to celebrate? In addition, across the US and Canada, there are events throughout the whole month of October. What will you do to celebrate archaeology this year? And, it’s not too soon to start planning your 2012 National Archaeology Day celebrations!

The SGA Board and Officers met Saturday afternoon, 27 August, at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon. In partnership with the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists, the SGA is supporting a plan to interface more effectively with the Atlanta Regional Commission. The ArchaeoBus is scheduled at events in Perry and along the coast this fall. We look forward to seeing you at the SGA Fall Meeting in Athens on Saturday, October 22. Slots are still open for those who wish to give presentations. On Saturday evening, we hope you can attend a live auction to raise money for the SGA. In addition, we plan to implement click-online membership renewals and donations soon.

The SGA Board and Officers met Saturday afternoon, 27 August 2011, in the Georgia Room at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Macon. The SGA leadership addressed various issues, both old and new business. And, during the breaks, attendees checked out exhibits in the halls surrounding the meeting room.

SGA President Catherine Long updates members of the SGA on current activities by the Society’s leaders. We’re getting ready for Archaeology Month 2011 and our associated Spring Meeting, planned for McDonough on May 13–15. The theme is Gone But Not Forgotten: Rediscovering the Civil War Through Archaeology. That’s not all, however; the SGA has many committees, including on Membership, Advocacy, the ArchaeoBus, Website and Communication, Chapter Relations, and the Endowment—and more. The SGA’s newest committee is charged with selling over 3500 copies of the 2nd—and final—edition of Frontiers in the Soil; look for details on ordering on this website soon! Catherine also requests volunteers to work on poster packaging.

Passport In Time volunteers from any era are invited to the Passport In Time (PIT) Reunion at Scull Shoals on Saturday, April 30th, 2011, between 10AM and 4PM. The Reunion is being held in conjunction with the Scull Shoals Festival at the old mill site on the Oconee National Forest in Greene County. The big event is jointly hosted by the Friends of Scull Shoals, Inc, and the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

For the 18th year, SGA is coordinating Georgia Archaeology Month, a statewide promotion that encourages the public to learn about the archaeological resources present in our state, and creates awareness about the importance of protecting Georgia’s archaeological heritage. Archaeology Month occurs during May, and the 2011 theme is “Gone But Not Forgotten: Rediscovering the Civil War Through Archaeology.” The full story lists ongoing events, mostly exhibits.

The Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources now employs two additional archaeologists, Rachel Black and Richard Moss. Black serves as a review archaeologist and is primarily responsible for assessing archaeological investigations conducted by/for GDOT. Moss conducts archaeological surveys on state lands to identify and protect archaeological sites threatened by foresting activities.

Help save a log building in Gordon County that’s on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered “the oldest home in Gordon County.” Meet on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:30 AM at Rockdale Plantation to join the effort.

Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division has composed a survey to solicit your input about the goals of their program for their next five-year preservation plan. Their existing plan goes through 2011. The online survey will end on February 28th, so fill it out NOW. Here’s the link. Your opinions are important!

On Thursday, January 13, 2011, we will have our annual “pottery washing” event and workshop at New Echota Historic Site located near Calhoun. This is part of our regularly scheduled meetings of the Northwest Georgia Archaeology Society meeting. The meeting will start at 7:00pm. The public is enthusiastically encouraged to attend.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s archaeology lab manager, Rachael Hensley will give a talk entitled Deciphering Lamar Incised Ceramics on the Lower Ocmulgee River.The January meeting is rescheduled for the 25th.

I, Kelly Woodard, would like to introduce myself as the incoming editor for The Profile newsletter and website. As a recent graduate of Georgia State University, I am excited to be an active member of the Georgia archaeological community, especially the Society for Georgia Archaeology. Please consider sending me a story of interest to our members for posting on this website!

The Cave Spring Log Cabin Project is participating in the Pepsi Grant Program for December. Help them win financial support from Pepsi by voting for their project all through December! Thank you!

The Northwest Georgia Archaeology Society is holding their chapter meeting meeting at the Etowah Indian Mounds Museum, Thursday, November 11, 2010, at 7pm. Presentation by Tommy Hudson entitled Prehistoric Stone Constructions in Georgia: An Overview. Tommy is a local researcher and founding member of the Eastern States Rock Art Research Association.

At the SGA business meeting on October 16th, 2010, Ellen Provenzano, Glynn County 4th grade teacher and Glynn County Schools Archaeology Education Coordinator received the prestigious George S. Lewis Archaeological Stewardship Award from the Society for Georgia Archaeology.

