ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CHARLESTON CHAPTER
NEWSLETTER From the editor... Hello Everyone, It’s been a long and hot summer, and with so many members busy with field work and vacations, Chapter activity has been kind of slow. However, we have an exciting, event filled Fall season to make up for it! We will be kicking off the new school year with a movie night on September 14 (page 3). We encourage everyone to come out, watch a fun “archaeology” movie and catch up with other members. We are planning another volunteer dig at Hampton Plantation to take place sometime in early November. We are hoping to make this a week long event where members can come out for just a day or stay the entire week, if they like. Those staying multiple days will be housed for free at the Baruch Institute’s Field Lab near Georgetown, SC. Following the volunteer dig, we will have an artifact washing night, where members can help wash the artifacts recovered from Hampton. You will receive an email notification when the dates for these events are finalized. As always, the chapter welcomes your suggestions on the types of events you would like to attend and the types of articles or announcements you would like to see in our newsletter. Please send your suggestions and comments to assccharleston.newsletter@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you. All ideas will be given serious consideration! Hope to see everyone at events this Fall! Best,
Rebecca Shepherd
NEWS
ASSC Charleston Chapter, Newsletter Editor
Our president Cicek Beeby has left Charleston to pursue her doctorate degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. While we are sad to see her go, we wish her the best of luck! Vice President Dr. Dee Dee Joyce, will take Cicek’s place as president for the remainder of the year and Rebecca Shepherd, archaeologist at Charles Towne Landing, has stepped in as Newsletter Editor.
Summer 2011
Upcoming Events: 9/14/2011 Chapter Movie Night: The Mummy 9/22/2011 Lecture: Leprosy and Leper Hospitals in Late Medieval Ireland 9/23-9/25 2011 Charleston Museum Mile Weekend 10/8/2011 Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Day 10/29/2011 ASSC Fall Field Day 11/17/2011 Lecture: The Siege of Fort Motte, South Carolina
For details see pages 3-4
Summer 2011
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Volunteer Dig at Stono Plantation Chapter members Dr. Jim Newhard and son, Bob Welch, Zoe Butler, and Corey Heyward
On Saturday April 15, 2011 Chapter members participated in a volunteer excavation of Stono Plantation on James Island. With the direction of chapter treasurer and Charleston Museum archaeologist, Ron Anthony, volunteers helped verify the location of what is possibly the plantation’s oldest structure!
PAST EVENTS
excavating and having a blast!
Summer 2011
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Archaeology Movie Night! THE MUMMY When: September 14, 2011, Wednesday, 6:00 PM Where: Charles Towne Landing Visitor Center
Snacks will be provided and admission is free to members and non members!
AIA Lecture Series LEPROSY AND LEPER HOSPITALS IN LATE MEDIEVAL IRELAND Lecturer: Rachel Scott, Arizona State University When: September 22, 2011, Thursday, 7:00pm Where: College of Charleston, New Science Building, Room 129 Abstract: http://www.archaeological.org/lectures/abstracts/2735
Charleston’s Museum Mile Weekend September 23-25, 2011 Buy a weekend pass and enjoy admission to 13 sites along the Museum Mile, including The Charleston Museum, The Powder Magazine, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and five historic houses! Passes cost $25 for an adult and $10 for a child and are available at www.charlestonmuseummile.org.
Come out to Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site to discover the past through archaeology! Programs include a behind the scenes tour of the park’s archaeology lab, as well as an archaeology themed walking tour where you can observe ongoing excavations. The Charleston Museum will be providing archaeological activities for children and our own ASSC Charleston Chapter will have a booth. Don’t miss it! When: October 8, 2011, Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm Where: Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site Admission: $7.50/adult; $3.75/S.C. Senior; $3.50/youth age 6-15; free for children 5 and younger. For admission info call Charles Towne Landing SHS at (843) 852-4200.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join the Charleston Chapter as we watch this classic movie monster wreak havoc on unsuspecting archaeologists! A game of archaeology movie trivia will be played after the viewing.
Summer 2011
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ASSC Fall Field Day
When: October 29, 2011, Saturday, 10am—4pm Where: Lynches River County Park, Florence County, SC
Founders Hall Archaeology Lecture Series The Siege Of Fort Motte, South Carolina Presenter: Dr. Steven D. Smith, SCIAA Fort Motte, in Calhoun County, South Carolina, was Mrs. Rebecca Motte’s plantation home, fortified by the British in the early Spring of 1781. Located on a high prominence overlooking the Congaree River, the fort served as a depot for British supply convoys between Charleston and Camden during the American Revolution. Brigadier General Francis Marion and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee surrounded the fort and captured it in a six day siege in May 1781. The fort’s capture was a significant event in the “War of Posts” that broke the British hold on the South Carolina backcountry. Steve will describe the historical and archaeological finds from excavations conducted at the fort in 2005, along with general observations on the life and campaigns of Francis Marion. When: November 17, 2011, Thursday, 6:00pm Where: Founders Hall, Charles Towne Landing
Volunteer Opportunity! Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site will be beginning their Fall Field season on September 20th. They invite everyone to come out and volunteer with excavation, water screening, and lab work. Volunteers can come out anytime Tuesday through Saturday from 8am until 4:30pm. To be a CTL volunteer email Rebecca Shepherd, Charles Towne Landing Archaeologist, at ctla707@yahoo.com or call (843) 852-3328.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Don’t miss the 24th annual ASSC Fall Field Day!! This year’s event will focus on various aspects of archaeological research being conducted in South Carolina, particularly the Johannes Kolb site located on the Great Pee Dee River in Darlington County, SC. Offered will be an array of living history demonstrations, exhibits, educational hands-on activities, and poster presentations and lectures that span the entire prehistoric and historic occupations throughout time in South Carolina.
Summer 2011
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Call For Papers SECOND ANNUAL
CHARLES TOWNE LANDING ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE February 18, 2012
“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. The theme looks into the lifeways and contributions of traditionally marginalized groups. Abstracts for papers: Maximum 300 words, including the title, the name of the presenter and affiliation. Submissions from graduate and advanced undergraduate students are encouraged. Abstracts for posters: Maximum 300 words, including a list of proposed graphics and images, the size, the title, the name of the presenter and affiliation. Sample images or a draft copy of the poster may be submitted as supplementary material. Bulletin boards and/or easels will be provided, entrants will be responsible for printing their posters. Deadline: December 1st, 2011. Please direct all submissions and questions to djones@scprt.com with CTL ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE in the subject bar.
Image credits: Page 2: Volunteer Dig– Ron Anthony, Page 3: The Mummy- public domain on Wikimedia Commons.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The organizers would like to invite paper and poster abstracts for the upcoming Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference, scheduled to take place on February 18, 2012. This year’s theme is: