JOIN US TOMORROW! Archaeology Field Day

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina

Fall Field Day 2012, Santee State Park, Santee, SC

The 25th Annual Fall Field Day will be held on TOMORROW, October 20, at Santee State Park. The Society is presenting a variety of activities for the benefit of members and the general public from 10:00am until 8:00pm. These activities include: lectures and exhibits by archaeologists working in South Carolina, archaeological excavations, a tour of the Santee Mound (1:00pm), first skills (Primitive Technologies) demonstrations, and artifact identification. The admission fee for the general public is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 12-18, Free under 12. ASSC members are admitted for free. An auction benefiting the society will be held at noon with a graduate student grant-in-aid raffle following at 4:30. A lantern tour stopping at several campfires from the past will be held from 6-8pm . A performance by the Edisto River Singers will occur between 5:30 and 8pm


Underwater Archaeology and The Civil War in South Carolina

Sport Diver Archaeology Management Program

Lecture (Hilton Head Island Wreck Project)

Diver Gear Demo and Shipwreck Mapping Station

Hobby Diver Tables (Joe Harvey & George Pledger)

Artifact Displays with focus on Civil War

Jim Spirek

Lecture (Navy Wrecks/Harbor Survey)

Chris Amer, Ted Gregg, Bob Butler

Lecture (CSS Pee Dee/Mars Bluff)

Johanna Rivera and Mike Scafuri (Hunley)

Lecture (Hunley)

Scott Harris

Remote Sensing on water


Primitive Skills

Flintknapping and stone tool use - Sean Taylor

Making fire the hard way - Fuz Sanderson

Throwing Spears with an Atl-Atl - Roger Lindsay

Catawba Pottery - Keith "Little Bear" Brown


Historic Reenactors

18th century trader and Indian - Jason Smith and Jason Melius

French and Indian War soldiers - Ashley Chapman


Activities

Pottery refitting, archaeology bingo, and more- SCAPOD

Pottery making for kids - Bobby Southerlin and Dawn Reid

Artifact Identification - Tommy Charles, Al Goodyear

Site Excavations - SC State Parks


Posters and Exhibits

The Johannes Kolb Site-T-Shirt sales

PAST (Piedmont Archaeological Studies Trust)

SC State Historic Preservation Office

ASSC

Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas

Brockington and Associates


Sales

ASSC publications

ASSC T-shirts



Auction Items donated so far include Suzanne Linder's book on the Great Pee Dee, A River in Time, a set of leather suitcases, a nice picnic basket, Jodi Barnes' book The Materiality of Freedom Archaeologies of Postemancipation Life, handmade pottery, a voucher for the SDAMP artifact Id workshop, and more.

Special Guests

The Edisto River Singers - Native American drummers and singers led by Chief Andy Spell

Santee State Park is located at 251 State Park RD in Santee, South Carolina 29142 and convenient to both I-95 and I-26. There is camping and lake side cabins at the park and plenty of hotels in Santee.

For more information about the park, call(803) 854-2408

This event is funded in part by grants from The Humanities Council SC and the Council of South Carolina Professional Archaeologists

THIS SATURDAY! Archaeology Field Day!



 Keith "Little Bear" Brown will demonstrate Catawba pottery making and will have some for sale at Archaeology Field Day. He will tell Catawba stories as part of the lantern tour.

   Archaeology Field Day Saturday Oct 20th Santee State Park

* Lectures on Maritime Civil War including the Hunley recovery and conservation.

* Participate in a real archaeological dig

*Artifact ID Roadshow

*BBQ

*Auction

*Lantern tour

*Edisto River Singers performance

*tour of the Santee Indian Mound

*Earthskills-flintknapping, Atlatl, fire making, and much more.


The events will take place at:

Santee State Park
251 State Park RD
Santee, SC 29142
Phone: 803-854-2408
Fax: 803-854-4834
santeesp@scprt.com

Driving Directions :

From I-95: Take exit 98 to Hwy 6 toward Elloree, the park is located 1 mi. W. of the town of Santee.

From Columbia: Take I-26 to Hwy 6, exit 136, travel through St. Matthews, continue on Hwy 6 for approximately 15 mile to Elloree and follow signs.

ALTERNATE ROUTE: Visitors coming from the Columbia area on HWY 6 or HWY 601 please note: The bridge on Cleveland Street from Elloree to Santee State Park is closed. Visitors are encouraged to continue on HWY 6 to State Park Road. For more information, please contact the park at (803) 854-2408.

LATITUDE/LONGITUDE
Latitude: 33.5253294
Longitude: -80.5058925

To see a park map, click here.

Friday Campers: Go to Group Camping Area. on the linked map above

Saturday people ----AFD will be held at Picnic Shelters 3-6 on the linked map above

For more information, go to ASSC.net

October 2: African American Civil War Lecture at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History

African American Civil War Lecture at The South Carolina Department of Archives and History

The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is proud to announce that its Foundation has been awarded a $7,000.00 matching grant from The Humanities Council SC for the "African American Civil War Lecture Series". The goal of the lecture series is to enlighten the general public to the roles of African Americans during the American Civil War, moreover the series will provide opportunities for much needed dialogue about one of the most pivotal events in United States history. The series is timely and appropriate because through 2015 this nation will be commemorating the sesquicentennial of the war.

"The Civil War was the defining moment in American history," says Dr. Abel Bartley, Director of the Pan-African Studies Program at Clemson University. "It split the nation in two before and after slavery," he adds. "It is an event which continues to separate Americans," he concludes.

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Veronica Gerald: "Grapevine: How African Americans Communicated During the Civil War"
* Ernest Parks: "The Battle of Sol Legare"
* Dr. Larry Watson: "Black Confederates"
* Jeannie Cyraique: "The Men at the Meeting with General Sherman

"With particular but not exclusive emphasis on the South Carolina experience, this multifaceted lecture series will delve deeply into the daunting issues that propelled the nation into an unprecedented fratricidal conflict, the myriad roles played by African Americans and the lasting implications for our time," says Dr. Bernard E. Powers, Jr., Professor of History and Associate Chairman at the College of Charleston. "Given the nature of the subjects, I expect many lively, frank and enlightening discussions to result ; it will be a welcome and needed educational opportunity," adds Dr. Powers.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Anyone needing additional information on the lectures should contact Joseph McGill, Commissioner for the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission and project coordinator. He can be reached at 843-408-7727.

The mission of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is to identify and promote the preservation of historic sites, structures, buildings, and culture of the African American experience in South Carolina and to assist and enhance the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The 15-member commission includes representatives from all regions of the state.

This event is free and open to the public. The Penn Center is located on Martin L. King, Jr. Drive, St. Helena Island, SC.

For more information, contact the Penn Center at (843) 838-2474 or Joseph McGill at (843) 408-7727 or email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org

PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH 2012

Plans are underway for the 21st Annual South Carolina Archaeology Month 2012 celebration, which will be held October 1-31, 2012.  

The Board of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina will sponsor the 25th Annual Archaeology Field Day on October 20, 2012 at Santee State Park!

The Director of the Institute has once again made a commitment to provide coordination in the statewide programming, which will involve schools, museums, libraries, the archaeological and preservation community, and other public forums throughout the state of South Carolina.  Please send me any programs that you are offering throughout the fall, and into next year and dates and location of the ASSC Annual Conference and the SAAs.  Your involvement is encouraged and welcomed!
 

The theme for the South Carolina Archaeology Month Poster 2012 is “Civil War Shipwrecks in South Carolina.”  The design of the front will be on the SCIAA website soon.  The poster will be delivered to the printer before the end of August. Any program on maritime research in the state will be most welcome.  Ashley Deming has organized four lectures on Civil War/1812 shipwrecks every Wednesday in October at the Charleston County Public Library.

