October is Archaeology Month in Mississippi!

Archaeology month activities include public talks on archaeology and archaeological methods, visits to ongoing archaeological fieldwork projects, site tours, and even fieldwork opportunities. All events are free and open to the public. Listed below are some of the activities scheduled. Additional programs and updates will be posted here as they become finalized. This program is financially assisted by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Mississippi Humanities Council. Other sponsors include:

Mississippi Archaeological Association
Mississippi Dept. of Archives and History
Mississippi Dept. of Transportation
Mississippi Association of Professional Archaeologists
Cobb Institute of Archaeology, MSU
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Mississippi
Bureau of Land Management
Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research
Janet Rafferty & Evan Peacock

Archaeology Month 2016 Calendar of Events

Northeast Region

• Date: Saturday, October 15, 9 am - 4 pm
  Place: Rowan Oak Plantation, Oxford
  Event: Archaeology Day at Rowan Oak plantation. The University of Mississippi Public Archaeology class is looking for remains of slave quarters dating to the mid-19th century Sheegog Plantation. The class will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rowan Oak for visitors to view the excavations; see artifacts; talk to the archaeologists; and learn about slavery at the Sheegog Plantation (pre-Rowan Oak occupation) and the role of these slaves in the building of the university. Water and toilets will be available to the public. Parking information TBA.
  Contact: Maureen Meyers, memeyer1@olemiss.edu or Tony Boudreaux, tboud@olemiss.edu

• Date: Saturday, October 22, 10 am - 2 pm
  Place: Cobb Institute of Archaeology, MSU
  Event: Dig simulation @ Cobb Institute lawn. Kids of all ages are welcome for a hands-on learning event for Mississippi Archaeology Month. They will participate in the excavation of a mock site full of simulated artifacts. The participants will actively learn about archaeology: the tools, techniques and artifacts found. Refreshments will be served, and the Lois Dowdle Cobb Archaeological Museum will be open to the public throughout the event.
  Contact: Dylan Karges, dpk1@msstate.edu

• Date: Friday, October 28, 8 am - 6 pm
  Place: Tupelo Fairpark City Hall Green
  Event: The Chickasaw Celebration. Cultural demonstrations, food, dancing, academic speakers, stickball, and other kid-friendly events will be staged. Come meet the Chickasaws! For more information go to www.inkana.org or find the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation on Facebook.
  Contact: Brad Lieb, brad_lieb@yahoo.com

Delta Region

• Date: Saturday, October 1, 10 am - 3 pm
  Place: Winterville Mounds Park, Greenville
  Event: Digging Into Archaeology. Children of all ages are invited to learn how to excavate like an archaeologist in a mock dig. Bring your private collection of artifacts to Winterville and Mark Dingeldein, along with other state archaeologists, will help identify where the objects came from and how old they are. FREE and open to the public.
  Contact: email info@wintervillemounds.com

• Date: Wednesday, October 12, noon
  Place: Rolling Fork Library (116 East China St.)
  Event: Lecture titled "The Mississippi Mound Trail" by archaeologist Sam Brookes. Sponsored by the Betsy Love Allen chapter of the MS DAR.
  Contact: Meg Cooper, megldp@bellsouth.net

• Date: Saturday, October 22, 10 am and 2 pm
  Place: Rolling Fork Visitors Center & Museum (380 Walnut St.)
  Event: Great Delta Bear Affair: Indian Mounds Tour in the Rolling Fork area led by archaeologist Sam Brookes.
  Contact: Sam Brookes, sambrookes@bellsouth.net

• Date: Wednesday - Friday, October 26 - 28, 9 am - 2 pm; Saturday, October 29, 10 am - 2 pm
  Place: Winterville Mounds Park, Greenville
  Event: Native American Days 2016 will feature Native American arts and crafts, storytelling, games, food, dancing, singing, primitive weapons and activities for children. Saturday features a primitive weapons demonstration and contest sponsored by the Southern Traditional Archery Association. The use of the bow and arrow, blow gun, and atlatl will be on display. The contest is open to the public and will be divided into separate categories for men, women, and youth under the age of 16. Weapons are limited to primitive weapons and the public is invited to bring their own; however, some weapons will be available for public use. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
  Contact: email info@wintervillemounds.com