UPDATED!
Now’s the time to get out your calendar and checkbook, and make your reservations for the Fall 2010 meeting. The Fall meeting will take place on St. Simons Island and environs from Friday-Sunday, 15-17 October 2010. The general theme of the meeting is Historic Preservation of Prehistoric, Colonial and Plantation Structures on the Coast. Reservations for events and hotel rooms are due by September 8th. We have dropped the Friday night BBQ and accordingly adjusted the Friday activities for early arrivals. Send in your completed form and check NOW!

SOGART’s 2010 Symposium on Southeastern Coastal Plain Archaeology will be held Saturday, August 14th, at South Georgia College, in Douglas. Registration begins at 8 am, with papers until 3:45.

UPDATE: new photos!
Rita Elliott, one of the most active, creative and energetic SGA members in recent memory, was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award in the Humanities at a banquet in downtown Atlanta on May 11, 2010. She was presented the award on stage by Governor Sonny Perdue’s special assistant and former DNR Commissioner Lonice Barrett, Georgia Humanities Council President Jamil Zainaldin, National Endowment for the Humanities Chairman and former Congressman Jim Leach, and Humanities Awards Committee Chair Swann Seiler.

Long-time SGA member and past president Rita Elliott has been informed in a letter from Governor Sonny Perdue that she will be a recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Award in the Humanities. The presentation ceremony will be held Tuesday May 11, 2010 at the Old Georgia Railroad Depot in Atlanta, beginning at 10:30 AM with a lecture. The awards luncheon will follow at noon. Ticket information is in the full story.

Plan an event anywhere in the state for Archaeology Month in spring 2010! This story links to a form you can download and fill out to get your event in our Calendar of Events brochure. Activities of all sorts are welcomed!

The SGA Fall Meeting was held at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center on Saturday, October 17th in Buford, with a great panel of presentations. During the Business Meeting, members learned the SGA is seeking volunteers for two important positions: Society Secretary and Editor of The Profile. Please read the full story and let President Dennis Blanton know your thoughts regarding The Profile publication—web only versus a costlier “dead-tree” version.

The National Park Service’s 2010 workshop on archaeological prospection techniques entitled “Current Archaeological Prospection Advances for Non-Destructive Investigations in the 21st Century” will be held May 24–28, 2010, at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton, North Dakota. Registration is $475. The full story has a link to the application form and more information.

Although the Georgia Mountains Archaeological Society (GMAS) in Gainesville is no more, there is a new SGA chapter rising in north Georgia. The Blue Ridge Archaeology Guild (BRAG) is meeting on the third Thursday each month at North Georgia College and State University (NGCSU) at 7:00 pm in Young Hall. Their meetings are in conjunction with the new student club, the North Georgia Archaeology Guild (NoGAG). The two clubs are already busy with hands-on projects.

Are you curious about all this hub-bub over some old vehicle? Come satisfy your curiosity and see the brand new ArchaeoBus at its christening. The ArchaeoBus, (A.B or “Abbey” for short), becomes official on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 4:00 pm, after the presentations at the Spring Meeting!

Please visit our online calendar to read about events happening around the state for 2009 Archaeology Month! May is Archaeology Month in Georgia!

The Preserve at Callaway Gardens is offering archaeology programs again this year. The Preserve at Callaway Gardens encompasses thousands of acres of land west of Callaway Gardens in Harris County. It is dedicated to the wise stewardship of our natural resources and to offering new, exciting, environmental education programs. Of all of Callaway’s land, this [...]

The Visitor Information Center Program of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Division is once again sponsoring Georgia On My Mind Days at Georgia’s Visitor Centers. These events are free, and SGA can set up a table/display (we must provide the table) to distribute our brochures and informational fliers; offer fun, educational games and [...]

Event: Spring Crafts Festival, Scull Shoals Mill Village Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 Time: 10 AM – 4:00 PM Location: Macedonia Road to FS Road 1234, Off GA Highway15, between Athens and Greensboro. For maps and directions see website here Contact: Bob Skarda, 770-846-1859, ; or Jack Wynn, 770-287-5506, Fee: $5.00; lunch available, additional charge [...]

The Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory at the University of West Georgia is hosting their annual Open House on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Come out and bring the entire family, rain or shine! We will have an archaeological dig in the mock pit, flint knapping demonstrations by James [...]

The Dawn of Art: Recent Discoveries on Shamanism, Altered States and the Origin of Religion and Art Free public lecture followed by a book signing at the Savannah College for Art and Design (SCAD) Event Space, Atlanta Campus, on Saturday Night April 25, 2009 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM For the first and perhaps only [...]