The budget is similar to the past several years.  We rely on private donations.  The SC Department of Archives and History has again committed to the funding of the printing of the poster through a Federal Planning Grant.  The listing of programs will be posted on the SCIAA website as soon as I have received them, and I hope that the SCIAA website can be linked to other participant sites.  These programs and events are welcome to be displayed on anyone’s website, which will help to get the word out.  I want to thank everyone who has supported these events and programs through the years.

The deadline for program submissions is August 31, 2012.  If you want to help with the planning of South Carolina Archaeology Month activities, please contact me at the SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, (803) 576-6573 Office, (803) 331-3431 Cell, or email me at nrice@sc.edu.

Thank you so much for your support, and I look forward to working with you again this year.


Sincerely yours,

Nena Powell Rice
2012 South Carolina Archaeology Month Coordinator
University of South Carolina
SC Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
1321 Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC  29208(803) 576-6573 Office(803) 331-3431 Cellnrice@sc.edu
http://www.artsandsciences.sc.edu/sciaa/npr

August 23: African American Civil War Lecture at Spartanburg Regional History Museum

African American Civil War Lecture at Penn Center

The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is proud to announce that its Foundation has been awarded a $7,000.00 matching grant from The Humanities Council SC for the "African American Civil War Lecture Series". The goal of the lecture series is to enlighten the general public to the roles of African Americans during the American Civil War, moreover the series will provide opportunities for much needed dialogue about one of the most pivotal events in United States history. The series is timely and appropriate because through 2015 this nation will be commemorating the sesquicentennial of the war.

"The Civil War was the defining moment in American history," says Dr. Abel Bartley, Director of the Pan-African Studies Program at Clemson University. "It split the nation in two before and after slavery," he adds. "It is an event which continues to separate Americans," he concludes.

The following venues, dates, presenters and subject matters will be addressed:

The Spartanburg Regional History Museum, 200 E. St. John Street, Spartanburg, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Veronica Gerald: "Grapevine: How African Americans Communicated During the Civil War"
* Dr. Eric Emerson: "The Ordinance of Secession"
* Nicole Green: "Slavery in South Carolina"
* Dr. Abel Bartley: "The Causes of the War"
　
Upcoming Lectures:
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Veronica Gerald: "Grapevine: How African Americans Communicated During the Civil War"
* Ernest Parks: "The Battle of Sol Legare"
* Dr. Larry Watson: "Black Confederates"
* Jeannie Cyraique: "The Men at the Meeting with General Sherman

"With particular but not exclusive emphasis on the South Carolina experience, this multifaceted lecture series will delve deeply into the daunting issues that propelled the nation into an unprecedented fratricidal conflict, the myriad roles played by African Americans and the lasting implications for our time," says Dr. Bernard E. Powers, Jr., Professor of History and Associate Chairman at the College of Charleston. "Given the nature of the subjects, I expect many lively, frank and enlightening discussions to result ; it will be a welcome and needed educational opportunity," adds Dr. Powers.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Anyone needing additional information on the lectures should contact Joseph McGill, Commissioner for the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission and project coordinator. He can be reached at 843-408-7727.

The mission of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is to identify and promote the preservation of historic sites, structures, buildings, and culture of the African American experience in South Carolina and to assist and enhance the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The 15-member commission includes representatives from all regions of the state.

This event is free and open to the public. The Penn Center is located on Martin L. King, Jr. Drive, St. Helena Island, SC.

For more information, contact the Penn Center at (843) 838-2474 or Joseph McGill at (843) 408-7727 or email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org

Archaeologists at Cowpens seek Daniel Morgan's camp

Archaeologists at Cowpens seek Daniel Morgan's camp

COWPENS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD — More than 20 volunteers came together to uncover a piece of Cowpens' history this weekend.

The Southeast Archaeological Society joined forces with the Cowpens National Battlefield and volunteers in search of archaeological evidence proving the location of Gen. Daniel Morgan's campsite during the Revolutionary War. The campsite is believed to be part of the battlefield's acreage, said Michael Seibert, an archaeologist at the Southeast Archaeological Center in Tallahassee, Fla. He has been with the center for four years.

Volunteers from the park, archaeological center, Archaeological Society of South Carolina and the South Carolina Treasure and Artifact Association carried out the second metal detection survey of the campsite. Volunteers of all ages spent two 10-hour days searching more than 10 acres.

They found 40 artifacts, including belt buckles, musket balls and nails, Seibert said. “We exceeded expectations,” he said. “We found something; that's all that matters.”

Recruiting volunteers is a way to include the local community, Seibert said.

“National parks belong to everybody,” he said. Despite the heat, snakes, poison ivy and other challenges, Seibert said the team “did a great job.”

You can read the rest of the article here.

USC divers to study archaeology of shipwreck

USC divers to study archaeology of shipwreck

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - University of South Carolina maritime archaeologists are planning to teach students how to dive off the state's coast and uncover the secrets of an old shipwreck.

Spokeswoman Megan Sexton says Friday's event in Hilton Head Island features archaeologist Ashley Deming teaching a sport diver archaeology management course.

The course trains licensed scuba divers to become archaeological eyes and ears as they identify and record valuable information about the shipwreck.

Deming is using sections of a wooden vessel that was beached near the Harbor Town Golf Links and has a 10-foot portion that is exposed above water. Sexton says the vessel may be from the Civil War era and has not yet been explored by archaeologists

History underfoot in Cayce

Interesting piece in The State newspaper.

Couple buys house mainly to do archaeological dig in yard

Just add a video crew and the Saturday morning activity at the corner of Brookcliff and Riverland drives in Cayce could be a pilot for a new reality show – a combination of “Flip This House” and “The History Detectives

David and Modesta Brinkman bought a foreclosed house in the Riverland Park subdivision a couple of years ago primarily to do archaeological work in the yard. They have put some work into renovating the 1,050-square-foot home, but they won’t be selling it until their crew of history buffs finishes cutting one-meter square holes in the yard and sifting the dirt searching for artifacts

They’re finding plenty of pottery and glassware, pieces of brick and nails, and at least one pipe stem, mostly from the Revolutionary War era to the middle 19th century. Most of the artifacts are only a couple of feet below the surface.

You can read the rest here.

ASSC President’s Column

Summer is upon us and at ASSC that means it’s time to plan for Archaeology Field Day. ASSC Vice President Carl Steen, James Stewart (ASSC Board Member- at- Large) and I met recently with David Jones of SC Parks Recreation and Tourism about the October 20th event at Santee State Park. The plan is to open some excavations units at the park and allow visitors to help screen and perhaps excavate too. We are going to revive the lantern tour at dusk on Saturday night following a BBQ dinner. The lantern tour is a guided tour into the woods to visit camp fires of the prehistoric and historic past. We are also considering Native American dancers and drummers for an early evening performance. There will also be a day time tour of South Carolina’s largest Mississippian Mound at Fort Watson across the lake. More on the Archaeology Field Day will appear in Features and Profiles in the fall issue.

The ASSC Board met with the Presidents of Hilton Head and the Charleston Chapters in May to discuss items of mutual interest. The chapters need speakers for their monthly meetings and opportunities to participate in excavations locally. If you would be willing to speak on any aspect of archaeology to one of our chapters please contact me at judge@sc.edu. If you are conducting archaeology in the Hilton Head, Charleston or Spartanburg areas, there are energetic and active volunteers in the ranks of the ASSC membership ready and willing to assist you.

After experiencing low attendance at our Annual Conference this past April we are considering moving the event back to February, so as not to compete with the end of the college semester, good weather and other spring activities. Send me your thoughts on this proposed change.

Finally our Secretary and Treasurer have announced their intention to resign their positions midterm at the end of the 2012 calendar year. Please volunteer or nominate folks from our membership to fill these vital vacancies for 2013.

Christopher Judge

TOUR HISTORIC FORT MITCHEL

The Coastal Discovery Museum and the Heritage Library are pleased to announce a new tour offering on Hilton Head Island.  Beginning June, 8^th 2012, guided tours of Historic Fort Mitchel will be offered each Friday morning at 10 AM.

