Overview looking south of excavations at L1 and L2.

The Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society (GARS) continues to work with the Gwinnett Historical Society (GHS) investigating areas of archaeological interest on the 20-acre Winn House tract in Dacula. Having completed excavation of an outbuilding location associated with the historic Elisha Winn house, where the public was invited to participate for two weekends as part of Archaeology Month, the group began excavations at a rock shelter on Labor Day weekend. The initial dig was for GARS members only with seventeen members, under the direction of Jim D’Angelo, participating over two weekends. Shovel testing and clearing and mapping of the site were completed during the summer months. The shelter has been divided into three loci and, after griding the site, 50- cm test trenches were placed at the central location (L1) and southern location (L2), and then expanded by 1 √ó 1-m unit increments (see photos). So far, fragments of a Lamar pot and one blue trade bead have been recovered from L1 above massive roof fall that has been encountered across the excavation areas. Plans are to return to the site October 9-10 as part of GHS’s annual Winn Fair.

A GARS web site will be up and running by mid-September where more information on this and other GARS archaeological projects will be posted.

Panorama of entire rock shelter during clearing and mapping phase.

Posted online on Friday, September 1st, 2006