Submitted by Tammy Forehand

The 12th Annual CoastFest—Georgia’s largest coastal natural resources festival—was held on October 6, 2007, along the scenic Marshes of Glynn in Brunswick, Georgia at the Department of Natural Resources Regional Headquarters. The Society for Georgia Archaeology’s booth was visited by many of the over 6,700 visitors in attendance. Although the forecast called for rain almost the entire day, we lucked out as not a drop of rain fell on the festivities.

Many of the youngsters (and some of the adults, too) tried their hands at the interesting and informative hands-on and interactive activities at our booth. These activities included a sorting board game with historic artifacts, casts to make rubbings of pottery designs, Guess the Artifact, mending vessels, pottery making, and unprovenienced prehistoric artifacts to see and touch. We also had a number of informational flyers and take-home puzzles, and debuted a freshly revamped SGA display board. Special thanks are extended to Rita Elliot and Ellen Provenzano for lending activities for the exhibit.

A number of the school children visiting our booth were already well versed in historical archaeology and were speed demons at the sorting game after having participated in an archaeology program at Fort Frederica—so yes, our outreach programs do make a difference!

SGA Board Member Tammy Herron and a number of enthusiastic volunteers from President Carolyn Rock’s introductory anthropology class and the Golden Isles Archaeological Society (GIAS) had great time manning the SGA exhibit. Volunteers from Carolyn’s class included Kristene Dewitt, Whitney Espinoza, Gerry Herndon, Tatyana Hickman, Michael Robinson, and Becky Silva. Volunteers from the GIAS included Jack Caldwell, Bill Weaver, Bill McNair, Jeanie Wilburn, Linda Lane, Nick Shorey, and Vince Miller. We appreciate the assistance of “veteran CoastFest volunteer” Bill Weaver in organizing the GIAS volunteers and in manning the booth throughout the day.

Thanks to everyone who assisted in this endeavor in an effort to educate the public about protecting and preserving Georgia’s cultural resources. Remember to save the date: The 13th Annual CoastFest will be held on October 4, 2008. Hope to see you there!

Posted online on Saturday, December 1st, 2007