Visit a well preserved example of a Civil War Era coastal artillery battery. Learn about what life on Hilton Head Island was like for northern soldiers during the Union occupation 1861-1866.

Popularly known as “Fort Mitchel” and located on a bluff overlooking a bend in Skull Creek, about a mile or so below its entrance into Port Royal Sound, is what remains of a coastal defense, field artillery battery position.  The battery was constructed in 1862, as part of the outer defenses for Port Royal, South Carolina, headquarters of the Federal Department of the South and the Union Army X Corps.

The tour covers the origin, construction, and operation of the works and describes something of the life of the garrison during the Union occupation of Hilton Head Island and surrounding islands of the Low Country throughout the War Between the States.  Tours take slightly less than one hour.  Guides are from the all-volunteer staff of the Heritage Library, the Genealogy and History Center on Hilton Head Island charged with the preservation this historic site. The year 2012 is the 150^th anniversary of the construction of Fort Mitchel.

Reservations are requested for this tour.  Please contact the Coastal Discovery Museum at 843-689-6767 to register.  Or, visit www.coastaldiscovery.org.  Adults: $12 per person, Children ages 6-12: $7, no children under 6, please.

May 17: African American Civil War Lecture at the Hartsville Memorial Library

African American Civil War Lecture at the Hartsville Memorial Library
The South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is proud to announce that its Foundation has been awarded a $7,000.00 matching grant from The Humanities Council SC for the "African American Civil War Lecture Series". The goal of the lecture series is to enlighten the general public to the roles of African Americans during the American Civil War, moreover the series will provide opportunities for much needed dialogue about one of the most pivotal events in United States history. The series is timely and appropriate because through 2015 this nation will be commemorating the sesquicentennial of the war.

"The Civil War was the defining moment in American history," says Dr. Abel Bartley, Director of the Pan-African Studies Program at Clemson University. "It split the nation in two before and after slavery," he adds. "It is an event which continues to separate Americans," he concludes.

The following venues, dates, presenters and subject matters will be addressed:

The Hartsville Memorial Library, 147 West College Avenue, Hartsville, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Bernard Powers: "Black Charlestonians"
* Attorney Billy Jenkinson: "Lieutenant Stephen Swails"
* Donel Singleton: "Resistance, Runaways and Slave Revolts"
* Dr. Larry Watkins: "Black Confederates"
　
Upcoming Lectures:
The Spartanburg Regional History Museum, 200 E. St. John Street, Spartanburg, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Veronica Gerald: "Grapevine: How African Americans Communicated During the Civil War"
* Dr. Eric Emerson: "The Ordinance of Secession"
* Nicole Green: "Slavery in South Carolina"
* Dr. Abel Bartley: "The Causes of the War"
　
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC / These lectures will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2012 from 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
* Dr. Veronica Gerald: "Grapevine: How African Americans Communicated During the Civil War"
* Ernest Parks: "The Battle of Sol Legare"
* Dr. Larry Watson: "Black Confederates"
* Jeannie Cyraique: "The Men at the Meeting with General Sherman

"With particular but not exclusive emphasis on the South Carolina experience, this multifaceted lecture series will delve deeply into the daunting issues that propelled the nation into an unprecedented fratricidal conflict, the myriad roles played by African Americans and the lasting implications for our time," says Dr. Bernard E. Powers, Jr., Professor of History and Associate Chairman at the College of Charleston. "Given the nature of the subjects, I expect many lively, frank and enlightening discussions to result ; it will be a welcome and needed educational opportunity," adds Dr. Powers.

All lectures are free and open to the public. Anyone needing additional information on the lectures should contact Joseph McGill, Commissioner for the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission and project coordinator. He can be reached at 843-408-7727.

The mission of the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission is to identify and promote the preservation of historic sites, structures, buildings, and culture of the African American experience in South Carolina and to assist and enhance the efforts of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The 15-member commission includes representatives from all regions of the state.

This event is free and open to the public. The Penn Center is located on Martin L. King, Jr. Drive, St. Helena Island, SC.

For more information, contact the Penn Center at (843) 838-2474 or Joseph McGill at (843) 408-7727 or email: joseph_mcgill@nthp.org

DON'T FORGET! TOMORROW! ASSC 2012 Annual Conference

Archaeology Society of South Carolina

Annual Conference

2012

Focusing on the Underwater Archaeology of the

American Civil War in South Carolina

14 April 2012

8:30 – 5:40

ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON SOUTH CAROLINA ARCHAEOLOGY

14 APRIL 2012

8:30 REGISTRATION BELK AUDITORIUM, CLOSE/HIPP BUILDING BASEMENT LEVEL

PREHISTORIC SESSION

9:00 – 9:10 WELCOME ASSC President Chris Judge

9:10 – 9:30 Updating the Allendale-Brier Creek Clovis Complex: Settlement Implications Albert Goodyear, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology

9:30 – 9:50 Presenting Archaeological Science to the Public: A Medley of
Geoarchaeological Research by the Savannah River Archaeological ResearchProgram Christopher R. Moore & Mark J. Brooks, Savannah River Archaeological Research Project

9:50 – 10:10 A Brief Distributional Assessment of Metavolcanic Artifacts and Sources in the Long Cane District of the Sumter National Forest Bobby Southerlin, Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas

10:10 – 10:30 Preliminary Analysis of Lithic Material Utilization in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Robert C. Costello, USC Sumter and Kenneth E. Steffy, Independent Researcher

10:30 – 10:45 Coffee and Refreshment Break

GRANT-IN-AID SESSION

10:45 – 11:05 “…unto Seynte Paules”: Anglican Architecture and Landscapes in South Carolina Kimberly Pyszka, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Anthropology*

11:05 – 11:25 Preliminary Results from analysis and excavations at the Fort Congaree Site James Stewart, University of South Carolina Anthropology*

11:25 – 11:45 Integrating GIS with Historical Archaeology to Evaluate Risk Perceptions on Plantations along the East Branch of the Cooper River, Berkeley County, South Carolina, 1780-1822 University of South Carolina Anthropology*

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 12:50 ASSC Annual Business Meeting and Awards

THE STANLEY SOUTH SESSION ON HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY

Edgefield Mini-Session

12:50 – 1:10 2011 Excavations at the John Landrum Kiln Site. Carl Steen, Diachronic Research Foundation

1:10 – 1:30 Roots of the Alkaline Glaze Stoneware Industry in South Carolina. George Calfas, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, Anthropology

1:30 – 1:50 Investigations into the Domestic loci of the Reverend Landrum Site

Brooke Kenline, University of South Carolina Anthropology*

1:50 – 2:10 Lifeways of Enslaved Workers of Hampton Plantation Stacey L. Young, Independent Researcher

2:10 – 2:30 An Archaeology of a Street Corner Jakob D. Crockett, Historic Columbia Foundation

2:30 – 2:50 The South Carolina Artifact Documentation Project Drew Ruddy, Independent Researcher

2:50 – 3:00 COFFEE AND REFRESHMENTS BREAK

UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE CIVIL WAR SESSION

3:00 – 3:20 The Archeology of Civil War Naval Operations at Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, 1861-1865 James Spirek, Maritime Research Division South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology / University of South Carolina

3:20 – 3:40 Blockade Running During The Civil War Stephen R. Wise, Executive Director Parris Island Marine Corps Museum

3:40 – 4:00 Shipwrecks of South Carolina Christopher F. Amer, SC State Underwater Archaeologist South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology / University of South Carolina

4:00 – 4:20 Conserving waterlogged materials from the H.L. Hunley Johanna Rivera, Warren Lasch Conservation Center / Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI)

4:20 – 4:40 Recent Developments in the Archaeological Investigation and 3D Documentation of the Civil War Submarine H.L. Hunley Michael P. Scafuri, Warren Lasch Conservation Center / Clemson University Restoration Institute

4:40 – 5:00 From Gunboat to Garbage Can : The Conservation of a Cannonball

Ashley M. Deming, Sport Diver Archaeology Management Program, and Mike Slot

KEYNOTE LECTURE

5:00 – 5:30 The USS Monitor Project: Excavating, Conserving, and Interpreting the Famous Ironclad David Krop, USS Monitor Conservation Project Manager

5:30 – 5:40 Concluding Remarks – ASSC President Chris Judge

For Registration information, click here.

