http://thesga.org SGA site, redux Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://thesga.org/2012/05/prehistoric-community-excavated-in-spalding-county/ http://thesga.org/2012/05/prehistoric-community-excavated-in-spalding-county/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 21:13:41 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=10811 Excavators working on a prehistoric settlement on the east bank of the Flint River in Spalding County have recovered materials from the Early Archaic through the Middle Woodland periods, along with posts, pits and many rock clusters. This work was performed by a crew from Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. for the Georgia Department of Transportation. The ancient community was on the first terrace overlooking a back swamp.]]> http://thesga.org/2012/05/prehistoric-community-excavated-in-spalding-county/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2012/05/beware-of-ticks/ http://thesga.org/2012/05/beware-of-ticks/#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 12:49:25 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=10735 May is Archaeology Month in the state of Georgia, and also Historic Preservation Month, but did you also know that May is Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Awareness Month? The Georgia Lyme Disease Association sponsors this month to promote awareness about these diseases as well as encourage prevention practices. Find more information online here, where you can find resources, stories, statistics, and articles detailing the signs and symptoms of tick-borne diseases. In Georgia, ticks may be active year round, but they are most active on calm, cool, damp (humid) days over 60 degrees. You can engage in some prevention by avoiding tick infested areas, using tick/bug sprays, and checking yourself thoroughly after venturing outside.]]> http://thesga.org/2012/05/beware-of-ticks/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2012/04/dams-hold-more-than-water/ http://thesga.org/2012/04/dams-hold-more-than-water/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:00:20 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=10567 We all know dams hold water, but they can also preserve archaeological information. The recent dynamiting of the Eagle & Phenix dam in the Chattahoochee River adjacent to downtown Columbus has revealed considerable data on the industrial history of the mill complexes that lined this stretch of the river. The water also concealed many archaeological artifacts. Read about what destruction of the dam has revealed, and the exhibits that will be created to tell the story of the Eagle & Phenix dam and the mills it served.]]> http://thesga.org/2012/04/dams-hold-more-than-water/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/12/wpa-archaeology-on-the-georgia-coast/ http://thesga.org/2011/12/wpa-archaeology-on-the-georgia-coast/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:04:37 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=10079 Preston Holder was the most productive archaeologist of the Georgia Coast during the Federal Works Progress Administration era (WPA was created in April 1935), and, in fact, the SGA helped fund his salary prior to the WPA. Some artifacts from Holder's work were displayed at the Visitor's Center at the entrance to the St. Simons causeway. Kevin Kiernan discusses Holder's work in the November 2011 issue of the Society for American Archaeology's Archaeological Record, which is previewed in the full story.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/12/wpa-archaeology-on-the-georgia-coast/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/12/november-27-2011/ http://thesga.org/2011/12/november-27-2011/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:13:30 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=10034 …In which Abby the ArchaeoBus visits Ft. Hawkins, in Macon. Abby describes excavations to uncover palisade walls that were built in 1809, and the flood of visitors who toured the Bus and displays.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/12/november-27-2011/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/11/2011-frontier-faire-well-attended/ http://thesga.org/2011/11/2011-frontier-faire-well-attended/#comments Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:26:22 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=9979 The well-attended October 2011 Frontier Faire at Fort Daniel, sponsored by the Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society, a Chapter of the SGA, and the Fort Daniel Foundation, hosted a Trading Post, tours, a candle-maker, both Girl and Boy Scouts, a food area and more. The 2011 Frontier Faire is considered a definite success and will serve as a model for next year’s Faire.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/11/2011-frontier-faire-well-attended/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/10/archaeobus-at-fort-hawkins-for-week/ http://thesga.org/2011/10/archaeobus-at-fort-hawkins-for-week/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:46:12 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=9807 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.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/10/archaeobus-at-fort-hawkins-for-week/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/10/volcanoes-and-archaeology-pros-and-cons/ http://thesga.org/2011/10/volcanoes-and-archaeology-pros-and-cons/#comments Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:00:12 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=9630 While volcanoes are undeniably destructive, they can aid archaeological tourism by preserving ancient homes and settlements. We discuss the case of AD 79 Roman Herculaneum, formerly on the Bay of Naples, Italy, and offer a few photographs.