Georgia Southern University Laboratory of Archaeology

05/13/2024

Congratulations to all our Georgia Southern students who graduated last week! Graduates who were active in the Laboratory of Archaeology during their time at Georgia Southern include Emily Siddell and Jacob Singleton (BA Anthropology), Melissa Cuzzo (BA History and Philosophy [minor Anthropology]) and Lindsey Dunn (MA Social Science). Thanks to these students for all their contributions to the Lab during their time at Georgia Southern and we wish them well on their future endeavors! Congratulations!

Interested in hiring one of our graduates? Contact us at [email protected]

04/25/2024

Master's student Kristin Meeuwen recently attended the Society for American Archaeology conference in New Orleans where she presenting her paper "The Stratigraphy of American Archaeology: Gender, Academia, Authorship, and the Need to Go 'Beyond the Critique'" in a session titled "Gender in Archaeology Over the Last 30+ Years." The paper is based on the honors thesis she completed as an undergraduate at Georgia Southern. Congratulations Kristin!

10/23/2023

This past Saturday the Laboratory of Archaeology participated in Fort Frederica National Monument's celebration of International Archaeology Day! Students shared information about archaeology with members of the public while enjoying the gorgeous day at scenic Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island. Thanks to our student volunteers who helped make our participation possible!

05/16/2023

We enjoyed participating in Fort Frederica National Monument's celebration of Georgia Archaeology month this past weekend! The event also celebrated Fort Frederica's new Karl Meschke Archeology Laboratory that is already seeing quite a bit of use with students of a variety of ages using the facility to engage in archaeological research. Great event!

05/11/2023

Congratulations to all our spring and summer 2023 graduates! 2023 graduates who were active in the Laboratory of Archaeology during their time at Georgia Southern include Jonathan Brown (Master of Arts in Social Science), Kristin Dew, Alex Greco, Robbie Jorge, Audree Rose Toler, and Alex Wilson (Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology). Thanks to these students for all their hard work and we wish them well as they move on to bigger and better things!

Interested in hiring one of our graduates? Contact us at [email protected]

05/09/2023

Great event at Fort Frederica National Monument this weekend to celebrate Georgia Archaeology Month! The Georgia Southern Laboratory of Archaeology will be participating with exhibit tables. We hope to see you there!

Celebrate Archeology at Fort Frederica National Monument!

St. Simons Island, GA:

This May, Fort Frederica National Monument is joining with the State of Georgia to celebrate Georgia Archaeology Month on Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Admission is free!

The staff at Fort Frederica invites the local community to interact with professionals in the fields of archeology and historical preservation. Guest speakers and exhibitors will be on site to showcase archeological sites in Georgia, as well as conduct children’s activities and display rarely seen artifacts. Guest speakers to include: Myrna Crook, Dan Eliott, Laura Seifert. Exhibitors to include: Georgia Southern University, Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, Cumberland Island National Seashore, and many others.

In addition, the park will host an open-house of the brand new Karl Meschke Archeology Laboratory built and donated by the Friends of Fort Frederica.

Fort Frederica National Monument is located at 6515 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA.

05/09/2023

Great article on graduating senior Robbie Jorge! Robbie has been an active volunteer and employee of the Laboratory of Archaeology over the past few years. Congrats Robbie!

After dropping out of high school nearly a decade ago, Robbie Jorge, was ready for a life change. Jorge acquired a GED diploma, applied to Georgia Southern University and became an anthropology student at the age of 26. In just a few days, he will be part of the first generation in his family to

04/25/2023

Great Community Day event at Fort Puluski National Monument last week with the Georgia Cyber Academy. Dr. Kara Bridgman Sweeney of Georgia Southern's Digging Savannah program participated providing archaeological activities and demonstrations for attendees. Thanks to our National Park Service hosts!

03/21/2023

Dr. Lee Berger, world-renowned paleoanthropologist and Georgia Southern anthropology alumnus, was recently appointed as a National Geographic Explorer in Residence! Dr. Berger is known for numerous scientific discoveries including the identification of the hominin species Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi. Dr. Berger also currently serves on the advisory board of the Georgia Southern College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Congratulations to Dr. Berger!

Professor Lee Berger appointed as National Geographic Explorer in Residence 16 March 2023 - Wits University Professor Lee Berger appointed as National Geographic Explorer in Residence, but will remain at Wits as an Honorary Professor. World-renowned palaeoanthropologist, Professor Lee Berger, will b...

03/06/2023

This past weekend faculty members Dr. Ryan McNutt and Dr. Matthew Compton and students Caleb Jeck, Audrey McGill, Patrick Sword (MASS students), Whitley Gatch, and Eli Wooters (Anthro majors) attended the Society for Georgia Archaeology and Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists meetings on the campus of Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville. Dr. McNutt and Patrick Sword (with Camilla Damlund) presented their paper "The Devil's Outriders: A LiDAR and KOCOA Investigation of the Battle of Buckhead Creek, 1864" on recent Civil War investigations in Jenkins County. Georgia Southern was also represented by former MASS students Lindsey Hinson (Edwards-Pitman) and Josh Herrin (Veterans Curation Program/New South) who also gave presentations. Great meeting!

03/06/2023

This past weekend (March 3 & 4), MASS Archaeology student Jonathan Brown and Dr. M. Jared Wood presented research results at the 100th Annual Meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science in Milledgeville, GA. Jonathan discussed his thesis research on precontact / Native American use of a depressional wetland in Dodge County, GA, and Dr. Wood spoke about ongoing work in our Screven County field school locations, with a focus on Georgia colonial-era sites.

Congratulations to Jonathan on receiving the Graduate Research Paper award in the Anthropology section of GAS! Thanks to the organizers, as well as our Anthro colleagues at Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, and Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.

02/28/2023

A piece of the SS Savannah, first vessel to cross the Atlantic partially by steam power, may have been found off Fire Island, New York where the ship ran aground in 1821. The Port of Savannah was the home port of this early steam-powered vessel and the departure point for its historic transatlantic voyage.

‘Thrilling’ discovery on Fire Island could have come from a historic steam vessel that ran aground in 1821