Campus Map: http://www.sc.edu/cgi-bin/uscmap/uscmap.cgi?type=number&data=36

Volunteer Dig at Hampton Plantation on May 5th and 6th!!

A Note to ASSC Members From Christopher Judge

Greetings to the membership:

We are off to a good start with the ASSC for 2012. James Stewart has put together a stellar program for the Annual Conference to be held in Columbia at USC on April 14th and we are in negotiations with SCPRT to hold Fall Field Day at Santee State Park in the second half of October.

An issue that has come back up lately is the relationship between the chapters and the main organization of the ASSC. In recent years I have witnessed two trends in the chapters that are a bit of a cause for concern. First several chapters have waned or met their demise. That is rather disheartening to me and if anyone would like to provide input on how that happened, how to avoid it in the future or better still how to breathe life back into those chapters I would like to hear from you. The second and equally alarming trend is the distance that some chapters have grown seemingly away from our overall organization. The current board and officers of ASSC are both cognizant and concerned, as previous administrations have been, about the declining numbers of memberships over the years. We are very interested in reversing this trend and wish to grow the ASSC over the next two years.

I need to hear from the membership on these phenomena in order to steer the course of the ASSC in a direction of growth and unity. Please contact your chapter presidents or me to bring your ideas and opinions to the forefront. At the May 19th meeting of the ASSC, I urge each chapter to send its President or a representative to the meeting in Columbia. We will have a forum dedicated to listening to the wishes and desires of the chapters as the main item of business on the agenda that day.

Finally, a reminder, all of our ASSC Board meetings are open to the membership. Please attend these meetings and provide your input. I think it is rather important that the Chapter Presidents attend these meetings. Obviously it can be a long distance to travel and take up an entire Saturday but we have successfully used Skype to bring board members and officers into the meeting across cyberspace.

I look forward to serving the ASSC as president and along with you striving to meet the goals of this organization as we approach our 50th year.

Christopher Judge

April 14: CIVIL WAR MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE

CIVIL WAR MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE

H.L. Hunley and the USS Monitor.

For the first time ever in Columbia, the public is invited to hear underwater archaeologists talk about the two most important Civil War era maritime archaeology endeavors--- the H.L. Hunley and USS Monitor projects.

As part of the Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology, a special session for all ages has been designed for the non-professional public audience on Saturday afternoon April 14, 2012 in the Belk Auditorium in the Darla Moore Business Administration building at USC Columbia.

The Confederate H.L. Hunley attacked the blockade ship the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864 near Charleston Harbor and was recovered as the world watched live on TV in August of 2000. The USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War and on March 9, 1862, participated in first-ever battle fought between two ironclads. The Monitor fought the former frigate the USS Merrimack. The USS Monitor was recovered by underwater archaeologists in August of 2002 near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Since the archaeological recovery of both vessels, fascinating and cutting edge research has shed light on these events and those involved. Those arriving at 3 pm for the Maritime Archaeology session will only pay the special price of $5.00 (half the price of conference admission) to hear seven lectures including three on these unique Civil War iron made vessels. More information can be found at here.

April 17 - Learn about the SC sport diver program at the ASSC Hilton Head Chapter meeting

ASSC Hilton Head Chapter-April 17th 7 PM

Hilton Head, SC: The Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Chapter will host their next meeting at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, April 17th at 7 PM. SCIAA's Ashley Deming will be speak on the SC sport diver program.

Ashley Deming manages the Sport Diver Archaeology Management Program. Deming received a BA in Anthropology from Western Michigan University. After finishing her degree, she went to work as an Education and Outreach Specialist for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan.
She then went on to obtain a MA in Maritime Archaeology and History from the University of Bristol in Bristol, England. From the SCIAA field office in Charleston, Ashley focuses on public archaeology and outreach as well as managing the Hobby Diver licensing program. Ashley is also the maritime archaeologist on staff for the Charleston field office.

This talk will be expecially pertient since this year's Archaeology Month in October will feature underwater archaeology in the State.
　
Upcoming Events:

• April 14th ASSC Annual Conference, University of SC, Columbia, SC registration on line or at 8:30 am at Belk Auditorium, Close/Hipp Building, USC campus.
• May 5, 9 am field trip to the Savannah Railroad Museum car pooling from Coastal discovery Museum at Historic Honey Horn
• May 17th, 7 PM meeting, Dr. Chester DePratter- Charlesfort and 450th Anniversary of the Landing of Jean Ribaut
• May 25th-- 1:30 pm 450th Anniversary of Jean Ribaut Landing Ceremony at Charlesfort (Parris Island, SC)

THIS WEEK: Native American Studies Week continues at USC Lancaster

Native American Education and Archaeology

Highlighted during USC Lancaster’s

Native American Studies Week

March 23rd-March 29th

If you missed the conference and festival, don't worry! There are still lots of exciting things going on during this year's Native American Studies Week.

This year’s free and public events are linked to the week’s theme, “Native Knowledge: Looking Back—Moving Forward,” as scholars and guests examine Native American history and culture, particularly in regard to education. Monday March 26th features a day of lectures and panel discussions, beginning with a talk by Dr. Will Goins, educator and CEO of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois, United Tribes of South Carolina. The lecture will focus on the little-known history of Native American schools in South Carolina. While the history of segregation-era schools established for white and African-American citizens is well known, few are familiar with the schools created for Native American students, who were often ignored in the b-racial South (This topic will be continued on Wednesday with lectures by USCL Archivist Brent Burgin and UNC Pembroke Sociologist Michael Spivey). Monday afternoon will feature a panel discussion on
Native American mascots in high school, college, and professional sports.

On Tuesday and Thursday, USCL faculty will screen films on Native American boarding schools to
compliment Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s respective lectures by Dr. Goins, Professor Burgin, and Dr.
Spivey. On Wednesday, leaders from South Carolina’s various tribal groups will be on campus to discuss
issues important to their respective communities, and at 2:30 pm, the campus will host a public meeting
of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Native American Advisory Committee. Native
American Studies Week 2012 closes out on Thursday afternoon with a lecture by anthropologist Sarah
Quick, who will discuss Native American musical traditions, and an opening reception to highlight
USCL’s new exhibit of Native American traditional arts.

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Week events are free and open to the public. USCL’s Native
American Studies Program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Charlotte Area Educational
Consortium.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies, at 803-313-
7108 or by email at criswese@gwm.sc.edu. For full schedule, updates, and additions, visit
http://usclancaster.sc.edu/.

USC Lancaster 2012 Native American Studies Week

Schedule of Activities

Monday March 26th
10:00 am – 11:00 am Dr. Will Goins, “Cherokee Indians of South Carolina.” - Bradley 102
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Panel Discussion on Native American Mascots - Bundy Auditorium

Tuesday March 27th
9:30 am – 10:30 am Professor Brent Burgin, “SC’s Native American Schools” - Bundy Auditorium
11:00 am – Noon Dr. Michael Spivey, “Native American Schools in the Carolinas” - Bundy Auditorium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium

Wednesday March 28th
9:00 am – Noon Photography, Grant Writing, and Genealogy Workshops - Location: TBA
Noon – 2:30 pm Roundtable with South Carolina Tribal Leaders - Carole Ray Dowling Center

Thursday March 29th
9:00 am and 11:00 am Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Tours - Bradley Atrium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Bundy Auditorium
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Dr. Sarah Quick “Native American Musical Traditions” - Medford 212
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Opening - Bradley Atrium

TOMORROW! USCL's Native American Arts and Culture Festival

USC Lancaster’s

Native American Arts and Culture Festival

March 24

Come out to USC Lancaster tomorrow for a Native American festival, featuring drummers, dancers, arts and crafts vendors, and educational and children’s activities, including a Catawba language puppet show.