Central Region

• Date: Saturday, October 1 - Tuesday, November 1
  Place: The Old Capitol Museum, Jackson
  Event: The Mummy Returns. The famous "Mummy" returns again to greet her adoring fans during the month of October 2016.
  Contact: 601.576.6920 or info@oldcapitolmuseum.com

• Date: Wednesday, October 5, noon
  Place: William F. Winter Archives and History Building, Jackson
  Event: History is Lunch. Public talk by Sam Brookes titled "Mississippi Treasures: Saved, Missing and Lost"
  Contact: email info@mdah.ms.gov

• Date: Thursday, October 13, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
  Place: Fannie Lou Hamer Institute@COFO, Jackson (1017 John R. Lynch St.)
  Event: Presentation by JSU instructor Esperanza Velasquez and MDOT archaeologist Lizbeth Velasquez titled "Mississippi's Spanish Heritage: Selected Writings, 1492-1798." The presentation is co-sponsored by the JSU Department of History & Philosophy and the Mississippi Hispanic Association. Free and open to the general public.
  Contact: Lizbeth Velasquez, lvelasquez@mdot.ms.gov

• Date: Tuesday, October 4, 6 pm
  Place: USDA Building on Old Canton Road (across Madison-Ridgeland Academy), Madison
  Event: Jackson Area MAA Chapter Meeting. Agenda features information about MAA and Archaeology Month activities. Also, artifact displays and artifact identification will be available.
  Contact: Tony Payne, tonyjoy1@aol.com

Southern Region

• Date: Saturday, October 8, 10 am - 4 pm
  Place: Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, Natchez
  Event: Mississippi Archaeology Expo. As part of Archaeology Month, the annual Expo will feature educational activities for all ages. Professional archaeologists will share their skills and knowledge, and visitors can observe flint-knapping, artifact displays, ground-penetrating radar demonstrations, and a mock archaeological dig. Other highlights include face painting, bracelet making, pendant coloring, ceramic making, and atlatl throwing. The event is free and open to the general public. .
  Contact: Lance Harris, (601) 446-6502, lharris@mdah.ms.gov

• Date: Saturday, October 15, 10 am
  Place: Covington County Genealogical and History Society, Seminary Depot, Seminary
  Event: Presentation titled "The People Behind the Artifacts" by Dr. Ed Jackson, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Southern Mississippi. The presentation features the past 10,000 years of Native American occupation in Southeast Mississippi. If you have ever wondered about the age and what kind of artifact you have in your collection, you are encourage to bring them to the presentation.
  Contact: Dr. Ed Jackson, (601) 266-4306, ed.jackson@usm.edu

• Date: Saturday, October 15, 10 am
  Place: Environmental Office (Building 6530) at Camp Shelby
  Event: Presentation and driving tour titled "Welcome to Camp Shelby: Camp Shelby during WWI and WWII" by Rita McCarty, Mississippi National Guard Archaeologist/Historian. Rita McCarty will discuss the early history of Camp Shelby from its origins in 1917 to its deconstruction in 1921 and its revitalization and use during World War II. Following the presentation, Ms. McCarty will provide a guided tour of the historic places addressed during the presentation.
  Contact: Rita McCarty, (601) 558-2596 or (601) 517-1490, rita.d.mccarty.nfg@mail.mil

• Date: Thursday, October 27, 9 am
  Place: Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, Camp Shelby
  Event: Grand Re-opening of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum. The MS Armed Forces Museum has been undergoing a year-long renovation project. The new museum will feature new, larger galleries as well as brand-new displays and artifacts. Two newly renovated Inter-war buildings are also adjacent to the museum. These buildings were originally constructed in the early 1930s at Camp B.F. McClelland, a CCC camp on the MS Gulf Coast. The buildings were dismantled in 1937 and reconstructed during the interwar rebuilding of Camp Shelby. These buildings have been returned to their original Interwar/WWII appearance and are currently used as offices and static displays for the museum.
  Contact: Rita McCarty, (601) 558-2596 or (601) 517-1490, rita.d.mccarty.nfg@mail.mil