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/10/volcanoes-and-archaeology-pros-and-cons/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/09/dr-kiernan-to-lecture-at-the-ashantilly-center-in-darien-georgia-september-18-2011/ http://thesga.org/2011/09/dr-kiernan-to-lecture-at-the-ashantilly-center-in-darien-georgia-september-18-2011/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:18:07 +0000 Kelly http://thesga.org/?p=9512 Kevin Kiernan, Board member of the Society for Georgia Archaeology, will speak about WPA Archaeology on St. Simons Island during the Great Depression. His lecture is this Sunday, September 18, 2011, at 5 p.m. at the Ashantilly Center in Darien, Georgia.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/09/dr-kiernan-to-lecture-at-the-ashantilly-center-in-darien-georgia-september-18-2011/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/09/lamar-institute-to-dig-at-fort-hawkins/ http://thesga.org/2011/09/lamar-institute-to-dig-at-fort-hawkins/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:44:55 +0000 Kelly http://thesga.org/?p=9483 Macon.com contributing writer Jim Gaines featured a story August 30, 2011, regarding the Lamar Institute’s renewal of their 2005 dig at Fort Hawkins. The article mainly addresses the call for volunteers at the site from October 10 through 28, 2011. Lamar Institute President Daniel Elliott is looking for about twenty-four volunteers who can work at least five days, front $150 to cover basics and insurance, and those with field experience.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/09/lamar-institute-to-dig-at-fort-hawkins/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/08/scales-of-data-and-analysis/ http://thesga.org/2011/08/scales-of-data-and-analysis/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:00:17 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=9325 Consider how quantities of fine-grained data obtained through careful, well-documented excavation can be integrated to investigate broader questions of socio-political evolution. Consider how the scale of data and the research questions you can ask using them are related.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/08/scales-of-data-and-analysis/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/08/on-rifle-trenches-the-general-says%e2%80%a6/ http://thesga.org/2011/08/on-rifle-trenches-the-general-says%e2%80%a6/#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:00:38 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=9335 In his Memoirs, General William T. Sherman provides a detailed description of the rifle-trenches soldiers from both sides occupied while fighting near Kennesaw Mountain—and elsewhere—during the Civil War. Today, we consider the remains of these trenches archaeological features. What would you expect them to look like archaeologically—if they have survived the nearly one-and-a-half centuries since 1864?]]> http://thesga.org/2011/08/on-rifle-trenches-the-general-says%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/07/gaas-update-%e2%80%93-summer-of-2011/ http://thesga.org/2011/07/gaas-update-%e2%80%93-summer-of-2011/#comments Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:57:23 +0000 Kelly http://thesga.org/?p=9257 The Greater Atlanta Archaeological Society-GAAS has been busy this summer. Many chapter members have volunteered at various sites throughout Georgia and have been able to expand their archaeological knowledge through hands on excavation as well as participation in site supervisor lectures and updates. GAAS continues to be a great avenue for individuals interested in the hands-on archaeological experience. GAAS also has big news regarding their chapter president. Dennis Blanton has stepped down as president and, replacing Dennis will be Lyn Kirkland, who has been a member of GAAS for over 20 years.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/07/gaas-update-%e2%80%93-summer-of-2011/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/04/download-digital-version-of-2011-archaeology-month-poster/ http://thesga.org/2011/04/download-digital-version-of-2011-archaeology-month-poster/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:47:25 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=8953 May is Archaeology Month in Georgia, and this year’s theme is Gone But Not Forgotten: Rediscovering the Civil War through Archaeology. SGA’s poster celebrating this theme can be downloaded by clicking here. The bibliographic references for the extensive and informative text on the back of the poster are downloadable by clicking here. Please join us at the SGA’s 2011 Spring Meeting on Saturday, May 14th, at the Henry County Chamber of Commerce to learn more about how archaeology has supplied information about the Civil War that books, letters, and other records did not.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/04/download-digital-version-of-2011-archaeology-month-poster/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/03/scouts-learn-what-real-archaeology-is/ http://thesga.org/2011/03/scouts-learn-what-real-archaeology-is/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:07:29 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=8325 Boy Scouts from Troop 125 in Holly Springs performed some real life science by helping William Phillips, an Eagle Scout from Troop 11 of Gainesville, in early May 2010. Under the supervision of Dr. Jack Wynn, North Georgia College and State University archaeologist and long-time SGA member, the boys visited a prehistoric site that Mr. Phillips had targeted for testing. The scouts helped precisely measure and mark the locations of the new test holes, then worked in supervised groups, making careful notes as they proceeded. At day's-end, scouts had recovered dozens of pottery fragments, along with a few groundstone artifacts, and the artifacts all had to be cleaned and categorized. The boys learned that science isn’t always done the way it appears to be in the movies.