And join us for next weeks events as well! Monday March 26th features a day of lectures and panel discussions, beginning with a talk by Dr. Will Goins, educator and CEO of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois, United Tribes of South Carolina. The lecture will focus on the little-known history of Native American schools in South Carolina. While the history of segregation-era schools established for white and African-American citizens is well known, few are familiar with the schools created for Native American students, who were often ignored in the b-racial South (This topic will be continued on Wednesday with lectures by USCL Archivist Brent Burgin and UNC Pembroke Sociologist Michael Spivey). Monday afternoon will feature a panel discussion on Native American mascots in high school, college, and professional sports.

On Tuesday and Thursday, USCL faculty will screen films on Native American boarding schools to
compliment Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s respective lectures by Dr. Goins, Professor Burgin, and Dr.
Spivey. On Wednesday, leaders from South Carolina’s various tribal groups will be on campus to discuss
issues important to their respective communities, and at 2:30 pm, the campus will host a public meeting
of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Native American Advisory Committee. Native
American Studies Week 2012 closes out on Thursday afternoon with a lecture by anthropologist Sarah
Quick, who will discuss Native American musical traditions, and an opening reception to highlight
USCL’s new exhibit of Native American traditional arts.

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Week events are free and open to the public. USCL’s Native
American Studies Program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Charlotte Area Educational
Consortium.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies, at 803-313-
7108 or by email at criswese@gwm.sc.edu. For full schedule, updates, and additions, visit
http://usclancaster.sc.edu/.

USC Lancaster 2012 Native American Studies Week

Schedule of Activities

Saturday March 24th
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Native American Arts and Culture Festival - Bradley Building

Monday March 26th
10:00 am – 11:00 am Dr. Will Goins, “Cherokee Indians of South Carolina.” - Bradley 102
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Panel Discussion on Native American Mascots - Bundy Auditorium

Tuesday March 27th
9:30 am – 10:30 am Professor Brent Burgin, “SC’s Native American Schools” - Bundy Auditorium
11:00 am – Noon Dr. Michael Spivey, “Native American Schools in the Carolinas” - Bundy Auditorium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium

Wednesday March 28th
9:00 am – Noon Photography, Grant Writing, and Genealogy Workshops - Location: TBA
Noon – 2:30 pm Roundtable with South Carolina Tribal Leaders - Carole Ray Dowling Center

Thursday March 29th
9:00 am and 11:00 am Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Tours - Bradley Atrium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Bundy Auditorium
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Dr. Sarah Quick “Native American Musical Traditions” - Medford 212
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Opening - Bradley Atrium

STARTING TOMORROW! USCL's Native American Studies Week

Native American Education and Archaeology

Highlighted during USC Lancaster’s

Native American Studies Week

March 23rd-March 29th

Demonstrations and exhibits of Native American arts and crafts, a Saturday cultural festival, lectures,
films, and a day-long archaeology conference will be featured as USCL celebrates is seventh annual
Native American Studies Week. This year’s free and public events are linked to the week’s theme,
“Native Knowledge: Looking Back—Moving Forward,” as scholars and guests examine Native American
history and culture, particularly in regard to education. The week kicks off on Friday March 23rd with a
day-long conference highlighting work conducted by archaeologists from area educational institutions.
Archaeologists from UNC, USC, Winthrop University, and USC Lancaster will discuss work conducted
in the Catawba/Wateree Valley, covering over a thousand years of occupation, settlement, exploration,
and colonization.

Events continue Saturday with a Native American festival, featuring drummers, dancers, arts and crafts
vendors, and educational and children’s activities, including a Catawba language puppet show. Monday
March 26th features a day of lectures and panel discussions, beginning with a talk by Dr. Will Goins,
educator and CEO of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois, United Tribes of South Carolina. The
lecture will focus on the little-known history of Native American schools in South Carolina. While the
history of segregation-era schools established for white and African-American citizens is well known, few
are familiar with the schools created for Native American students, who were often ignored in the b-racial
South (This topic will be continued on Wednesday with lectures by USCL Archivist Brent Burgin and
UNC Pembroke Sociologist Michael Spivey). Monday afternoon will feature a panel discussion on
Native American mascots in high school, college, and professional sports.

On Tuesday and Thursday, USCL faculty will screen films on Native American boarding schools to
compliment Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s respective lectures by Dr. Goins, Professor Burgin, and Dr.
Spivey. On Wednesday, leaders from South Carolina’s various tribal groups will be on campus to discuss
issues important to their respective communities, and at 2:30 pm, the campus will host a public meeting
of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Native American Advisory Committee. Native
American Studies Week 2012 closes out on Thursday afternoon with a lecture by anthropologist Sarah
Quick, who will discuss Native American musical traditions, and an opening reception to highlight
USCL’s new exhibit of Native American traditional arts.

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Week events are free and open to the public. USCL’s Native
American Studies Program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Charlotte Area Educational
Consortium.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies, at 803-313-
7108 or by email at criswese@gwm.sc.edu. For full schedule, updates, and additions, visit
http://usclancaster.sc.edu/.

USC Lancaster 2012 Native American Studies Week

Schedule of Activities

Friday March 23rd
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Conference on Archaeology in the Catawba/Wateree Valley - Bundy Auditorium

Saturday March 24th
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Native American Arts and Culture Festival - Bradley Building

Monday March 26th
10:00 am – 11:00 am Dr. Will Goins, “Cherokee Indians of South Carolina.” - Bradley 102
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Panel Discussion on Native American Mascots - Bundy Auditorium

Tuesday March 27th
9:30 am – 10:30 am Professor Brent Burgin, “SC’s Native American Schools” - Bundy Auditorium
11:00 am – Noon Dr. Michael Spivey, “Native American Schools in the Carolinas” - Bundy Auditorium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium

Wednesday March 28th
9:00 am – Noon Photography, Grant Writing, and Genealogy Workshops - Location: TBA
Noon – 2:30 pm Roundtable with South Carolina Tribal Leaders - Carole Ray Dowling Center

Thursday March 29th
9:00 am and 11:00 am Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Tours - Bradley Atrium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Bundy Auditorium
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Dr. Sarah Quick “Native American Musical Traditions” - Medford 212
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Opening - Bradley Atrium

DEADLINE MARCH 25: Features and Profiles Submissions

The submission deadline is March 25th for the first newsletter of 2012. Generally, I am looking for a page or less of text and a few accompanying photographs of any recent or upcoming archaeological events in your area.

Sincerely,
Chan Funk
Editor, Features and Profiles
chanfunk@aol.com

Call for Donations to the ASSC Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid Program

Call for Donations to the ASSC Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid Program

Dear ASSC Member:

On behalf of The Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid Committee, we are requesting contributions from ASSC members interested in supporting the  Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid Program. The Grant-in-Aid Program was established to assist graduate students in their thesis or dissertation research. The goal of the program is to award funds ranging from several hundred to one thousand dollars to graduate students researching topics pertaining to South Carolina archaeology.  This includes both the historic and prehistoric time periods for terrestrial and underwater archaeology.

 Donations to the Grant-in-Aid Program promote research that advances our knowledge of the history and prehistory of South Carolina and of the United States. To date, this program has assisted the research of more than 40 students and has been instrumental in allowing a number of archaeologists to move on and become respected members of the academic and applied archaeology professions.

