The OAS has had some great speakers of late. Jack Wynn spoke in August on the fascinating topic of South American Peruvian archaeology. OAS member Dick Brunelle, who is involved in several SGA chapters around the state, spoke in September about his volunteer experiences in archaeology from projects as different as Fort Daniel in Gwinnett County, the search for the Spanish mission in Telfair County, to the Kolomoki site in Early County. In November, Don Gordy and Terry Jackson gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Archaeology at the Singer-Moye Mound Site, 9Sw2, 1967–2008: A Retrospective Summary,” which was an informative talk about the numerous excavations that have been performed at this important mound site and what it all means. The October meeting was a round table discussion of site and cemetery preservation in Middle Georgia. The society has no meeting in December, but has a Christmas party instead on December 17.
In addition to these monthly meetings, the OAS co-sponsored four Artifact Identification Days throughout Middle Georgia since August, including events in Gordon (Wilkinson County), Forsyth (Monroe County), Indian Springs (aka Seven Islands ID Day in Butts County), and Old Clinton (Jones County). Partners included the Wilkinson, Monroe, Butts, and Old Clinton historical societies. A great debt of thanks is also owed to John Whatley, Lloyd Schroder, and Sam Lawson for being pillars of this outreach; OAS members Dr. Bob Cramer, Teddy Howard, David Mincey, John Trussell, and Stephen Hammack have also volunteered their time and expertise at these events. Continuing to educate the public about archaeology is the primary goal of the OAS, so these events are wonderful opportunities to learn what is being found by collectors, to offer to go with them to record their sites, and to tell them about Georgia’s artifact collecting laws. Additionally, the OAS continues to actively participate in the Georgia Paleoindian Recordation Project, a program in which all points from Clovis to Dalton are measured, described, and photographed for submission to database coordinator Jerald Ledbetter.
The OAS has several irons in the fire involving field work on sites in Butts, Houston, and Monroe counties, all with the active involvement and encouragement of the respective landowners. The society also re-elected its 2008 slate of officers for 2009. President David Mincey, Vice-President Teddy Howard, Secretary Stephen Hammack, and Treasurer John Trussell will all be returning for another year. The group continues to meet in Macon the first Monday of each month at Mercer University’s Science and Engineering Building in Room 143 at 6:30 PM. Finally, the OAS would like to bid a fond, but sad, farewell to two faithful members, Rick and Lynn Day, who are returning home to Oklahoma after several years of working at Robins AFB. They have both been stalwarts of the OAS’s Maritime Archaeology efforts in the Ocmulgee River, and Rick also served as the first OAS Webmaster. Rick and Lynn—God speed in your new endeavors!
Posted online on Saturday, December 20th, 2008