ASSC Charleston Newsletter- Summer 2010

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CHARLESTON CHAPTER

NEWSLETTER From the editor...

Hi everyone, Summer is here, school is out, and our chapter members are scattered all over the nation. Some are working on projects in other states, others are vacationing, even sailing down the Atlantic! A few of them are wrapping up (or recovering from) demanding field schools.

When we gather again in the fall, we want to hit the ground running and have a productive year as a chapter. We are asking for input from our members so we can figure out what kind of events to organize this year. An archaeology movie you would like to see? A fieldtrip to a nearby site you’ve always wanted to visit? A workshop or a lecture? Please email us with suggestions and comments at assccharleston.newsletter@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you. All ideas will be given serious consideration!

We also welcome contributions to our newsletter from all our members. If you have any news or anecdotes about archaeology you would like to share with our chapter, send it to the newsletter email address above.

Hope to see everyone soon.

Best,

NEWS

ASSC Charleston Chapter, Newsletter Editor.

Despite opposition from relic hunters, the Archaeological Resource Act was signed into South Carolina law in June. The new law states that it is unlawful to enter posted private or state land with the intention of removing artifacts or disturbing archaeological sites. Read the full text here.

ASSC has a new chapter! Read all about it on page 5.

Charles Towne Landing announced a Call for Papers for their Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Festival. Submission guidelines are on page 4.

The 2010 ASSC Fall Field Day will be held on October 9, 2010, Saturday at Charles Towne Landing. Stay tuned for more info.

SUMMER 2010

UPCOMING CHAPTER EVENT September 18th, 2010, 12-3 pm.

Charles Towne Landing

ARCHAEOLOGY PICNIC! Bring your favorite potluck dish, snack, or soft drink.

Also bring your favorite bug spray and lawn game (optional)!

There will be an archaeology scavenger hunt around the park.

Wear comfortable shoes!

SUMMER 2010

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ASSC Charleston Chapter

The first ever ASSC Charleston Chapter Archaeology Photo contest is proud to announce the winning photographer: Meg Gaillard. Meg’s photo of flotation samples received high scores from all our judges. The judges were: Andrew Agha, Brockington and Associates, ASSC Charleston Chapter President, Dee Dee Joyce, College of Charleston, ASSC Charleston Chapter Vice President, Cicek Beeby, Charles Towne Landing, ASSC Charleston Chapter Newsletter Editor, David Jones, South Carolina Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.

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As the winner of the photo contest, Meg will receive a South Carolina Park passport with free admission to any SC State Park for a year, an Archaeology Magazine subscription, and free ASSC membership. Congratulations!

About her winning image, titled “Flotation Samples,” Meg says, “Dr. Gail Wagner was instructing students about how to take flotation samples during the May semester field school in 2009 for the University of South Carolina’s Savannah Valley Frontiers Project. Since she was explaining flotation at the end of the day, the late afternoon light coming through the bags as they dried was perfect.”

ARCHAEOLOGY PHOTO CONTEST

Archaeology Photo Contest

SUMMER 2010

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Archaeology Photo Contest

Honorable Mentions

Rebecca Shepherd says, “Being an archaeologist, one of the first and most important skills I learned was how to properly throw dirt. And to this day it is one of my favorite activities. I love seeing that shovel shaped pile of dirt soaring through the air.”

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Sterile Unit

Paul Flynn says, “I think this photo portrays the less glamorous side of archaeology. I was trying to capture the gritty reality of archaeology in this image; all the hard work, sometime less than desirable weather, and meticulous excavation involved in the field.”

Our special thanks to everyone who submitted an image to the contest.

ARCHAEOLOGY PHOTO CONTEST

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Bombs Away!

SUMMER 2010

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MUSEUM MILE WEEKEND September 25&26, 2010

The Weekend Pass is only $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Passes are available now at www.charlestonsmuseummile.org and at all Charleston Visitor Center locations including the downtown location at 375 Meeting Street and in Mt. Pleasant at 99 Harry Hallman Blvd. Online purchasers will receive their passes in the mail.

CALL FOR PAPERS CHARLES TOWNE LANDING ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE February 19, 2011 The organizers would like to invite paper and poster abstracts for the upcoming Charles Towne Landing Archaeology Conference, scheduled to take place at Founders Hall on February 19th, 2011. Although there is no particular theme for this year’s conference, special consideration will be given to papers and posters that focus on South Carolina archaeology. The conference will be divided into professional and student paper sessions; submissions from graduate and advanced undergraduate students are encouraged.

Abstracts for papers: Maximum 300 words, including the title, the name of the presenter and affiliation (Please state if you are a student).

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: November 15th, 2010. Please direct all submissions and questions to djones@scprt.com with CTL ARCHAEOLOGY CONFERENCE in the subject bar.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 25-26 is the second annual Museum Mile Weekend. A single pass will allow visitors admission to thirteen sites along the Museum Mile, including The Charleston Museum, The Powder Magazine, Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, and five historic houses. Many of these institutions will offer special programs during that weekend.

SUMMER 2010

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FOUNDERS HALL ARCHAEOLOGY LECTURE SERIES

Summer Lecture “NOT A TOLERABLE PLACE TO PLANT: ARCHAEOLOGY AT LORD ASHLEY’S PLANTATION” Presenters: Katherine Saunders, Associate Director of Preservation, Historic Charleston Foundation and Andrew Agha, Brockington and Associates.

When: August 26th, 2010, Thursday, 6 pm.

Where: Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. Map available here.

ASSC WELCOMES THE NEW WACCAMAW CHAPTER In April, the inaugural meeting of the Waccamaw Chapter of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina (http://assc.net) brought together a mix of students, community members, and faculty from Coastal Carolina University to plan for an exciting year in archaeology. People from throughout Horry and Georgetown Counties brought ideas and energy into the process. In addition to bimonthly presentations, laboratory workshops and expedition days in alternate months will give people a chance to do archaeology in their own neighborhoods.

May’s event, a lecture co-sponsored with Coastal Carolina University, featured Dr. James Delgado of the Institute of Nautical Archaeology sharing his passion for maritime archaeology in a phenomenal presentation called ‘The Great Museum under the Sea.” In July, seniors Meghan Mumford and Chris McHugh of CCU shared preliminary results of Coastal’s first archaeological field school in more than 15 years.

August’s excursion to one of the sites described by the students will include an overnight camping option and excavation work for chapter members at a small historic site, and chapter vice president Jim Smith and student liaison Chris McHugh are hard at work planning an October field day with flint knapping, atlatl Caption: CCU students fought off giant spiders and creeping contests, and more. poison ivy to explore the remains of a small historic home on the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge this summer.

Chapter activities are included in the anthropology mailing list organized by Cheryl Ward of CCU, chapter president (https://www.coastal.edu/archaeology/mailinglist.html ), or write president.wcassc@gmail.com for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Katherine Saunders and Andrew Agha will be presenting the finds from Lord Ashley’s 17th century settlement. A small exhibit of artifacts and a reception will follow. There is no admission fee.