Suggested donation amounts are $50 from individuals and $100 from organizations and businesses. However, no contribution is too small, and all are tax deductible. Contributions to the Grant-in-Aid fund will be acknowledged in the Society's newsletter, Features and Profiles, unless contributors prefer to remain anonymous.

Please make donations payable to the ASSC and mail to :

Archaeology Society of South Carolina

1321 Pendleton St.

Columbia, SC 29208

If you prefer, you may also make a contribution via PayPal by using the link on our website http://www.assc.net/grant-in-aid/call-for-donations

Thank you in advance for your continued support of this important program.

M. Brooke Brilliant                                                        Aaron Brummitt

Grant-in-Aid Committee Co-Chair                      Grant-in-Aid Committee Co-Chair

121 E. First Street                                                   620 Wando Park Boulevard

Clayton, NC  27520                                                     Mt. Pleasant, SC  29464

brooke.brilliant@yahoo.com                                      abrummitt@smeinc.com

TOMORROW! ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

Archaeological Society of South Carolina

Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology

Call for Papers - Deadline is March 6 (TOMORROW)!

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina invites submissions for the general session of our annual conference on April 14, 2012. Accepted posters and papers must incorporate South Carolina archaeology, but we hope to integrate a range of topics and perspectives.

Avocational archaeologists, undergraduate students, graduate students and professional archaeologists interested in participating are encouraged to email a title and short abstract to James Stewart (stewartseneca@gmail.com) by March 6, 2012.

Paper presentations are limited to 20-minutes. Please specify whether submitting a poster or paper.

March 23-29: USCL's Native American Studies Week

Native American Education and Archaeology

Highlighted during USC Lancaster’s

Native American Studies Week

March 23rd-March 29th

Demonstrations and exhibits of Native American arts and crafts, a Saturday cultural festival, lectures,
films, and a day-long archaeology conference will be featured as USCL celebrates is seventh annual
Native American Studies Week. This year’s free and public events are linked to the week’s theme,
“Native Knowledge: Looking Back—Moving Forward,” as scholars and guests examine Native American
history and culture, particularly in regard to education. The week kicks off on Friday March 23rd with a
day-long conference highlighting work conducted by archaeologists from area educational institutions.
Archaeologists from UNC, USC, Winthrop University, and USC Lancaster will discuss work conducted
in the Catawba/Wateree Valley, covering over a thousand years of occupation, settlement, exploration,
and colonization.

Events continue Saturday with a Native American festival, featuring drummers, dancers, arts and crafts
vendors, and educational and children’s activities, including a Catawba language puppet show. Monday
March 26th features a day of lectures and panel discussions, beginning with a talk by Dr. Will Goins,
educator and CEO of the Eastern Cherokee, Southern Iroquois, United Tribes of South Carolina. The
lecture will focus on the little-known history of Native American schools in South Carolina. While the
history of segregation-era schools established for white and African-American citizens is well known, few
are familiar with the schools created for Native American students, who were often ignored in the b-racial
South (This topic will be continued on Wednesday with lectures by USCL Archivist Brent Burgin and
UNC Pembroke Sociologist Michael Spivey). Monday afternoon will feature a panel discussion on
Native American mascots in high school, college, and professional sports.

On Tuesday and Thursday, USCL faculty will screen films on Native American boarding schools to
compliment Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s respective lectures by Dr. Goins, Professor Burgin, and Dr.
Spivey. On Wednesday, leaders from South Carolina’s various tribal groups will be on campus to discuss
issues important to their respective communities, and at 2:30 pm, the campus will host a public meeting
of the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Native American Advisory Committee. Native
American Studies Week 2012 closes out on Thursday afternoon with a lecture by anthropologist Sarah
Quick, who will discuss Native American musical traditions, and an opening reception to highlight
USCL’s new exhibit of Native American traditional arts.

USC Lancaster’s Native American Studies Week events are free and open to the public. USCL’s Native
American Studies Program is supported, in part, by a grant from the Charlotte Area Educational
Consortium.

For more information, contact Dr. Stephen Criswell, Director of Native American Studies, at 803-313-
7108 or by email at criswese@gwm.sc.edu. For full schedule, updates, and additions, visit
http://usclancaster.sc.edu/.

USC Lancaster 2012 Native American Studies Week

Schedule of Activities

Friday March 23rd
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Conference on Archaeology in the Catawba/Wateree Valley - Bundy Auditorium

Saturday March 24th
9:00 am – 3:00 pm Native American Arts and Culture Festival - Bradley Building

Monday March 26th
10:00 am – 11:00 am Dr. Will Goins, “Cherokee Indians of South Carolina.” - Bradley 102
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Panel Discussion on Native American Mascots - Bundy Auditorium

Tuesday March 27th
9:30 am – 10:30 am Professor Brent Burgin, “SC’s Native American Schools” - Bundy Auditorium
11:00 am – Noon Dr. Michael Spivey, “Native American Schools in the Carolinas” - Bundy Auditorium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Native American Film Series - Stevens Auditorium

Wednesday March 28th
9:00 am – Noon Photography, Grant Writing, and Genealogy Workshops - Location: TBA
Noon – 2:30 pm Roundtable with South Carolina Tribal Leaders - Carole Ray Dowling Center

Thursday March 29th
9:00 am and 11:00 am Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Tours - Bradley Atrium
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Native American Film Series - Bundy Auditorium
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Dr. Sarah Quick “Native American Musical Traditions” - Medford 212
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm Native American Art Exhibit Gallery Opening - Bradley Atrium

Please Write Your Legislators

From Christopher Judge:

"I urge everyone to write to your legislators now and ask them to see that the Office of Coastal Resource Management within DHEC reverse their recent policy change whereby they no longer require that cultural resources surveys be conducted along our SC coast. More details are attached in a letter from Sean Norris Presdient of the Council of SC Professional Archaeologists:"

Carolyn Boltin-Kelly, Deputy Commissioner
Rheta Dinovo, Director of Regulatory Programs
DHEC-OCRM
1362 McMillan Avenue
Suite 400
Charleston, SC 29405

Dear Deputy Commissioner Boltin-Kelly and Director Dinovo:

In 2011, the Department of Health and Environmental Control-Ocean and Coastal Resource Management Division (OCRM) revised its policy so that archeological surveys will no longer be required for land disturbance permits. The Council of South Carolina Professional Archaeologists believes that this policy change should be reexamined. With the 1977 Coastal Zone Management Act OCRM has been mandated to consider, "the extent to which the development could affect irreplaceable historic and archeological sites of South Carolina's coastal zone" (Section 48-39-150(A)(6)).

Since the OCRM has no archaeologist or historian on staff, it consults with the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) in order to identify irreplaceable historic and archaeological sites. The SHPO maintains a list of all the archaeological sites that have been submitted to the state for review. The SHPO makes a determination of whether a site submitted for review is important enough to be on the National Register of Historic Places. OCRM has interpreted its mandate to consider irreplaceable sites as simply using SHPO’s inventory of sites on the National Register as the final list of sites that will be protected. As new sites are added to the SHPO’s list OCRM can add them to their list.

This is where the process falls apart. SHPO is a review agency; they do not actively undertake archaeological surveys. OCRM tasks agencies such as the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife to provide information on important natural and biological resources. These agencies physically go out in the field and identify those resources. SHPO, on the other hand, only reviews archaeological site surveys that have been requested by Federal or State agencies. If the State agency (OCRM) does not request an archaeological survey no new sites can be added to SHPO’s list and therefore fewer sites will be added to OCRM’s list.

OCRM has recognized this gap in the past and has appropriately consulted with SHPO on permit applications. SHPO would review their records and if no archaeological survey had been done in a permit area and if there were Native American shell mounds, plantation sites, cemeteries or other sites in the vicinity or on similar landform settings they would recommend that OCRM require the permit applicant to conduct an archaeological survey. The reason was similar to OCRM requiring a Wetlands Master Plan, or a map showing where the wetlands were on a property and how they will be affected. To generate a Wetlands Master Plan someone has to survey a property to find where the wetlands are. Similarly, someone would have to survey a property to find the archaeological sites.