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/03/scouts-learn-what-real-archaeology-is/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/02/new-volume-on-excavations-at-major-ridge-home/ http://thesga.org/2011/02/new-volume-on-excavations-at-major-ridge-home/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:39:17 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=7923 Long-time SGA member Pat Garrow's new book, The Chieftain Excavations, 1969-1971 reports the results of excavations Pat conducted on the Chieftains site, home of Cherokee leader Major Ridge (died, 1839) in Rome from 1969 to 1971. Analyses clearly indicate that George Lavender’s Store had been located in the north side yard of Major Ridge’s home, and had stood over the stone-lined cellar found during the excavations. Read more about this interesting research—and follow a link to order the volume in paperback or as a PDF—in the full story.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/02/new-volume-on-excavations-at-major-ridge-home/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2011/02/archaeological-excavations-in-augusta-reveal-material-culture-of-racial-segregation/ http://thesga.org/2011/02/archaeological-excavations-in-augusta-reveal-material-culture-of-racial-segregation/#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:10:20 +0000 Kelly http://thesga.org/?p=7807 Augusta followed some of the broader trends of urbanization experienced across the USA in the 19th century. As the city spread from its original core area, it took on many characteristics of a modern city, including residential neighborhoods that were divided based on class, race, or other attributes. In this example, a planned residential development specifically incorporated prevailing social ideologies at the turn of the century. The development was designed and built to separate residents on the basis of race and class, which helped to reinforce ideologies of the appropriate racial and economic social positions and roles.]]> http://thesga.org/2011/02/archaeological-excavations-in-augusta-reveal-material-culture-of-racial-segregation/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2010/10/researchers-investigate-prehistoric-use-of-selden-park/ http://thesga.org/2010/10/researchers-investigate-prehistoric-use-of-selden-park/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:23:46 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=6433 An October 3rd article in the online version of The Augusta Chronicle by Terry Dickson describes work in the Brunswick community of Selden Park. Archaeologists have recovered broken pottery, shells, and other artifacts left by prehistoric peoples.]]> http://thesga.org/2010/10/researchers-investigate-prehistoric-use-of-selden-park/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/12/leake-site-update-2009/ http://thesga.org/2009/12/leake-site-update-2009/#comments Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:28:14 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=4564 Archaeologist Scot Keith reports on the Leake site, which is west of Cartersville in Bartow County not far from the Etowah Mounds site, and partly within the right-of-way of Highways 61/113. The site has been named to the 2010 Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Places in Peril listing, which will aid Keith and others to raise money to protect the remaining portions of this important Woodland and Mississippian site. The full story includes excellent aerial photographs.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/12/leake-site-update-2009/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/12/discovery-of-unknown-cemeteries-at-hunter-army-airfield-sheds-light-on-a-forgotten-past/ http://thesga.org/2009/12/discovery-of-unknown-cemeteries-at-hunter-army-airfield-sheds-light-on-a-forgotten-past/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:00:10 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=4425 Researchers at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah identified two historic-period cemeteries. One had been buried beneath a parking lot for over fifty years; it had thirty-seven graves. A second cemetery was identified from an 1889 map as a "Negro Cemetery," and had well over three hundred burials. All human remains and artifacts were carefully excavated and respectfully moved to Belmont Cemetery, and the Installation’s Garrison Commander and Chaplain participated in a rededication ceremony in conjunction with African-American History Month in February 2009. Article includes photographs of selected grave goods.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/12/discovery-of-unknown-cemeteries-at-hunter-army-airfield-sheds-light-on-a-forgotten-past/feed/ 1 http://thesga.org/2009/12/the-bigger-picture-using-landscape-archaeology-to-better-understand-two-late-archaic-shell-rings-on-st-catherines-island/ http://thesga.org/2009/12/the-bigger-picture-using-landscape-archaeology-to-better-understand-two-late-archaic-shell-rings-on-st-catherines-island/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 07:45:15 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=4464 Archaeological crews from the American Museum of Natural History have been excavating on St. Catherines Island for over 30 years. Research this fall focused on the McQueen Shell Ring. Data suggests that the ring was the only substantial Late Archaic presence in this section of St. Catherines Island. (The full story may be slow to load due to a large figure.)]]