The Society for Georgia Archaeology is pleased to announce a recent birth after a long labor. The new arrival is a beautiful, baby bus. ArchaeoBus arrived on November 21, 2008, measuring 16’ long and weighing several tons. Proud Godparents include the ArchaeoBus Committee. These baby pictures show the new bus, swaddled in its designer ‚“wrap” [...]

On Monday, November 17, 2008, the Columbus Museum formally transferred ownership of the Singer-Moye mound site property, located in Stewart County, to the University of Georgia. The ceremony, which was attended by Museum and UGA representatives, local elected officials, members of the Singer and Moye families and a number of interested citizens, was the culmination [...]

Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta has opened a new permanent exhibition featuring artifacts from St. Catherines Island, Georgia. Using pottery as a lens, Conveyed in Clay: Stories from St. Catherines Island explores 5,000 years of human history, from the oldest type of pottery discovered in North America to the introduction of Spanish majolica [...]

Dave Davis is currently assisting Pat Garrow on further analysis of the artifacts recovered from the museum grounds in 1969-1971. We look forward to new insights from this important Cherokee center in northwest Georgia. The Chieftains looks forward to welcoming Dr. David Hally for a book signing and lecture regarding his new University of Alabama [...]

The Eastern States Rock Art Conference is scheduled for March 27-29 at Red Top Mountain State Park, approximately 30 miles north of Atlanta.

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina’s annual Fall Field Day will be held on October 25th at Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site in Summerville, South Carolina. Dorchester offers a wonderful setting to discover the past. Its tabby fort ruins and the brick bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Church set a historic atmosphere, and its [...]

The recent amendment to one of Georgia’s archaeology laws might affect you, whether you are an avocational or professional archaeologist. Code Section 12-3-621 has always required a person who is going to dig on an archaeological site to first notify the Office of the State Archaeologist. This recent amendment has made that notification a lot [...]

The Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory at the University of West Georgia (UWG) has a new Director. Concluding a nationwide search, Dr. H. Thomas Foster, II will join the Anthropology faculty at UWG and assume administrative responsibility for the Waring Laboratory on July 1, 2008. A familiar face in Georgia archaeology, Thomas received his [...]

I’m pleased to announce that the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography has been awarded a second Coastal Incentive Grant to study the effects of natural erosion on archaeological sites. The initial study targeted sites located on the back sides of our barrier islands and was completed last year. The upcoming study will examine sites on our [...]

Madison Zerbe, fifth grade, and her winning exhibit. For the sixth year, SGA and the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists sponsored an Archaeology Award at the State Social Studies Fair held at Clayton State University on March 22. Madison Zerbe, a fifth grade student at Varnell Elementary School, won for her project on “Sequoyah.” Joshua [...]

The South Georgia Archaeological Research Team (SOGART) will hold its annual research symposium on Saturday, August 9, 2008, at South Georgia College, Douglas, Georgia. The meeting will be held in the Stubbs Hall auditorium (Science Building) with the morning session beginning at 8:30 AM and ending at noon. It will reconvene for an afternoon session [...]

Many archaeologists came to the Capitol to witness Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signing the Proclamation of Archaeology Month on 10 June 2008. Pictured, left to right, with the Governor (seated) are Mary Beth Reed, Ray Luce, David Crass, Terry Jackson, Phil Quirk, Bill Jordan, Myles Bland, Kathryn Ruedrich, Betsy Shirk, Tom Gresham, Tammy Herron, and [...]

Information on a week-long summer day program sponsored by Fernbank Museum in Summer 2008.

We all know that there are some riverine areas that are nearly impossible to reach, but may hold information about the past, especially if you are interested in resources such as fishtraps. I recently heard from a member of the HoverClub, owners of small one- and two-person Hover Crafts. It seems that the HoverClub have [...]

Much of the routine archaeological activity at Fernbank concerns management of the St. Catherines Island archaeological collection. Great strides have been made to bring housing of the collection up to contemporary standards, and planning is underway for a new exhibit that will feature the many stories represented by this remarkable set of artifacts. Information about [...]

Ever wonder what happens to all those wonderful Endowment contributions to the Society for Georgia (SGA) Archaeology Endowment Fund? The contributions generate interest that is used to fund archaeology research and public education projects. The SGA Board recently approved the use of the 2006 interest for its first Endowment project. These funds will provide assistance [...]

A new DVD on Georgia prehistory, prepared by SGA member and Lost Worlds founder Gary Daniels, is available for purchase. The DVD covers the past 4000 years of Native American archaeology in the state, specifically focusing on six sites: the Sapelo Shell Ring complex, the Fort Mountain stone wall, Rock Eagle/Rock Hawk, Kolomoki Mounds, Ocmulgee [...]