The as-yet unidentified, unknown sites are of great concern. According to records on file at the SHPO, in the last ten years alone Cultural Resource Surveys initiated by OCRM permits have identified numerous previously unknown significant archaeological sites such as Palmetto Bluff in Beaufort County and the Dean Hall Plantation slave settlement in Berkeley County. These sites provide invaluable information concerning the history and prehistory of South Carolina. They would have been lost without OCRM recommending archaeological surveys.

The professional archaeological community understands the need for development on the coast. For decades we have worked with developers in order to minimize the cost of our services while still being responsible stewards of the archaeological resources. The cost of an archaeological survey is marginal compared to other costs a developer will encounter. The destruction or loss of a significant archaeological site can only hurt one of the things that makes the coast of South Carolina so special. The amount of money generated by heritage tourism on the coast is significant. According to South Carolina Parks Recreation and Tourism, in 2003 there were 1.6 million visitors to historic attractions in South Carolina spending an average of $62 a day. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation cites a 2002 Department of Commerce statement that for every 1000 heritage tourists 10 jobs are created. Additionally the jobs of the professional archaeological community are affected by the policy change.

The archaeological community encourages OCRM to review and revise its policy in order to protect, sustain and promote the unique character of life on the coast that is reflected in its archaeological and historical resources.

Sincerely,

Sean Norris
President-Council of South Carolina Professional Archaeologists

Stealing Our Shared Past

You have probably read some of the uproar recently about a couple of new shows that essentially glamorize looting of archaeological sites. If you have not, I recommend you check out Archaeologists Protest 'Glamorization' of Looting on TV  over at Science Insider on Science Mag.

The article states:

"On 20 March, Spike TV will premiere a new show called American Digger, while a show called Diggers on the National Geographic Channel made its debut 28 February. Both shows "promote and glorify the looting and destruction of archaeological sites," Society for American Archaeology (SAA) President William F. Limp wrote in a message posted earlier this week to the SAA listserv.

The premise of American Digger, which is being hosted by a former professional wrestler, was laid out in a recent announcement by Spike TV. A team of "diggers" will "scour target-rich areas, such as battlefields and historic sites, in hopes of striking it rich by unearthing and selling rare pieces of American history." Similar locales are featured in National Geographic's Diggers. In the second episode, set in South Carolina, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 buttons, bullets, and coins were recovered at a former plantation."

After you have checked out the article, I encourage you to consider signing the petitions circulating protesting these shows. You can find one of them here.

March 23: Native American Archaeological Research in the Catawba/Wateree Valley, 800-1860 A.D.

Conference on

Native American Archaeological Research

in the Catawba/Wateree Valley, 800-1860 A.D.

Sponsored by:
USC Lancaster Native American Studies Program
Friday March 23, 2012
Bundy Auditorium USCL Lancaster

ABSTRACTS

Conference Abstract
The unique history and cultural traditions of the indigenous populations of the Catawba/Wateree region were shaped by very early contact with Europeans and subsequent devastations as a result of disease, warfare, and attempts at removal. For these Native Americans, who were often erased from written histories, archaeological research provides the only insight into histories and cultures of these indigenous populations and their interactions with Europeans. Scholars from around the Carolinas, including from CAEC institutions, have approached their fieldwork and research in this region from a variety of perspectives and timeframes, from prehistoric Woodland and Mississippian eras to the antebellum period. USC Lancaster’s “Native American Archaeological Research in the Catawba/Wateree Valley, 800-1860 A.D.” conference attempts
to bring these researchers together for a comprehensive review of this scholarship, a discussion of conflicting perspectives, and a synthesis of discoveries and theories.

The format of the conference will be 30 minute papers followed by a panel of discussants and concluding with an opportunity for audience and participant questions and answers.

10am "The Geography of Native American Ceramic Sequencing on the Carolina Coastal Plain: A Prospectus for Measuring Cultural Interaction and Relatedness."

John Cable, Palmetto Research Institute

ABSTRACT: Ceramic production traditions are composed of a complex system of technological, stylistic and functional elements, all of which hold significance for evaluating the degree of social interaction and cultural relatedness between and within regional populations. Although archaeologists generally recognize this quality of ceramic traditions, methods and approaches directed toward systematizing and quantifying regional patterns of ceramic interaction have been slow to develop. This paper will provide a broad overview of what is known about pre-contact and contact regional ceramic sequences on the Southeast Atlantic Slope of the Carolinas and attempt to develop a framework for examining the cultural relationships between regional populations. In conclusion, strategies for further developing inter-regional data comparability are discussed.

10:30am “The Late Woodland Period in Central South Carolina: A Time of “More”, or a Pit-Stop on the Road from Middle Woodland to Mississippian” Jeremy Varnier, Department of Anthropology, University of South Carolina.

ABSTRACT: Very generally speaking, the Late Woodland period has been described as a time of “more” and as a time of transition. More people, more agriculture, more mound-building, and more sociopolitical complexity. My concern, in this paper, is two-fold: how does the concept of “more” with regard to increasing sociopolitical complexity look in the Wateree Valley during the Late Woodland period, and how does the evidence of increasing sociopolitical complexity manifest itself in the archaeological record? To help elucidate this question I provide a functional analysis of ceramic vessels from sites throughout the Wateree Valley examining a correlation between changing Late Woodland sociopolitical complexities in central South Carolina and variation in construction cost, display value, and size among ceramic vessels.

11:00am “Late Woodland Period Occupations at the Ashe Ferry Site, York County, South Carolina.” Brett H. Riggs and Duane E. Esarey, Research Laboratories of Archaeology, University of North Carolina.

ABSTRACT: Recent large-scale excavations at the Ashe Ferry site (38Yk533), York
County, South Carolina, revealed evidence of serial Late Woodland period encampments that likely represent stations for extraction and processing of nut crops and other resources. AMS assays derived from a variety of discrete features document primary occupations between ca. A.D. 950 and A.D. 1250. Analysis of associated ceramic assemblages clarifies the position of Late Woodland simple stamped wares in the ceramic sequence of the lower Catawba River basin, and illuminates the inception of
Mississippian vessel types and treatments in the region.

1:00pm “An Archaeology of the Settlement Indians of the South Carolina Lowcountry.” Carl Steen, Diachronic Research Foundation.

ABSTRACT: Native Americans present in the South Carolina Lowcountry at British contact in 1670 had already been weakened by disease, and soon faced even more threats. The European settlers wanted to trade with the Indians of the Southeast for furs and slave labor. Outside groups moved closer to the settlements, threatening the locals, who sought the protection of the Europeans. In the slave society of the Lowcountry they faced another danger: being mistaken (or taken) for slaves. To survive and maintain their freedom many left their Native ways behind. This paper will explore their survival, and contributions to Lowcountry culture.

1:30 pm “The Indian Slave Trade and Catawba History.” Mary Elizabeth Fitts, Department of Anthropology University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

ABSTRACT: The American Indian slave trade conducted by South Carolina merchants from approximately 1670 to 1720 left indelible marks upon the sociopolitical landscape of the Southeastern United States. The purpose of this paper is to examine how this period of turmoil influenced the history of a single native
polity, the Catawba Indian Nation, using historic documents, ethnographic works, and archaeological data from mid-eighteenth century Catawba settlements.

The Catawba are one of few native polities of the Carolinas to emerge from the crucible of the Indian slave trade. The threats and opportunities of slave raiding led some groups to join a geographically dispersed confederacy which ultimately became the Catawba Nation. References to the trade of Indian slaves are scarce after the Yamasee War (1715-1717), but the legacy of slave raiding continued to influence Catawba political strategies and daily life. Different kinds of data can elucidate different facets of this influence. Using anthropological approaches to memory and embodied practice in conjunction with documentary sources it is possible to identify specific fears, particularly regarding the safety of Catawba children, as related to early colonial period slave raiding. Archaeological data from the mid eighteenth century Catawba towns of Nassaw, Weyapee, and Charraw, on the other hand, enable an examination of the degree to which the cultural diversity of the Nation, another legacy of the slave trade, affected daily life. These results suggest the impacts of the slave trade upon Southeastern Indian groups have yet to be fully understood.