> http://thesga.org/2009/12/the-bigger-picture-using-landscape-archaeology-to-better-understand-two-late-archaic-shell-rings-on-st-catherines-island/feed/ 1 http://thesga.org/2009/12/4510/ http://thesga.org/2009/12/4510/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:30:29 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=4510 The Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society (GARS) held a public archaeology day at the Creekside Rock Shelter in the Gwinnett County during the 2009 Winn Faire, October 13 and 14. The Faire, sponsored by the Gwinnett Historical Society, brought hundreds of visitors to the site. GARS and the newly incorporated, not-for-profit, Fort Daniel Foundation (FDF), also had a booth at the Faire. Their work at the Fort Daniel site also continues. Go to the full story to read more about GARS activities.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/12/4510/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/08/summer-fieldwork-at-poverty-point-dates-enigmatic-buried-features/ http://thesga.org/2009/08/summer-fieldwork-at-poverty-point-dates-enigmatic-buried-features/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:42:02 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=3750 A crew of students lead by Diana Greenlee of the Department of Geosciences at University of Louisiana at Monroe tested buried circles in the plaza area of the famous Poverty Point site in northeast Louisiana this summer and was able to date the features they tested. This important civic-ceremonial site dates to the Terminal Archaic and is open to the public.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/08/summer-fieldwork-at-poverty-point-dates-enigmatic-buried-features/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/08/savannahs-revolutionary-war-battle-detailed/ http://thesga.org/2009/08/savannahs-revolutionary-war-battle-detailed/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:53:01 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=3623 The Coastal Heritage Society of Savannah has been sponsoring archaeological research on Revolutionary War archaeological sites across the city as part of the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program (your tax dollars at work!). The report of this highly successful research is now complete, and available as a downloadable PDF.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/08/savannahs-revolutionary-war-battle-detailed/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/08/one-more-archaeological-mystery-solved%e2%80%a6/ http://thesga.org/2009/08/one-more-archaeological-mystery-solved%e2%80%a6/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:32:32 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=3615 The July 2009 issue of the Smithsonian magazine has an article by Barbara Krieger that details the research lead by Ehud Netzer of Hebrew University at the hilltop fortress palace that the Biblical King Herod built to eventually house his mausoleum. The exact location of his burial place, however, become lost to history, and remained an archaeological mystery until 2007.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/08/one-more-archaeological-mystery-solved%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/05/superposition/ http://thesga.org/2009/05/superposition/#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 09:00:17 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=510 Archaeologists conducting excavations are always trying to determine whether objects and features dated to the same period, or whether they were separated in time. Superposition is a big word that refers to locating one thing atop another thing. Archaeological researchers discover superpositioned objects all the time. Sometimes it's difficult to determine just when the superpositioning occurred—whether the two objects were abandoned more or less simultaneously, or whether they were left during events hundreds of years apart.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/05/superposition/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/04/archaeologists-think-about-worms%e2%80%94really/ http://thesga.org/2009/04/archaeologists-think-about-worms%e2%80%94really/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:00:13 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=2474 After archaeological sites and artifacts are abandoned, various natural processes begin to change them. Earthworms, for example, churn soil and affect archaeological deposits. The fancy word for this and other natural processes that affect archaeological materials after they are abandoned is bioturbation.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/04/archaeologists-think-about-worms%e2%80%94really/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/03/how-do-you-describe-a-color/ http://thesga.org/2009/03/how-do-you-describe-a-color/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:10 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=580 Do you have any idea what 10YR5/4 means? Read about it by clicking [More] below.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/03/how-do-you-describe-a-color/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/03/what-do-those-little-dots-mean/ http://thesga.org/2009/03/what-do-those-little-dots-mean/#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:00:42 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=2487 Archaeology is a destructive science. Therefore, when archaeologists excavate, they look not only for artifacts, but for faint differences in the soil—variations in color and texture, for example—among other significant but barely perceptible evidence left behind. Drip lines are one kind of faint evidence a careful excavator might find. This evidence may be data that is otherwise unavailable. Read more to learn about drip lines, what makes them, and what they might mean.]]> http://thesga.org/2009/03/what-do-those-little-dots-mean/feed/ 0 http://thesga.org/2009/03/trc-excavations-in-northern-alabama/ http://thesga.org/2009/03/trc-excavations-in-northern-alabama/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:00:50 +0000 sammy http://thesga.org/?p=2239 http://thesga.org/2009/03/trc-excavations-in-northern-alabama/feed/ 0