ARKANSAS CELEBRATED ARCHEOLOGY MONTH 2013

This year Arkansas Archeology Month, held in March, moved away from a specific annual theme to a general theme of “Celebrate Archeology,” which will continue to be used each year, except for special commemorations. Over 800 people attended the 35 programs held at 24 venues across the state. The attendance was down a little this year because of the rainy spring weather that forced the cancellation of several outdoor events. Hobbs State Park, however, found their “Archeology Boat Tour” so successful that the single scheduled tour, accommodating 20 people, was expanded to five tours, with a total of 100 people.

Programs were advertised through a printed Events Brochure, on the web site, and through coverage in newspapers and magazines. Activities included tours, artifact identifications, exhibits, slide-talks, and hands-on fun. Highlights of this year’s event included the “Archeology Boat Tours” at Hobbs State Park; a “Pioneer Home Site Hike” at Devil’s Den State Park; and a film series and discussion at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Participating venues for Archeology Month 2013 included:

State & National Parks: Davidsonville Historic State Park, Devil’s Den State Park, Hampson Archeological Museum State Park, Historic Washington State Park, Hobbs State Park, Parkin Archeological State Park, Petit Jean State Park, and Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park.

Museums: University of Arkansas Museum collections, Arkansas State University Museum, Arkansas Tech University Baswell Techionery, Delta Gateway Museum, Heritage House Museum of Montgomery County, Old Independence Regional Museum, Old State House Museum, Pine Bluff-Jefferson County Historical Museum, Searcy County Historical Society, and Shiloh Museum of Ozarks History.

Libraries, Colleges, & Others: Arkansas Archeological Survey, Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas School for Math, Sciences & the Arts, Southern Arkansas University, and Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Supporters:
Special thanks go the Archeological & Environmental Consultants L.L.C. in Austin, Texas, as well as the Bill Jordan Public Education Fund, for their donations in support of Archeology Month 2013.

Poster:
The Archeology Month poster was sponsored by the Arkansas Archeological Society. It featured a collection of stone woodworking tools, arranged and photographed by Ben Swadley. The graphic designer was  Melissa Smith of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. The poster was included in the national display of Archeology Month posters at the 2013 Society for American Archaeology meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Many thanks are given to Ben Swadley, the Society’s Archeology Month Chair, and to all those who provided programs, donations, volunteer hours or participated in some way to make Archeology Month 2013 a success.

Check the web site later in the year for information or to participate: http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/archinfo/archmonth.html

Event Submission Form

About Archeology Month

Archives & Past Posters