2:00 pm “An Overview of the Catawba Project, 2001-2011.” R.P. Stephen Davis, Jr. Research Laboratories of Archaeology, University of North Carolina.

ABSTRACT: Since 2001, students and staff from the University of North Carolina’s Research Laboratories of Archaeology have undertaken research into the origins of the modern Catawba Nation, combining archaeological and historical information to gain a better understanding of the processes that brought about the transition from a culturally diverse, multi-ethnic community in the early to mid-18th century to a largely unified nation by the beginning of the 19th century. This transition involved strategic decision-making by Catawbas as they confronted dramatic demographic changes and population loss, shifts in community structure, realignment of political and military alliances, an evolving economic base, and the pressures of Euroamerican encroachment. The material record relevant to this research lies largely within York and Lancaster counties, South Carolina, and over the past decade six sites have been investigated through archaeological excavation. These include: Nassaw-Weyapee and Charraw Town, both located in the vicinity of Nation Ford and occupied during the 1750s; Old Town and Ayers Town, located several miles downriver and occupied during the late colonial and early federal periods; and New Town and the Bowers site, the last Catawba communities situated along the east side of Catawba during the early 19th century. Investigations at each of these sites are briefly described and summarized.

2:45- 3:30 pm Panel discussion and questions. Led by Stephen Criswell
PANEL: Charlie Cobb, Rick Chacon, Brooke Bauer, Stephen Criswell.

DEADLINE IS MARCH 6: ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

Archaeological Society of South Carolina

Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology

Call for Papers - Deadline is March 6!

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina invites submissions for the general session of our annual conference on April 14, 2012. Accepted posters and papers must incorporate South Carolina archaeology, but we hope to integrate a range of topics and perspectives.

Avocational archaeologists, undergraduate students, graduate students and professional archaeologists interested in participating are encouraged to email a title and short abstract to James Stewart (stewartseneca@gmail.com) by March 6, 2012.

Paper presentations are limited to 20-minutes. Please specify whether submitting a poster or paper.

DEADLINE MARCH 6: ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

ASSC Annual Conference: Call for Papers

Archaeological Society of South Carolina

Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology

Call for Papers - Deadline is March 6!

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina invites submissions for the general session of our annual conference on April 14, 2012. Accepted posters and papers must incorporate South Carolina archaeology, but we hope to integrate a range of topics and perspectives.

Avocational archaeologists, undergraduate students, graduate students and professional archaeologists interested in participating are encouraged to email a title and short abstract to James Stewart (stewartseneca@gmail.com) by March 6, 2012.

Paper presentations are limited to 20-minutes. Please specify whether submitting a poster or paper.

February 18: Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference

Saturday, February 18, 2012

9:00am until 5:00pm

Founders Hall, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site invites all those who are interested in archaeology to its second annual Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference. This year’s theme is “Excavating Social Strata: Lifeways and Contributions of Traditionally Marginalized Groups....”

History is often told from the perspective of those in power. An important role of archaeology is its potential to uncover the footprints left by the rest of the society. To this end, this year’s theme strives to give voice to those whose stories have been excluded or misrepresented, such as women, children, immigrants, servants, and the enslaved. Eight short papers and several posters will highlight recent research focusing on these groups.

Concurrent with the poster and paper sessions, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy an exhibit entitled “Excavating Social Strata.” This collection of artifacts, on loan from various non-profit institutions and cultural resource management companies, will allow participants to observe the material culture typically associated with certain social groups. An archaeology-themed raffle to benefit non-profit organizations promoting archaeology in our state will be open to visitors as well.

The conference will open in the morning with free coffee and breakfast snacks and close with a reception. In addition, the conference fee ($10) will include admission to the park grounds for the entire day and a demonstration of primitive technologies and a colonial cannon firing.

All guests are encouraged to bring cash for lunch services and raffle tickets. We will not be able to accept checks or credit cards. There are no ATMs on the park.

For more information, contact Charles Towne Landing at (843) 852– 4200 or David Jones at djones@scprt.com. Also, please let us know if you will need overnight accommodations. We may be able to arrange conference rates at nearby hotels if numbers permit.

Interested in a Southeastern Historical Archaeology Conference?

If you are interested in the idea of a conference focusing on the historical archaeology of the Southeastern U.S., here is your chance to weigh in:

Folks,

This post is to gauge interest in starting a conference that focuses on the historical archaeology in the Southeastern United States. I believe there is certainly enough work in the region to support such an endeavor. Several folks (myself, Jodi Barnes, David Jones, and Carl Steen) have been discussing preliminary ideas for a small conference this first year in honor of Stanley South. We were able to reserve the meeting facility at Charles Town Landing State Park in Charleston, SC. It is a wonderful facility in one of the greatest cities on the planet and the perfect spot for a historical archaeology conference. The facility will hold 250 people. Therefore, we would have to limit attendance to that maximum. Our preliminary plans are to hold the conference August 24th and 25th and p...erhaps plan a tour or two for Sunday the 26th. Before we actually go full steam ahead with this plan, we wanted to make sure there was enough interest to support the effort. We are thinking that we will put aside some time during that weekend for all of us to brainstorm the future of this conference. I have posted this to Histarch and ACRA-L so that we can hopefully get good regional representation.

Please let me know if you would be interested in such a conference. If we get enough affirmative responses, we will proceed with our plans. In the meanwhile if you are interested in helping to organize the conference and supporting organization please feel free to contact us.

Thanks,
Natalie Adams Pope
npadams63@gmail.com

The State: New SC-NC Border Will Impact Some Residents

While not directly related to archaeology, The State newspaper had an interesting piece on the affects of the new border between North and South Carolina as a result of a soon to be finished survey. The survey is the first full survey since the original was completed 240 years ago. I thought the article might be of interest to those of us who have spent hours in the archives pieces together land documents in order to draw a fuller picture of what we were excavating.

New SC-NC Border Will Impact Some Residents

By ADAM BEAM
On May 24, 1772, William Moultrie took a break from surveying the South Carolina-North Carolina border to visit little Charlotte Town, which he described as having five or six houses, “very ordinary built of logs.”

Nearly 240 years later, Charlotte has a few more houses. But the passage of time and the developers who built those houses have cut down the trees that Moultrie and his crew blazed with axes to mark the border between the two Carolinas. So when homeowners along that border – and some tax collectors – asked state officials to point out where the boundary is, they couldn’t do it.

[...]

...South Carolina and North Carolina have been working quietly since 1994 on resurveying their border. To avoid having to get congressional approval of the border, which would cost more, the states had to retrace their original boundary from the 1700s. That sent researchers into South Carolina courthouses, looking for clues as to the original border – clues that led them to a 17-foot scroll stuffed in a drawer and an engraved stone in Greenville County that had not been seen in 150 years.

[...]

South Carolina’s entire border with North Carolina has been surveyed just once during its 349-year history. A series of surveys was conducted in pieces between 1735 and 1815, mapping disrupted by wars and a lack of money. Portions of the border have been surveyed two other times, including the 1905 survey, between North Carolina’s Scotland County and South Carolina’s Marlboro County, and a 1928 survey, between North Carolina’s Brunswick and Columbus counties and South Carolina’s Horry County.

In some surveys, particularly the later ones, surveyors left a trail of stone monuments, some of which have been rediscovered. But the majority of the work in the previous surveys was done by marking trees that since have disappeared.

“They probably weren’t thinking about 240 years from then,” Miller said.

[...]

You can read the entire article here.