Activity Ideas for Arkansas Archeology Month 2010

ACTIVITY IDEAS
Arkansas Archeology Month
- March 2010 -






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Theme: Partners for the Past

The theme for Arkansas Archeology Month 2010 is Partners for the Past, which recognizes the Arkansas Archeological Society’s 50th anniversary, as well as the efforts of multiple agencies, parks, museums, and individuals working together to study, preserve, and interpret Arkansas’s archeological past.

The Arkansas Archeological Society was formed in 1960 for the purpose of uniting all persons interested in the archeology of Arkansas, for the recognition and preservation of the state’s cultural heritage and prehistory, and for fostering and encouraging the public’s interest in the preservation of the past. The Society encourages the scientific investigation, study, and interpretation of Arkansas’s cultural heritage, and publishes and distributes the results of those investigations, particularly those relating to Arkansas. The Society numbers among its members people from all walks of life—teachers, lawyers, nurses, students, secretaries, professional archeologists, and others—who share a love of history and the camaraderie of archeological research. The Society has worked in partnership with the Arkansas Archeological Survey on archeological field research and salvage projects since the 1960s.

The Arkansas Archeological Survey was created by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1967 as a unit of the University of Arkansas System. The Survey has 11 research stations throughout Arkansas, most located at colleges and state parks. Archeologists working at the Stations undertake research on prehistoric and historic sites, conduct classes, and share information with the public through museum exhibits, publications, and web sites.

Archeological work in Arkansas is also undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USDA Forest Service, and the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Archeology Section reviews archeological projects, while various private consulting firms conduct cultural resource management projects. Agencies work closely with Native American tribal representatives from the Quapaw, Caddo, Osage, and Cherokee nations, among others. Archeological research both in and out of state also is conducted by Arkansas’s colleges, such as the University of Arkansas Anthropology Department.

Archeological research is interpreted for the public through exhibits at museums such as the Old State House Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum. Books on archeology have been published by the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the University of Arkansas Press.

Archeological sites in Arkansas are preserved through Arkansas State Parks, such as at Toltec Mounds and Parkin, and through organizations such as the Archaeological Conservancy.

All of these agencies and organizations work together for Arkansas’s archeological heritage and are truly “Partners for the Past.”

For more information about archeology in Arkansas, check the Arkansas Archeology Survey’s
handouts, or information on the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

Ideas for Archeology Month Activities
• Go on-line and research the work of one or more of these agencies or organizations. Write a report to share with your class.

• Have your library display books about archeology. Choose one for a book report.

• Take a tour of an archeological or historic park.

• Visit an archeological exhibit at a museum.

• Research Arkansas Native American cultures, or pioneer history, and make a display for your classroom or library.

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More ideas for Archeology Month activities can be found in our Archives (below).