From
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Daniel T. Elliott, The LAMAR Institute, Inc., P.O. Box 2992, Savannah, GA 31402
(706) 341-7796, dantelliott@windstream.net , http://lamarinstitute.org
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Who: Rita Folse Elliott, Curator of Exhibits and Archaeology, Coastal Heritage Society [Savannah, GA] and Education Coordinator, The LAMAR Institute.
What: Joseph Ralston Caldwell Award, an honor bestowed by the Society for Georgia Archaeology on noteworthy archaeologists in Georgia
When: May 19, 2007
Where: Fort Hawkins Archaeological Park, Fort Hill and Woolfolk Streets, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia
Why: Rita Folse Elliott was given this honor because of her outstanding achievements in Georgia archaeology since her first arrival in 1985.
How: The Society for Georgia Archaeology has awarded the Joseph Ralston Caldwell Award to only five people since its inception in 1990. Previous recipients of the award were George S. Lewis, Frankie Snow, David Chase, and Elizabeth "Betsy" Shirk.
Macon, GA - May 19, 2007 - At the spring meeting of The Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA), Rita F. Elliott was presented the Joseph R. Caldwell Award for outstanding service to Georgia Archaeology. During the presentation, it was noted that the Board of Directors voted unanimously to bestow this award to Ms. Elliott.
The Caldwell Award recognizes those individuals dedicating a noteworthy amount of time and energy toward supporting an archaeological project; making outstanding contributions in the area of public education and Georgia archeology; and providing substantial support for SGA and its programs over time. Ms. Elliott, Curator of Exhibits and Archaeology at the Coastal Heritage Society, has been active in SGA for almost two decades. During her tenure as Vice-President, she initiated a revitalization of SGA that resulted in the adoption of the current mission statement and strategy. As President, Ms. Elliott oversaw a number of accomplishments including creation of the George Lewis Archaeology Stewardship Award and Science Fair Award for Archaeology for high school and middle school students, and establishment of the endowment fund. In addition, she contributed to public education through SGA outreach and education as well as through the LAMAR Institute. Included were Elderhostel programs, workshops at the state social studies conference, development of a teaching trunk, and preparation of lesson plans to complement the annual Archaeology Month promotions. Ms. Elliott, along with her archaeologist husband, Daniel Elliott, has for the past two decades investigated the archaeological site of New Ebenezer in Effingham County. She designed and constructed an exhibit on the archaeology of the site that is located in the Salzburger Museum and has worked with the owners of the site to find funding for excavations as well as volunteered her time to promote archaeology at the site. According to Betsy Shirk, who presented the award on behalf of SGA, "Ms. Elliott is the perfect candidate for the Caldwell Award - those SGA board members of the early 1990s had they been able to see into the future could not have created an award that would better characterize the contributions of Ms. Elliott to SGA and Georgia archaeology."
The award, last presented in 2004 to Betsy Shirk, reflects the many contributions of Joseph Ralston Caldwell, whose archaeological fieldwork in Georgia and work in the Southeastern U.S. began at the Works Progress Administration excavations near Savannah during the late Depression. He served as Professor of Anthropology at the University of Georgia from 1967 until his death in 1973. The first Caldwell Award was presented in 1990 to long-time SGA member George S. Lewis in recognition of numerous exemplary contributions he made to Georgia archaeology.
The Society for Georgia Archaeology is a non-profit organization composed of avocational and professional archaeologists, and interested members of the general public. Its purpose is to preserve, study and interpret Georgia's historic and prehistoric archaeological sites. Concerned citizens can take an active role in preserving our collective archaeological heritage by becoming a member of the Society for Georgia Archaeology. For more information about The Society for Georgia Archaeology, see www.thesga.org .
Rita Folse Elliott--2007 Recipient of the Joseph Ralston Caldwell Award.
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OLDER NEWS!
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Who: Archaeological team from the LAMAR Institute launches study of Fort Hawkins
What:Fort Hawkins, the primary U.S. Army headquarters in the South after 1805
When: Fort Hawkins, 1806-1828; the archaeological project began in August 2005
Where: Fort Hill and Woolfolk Streets, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia
Why: The Fort Hawkins Commission plans to rebuild Fort Hawkins on its original site and archaeological study is needed
How: Archaeologists are employing large scale excavation techniques to uncover the fort and learn about the lives of its inhabitants.
Macon, Georgia, November 7, 2005-- Fort Hawkins was a U.S. Army post established in 1806 and it lasted into the mid-1820s. The fort also served as the primary "Factory" for the Indian trade between. The fort had a permanent garrison of more than 200 Infantrymen and at times its population swelled to more than 2,000. The fort was used in the War of 1812 and the 1st Seminole War (1817-1818).
Preliminary mapping of the fort has been completed and historical research is currently underway. Archaeologists begin extensive excavations of Fort Hawkins on November 9, 2005. The public is invited to visit the excavations beginning on Saturday November 12th. Tours of the excavations will be offered daily from November 12-23 at 10AM and 2PM. School groups are encouraged but teachers should contact Mr. Elliott in advance. A second phase of excavation at Fort Hawkins is planned for June 2006. A completion date of October 2006 is set for the archaeological work, which coincides with the 200th anniversary of the fort's founding.
The Lamar Institute is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization registered in Box Springs, Georgia to promote research and public education on archaeology in the Southeastern United States. The Fort Hawkins project is part of the institute's Pre-Civil War Forts Initiative, which seeks to locate and explore military sites in Georgia dating prior to 1861. The project is funded by grant monies raised by the City of Macon's Fort Hawkins Commission. Assistance is also provided by the Society for Georgia Archaeology. To learn more about this project, visit this web address: http://lamarinstitute.org/Fort Hawkins Project.htm .
Excavations on the South Side of Fort Hawkins, 2005. For higher resolution version of this image, click HERE.
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Who: Archaeological team from the LAMAR Institute searches for Mary Musgrove's main trading post
What: Fort Mount Venture, a 1730-1740s Georgia Ranger fort and trading post
When: Mount Venture, 1736-1742
Where: Sansavilla Bluff, Altamaha River, Wayne County, Georgia
Why: The Mount Venture massacre at Sansavilla Bluff marks a major event in Georgia's colonial history.
How: Archaeologists are employing multiple research tools to locate the fort and massacre site, including historical research, geographic information systems (GIS), ground penetrating radar (GPS), metal detectors, as well as more traditional shovel test grids and small excavations.
Jesup, Georgia, September 13, 2004-- On a quiet fall day in 1742 violence erupted at a lonely military outpost on Georgia’s western perimeter. Spanish-allied Yamassee warriors unleashed a surprise attack on the Georgia Rangers' Fort Mount Venture on the Altamaha River.
The Yamassee killed virtually everyone in the fort, except for a few British-allied Creek Indians whom they took hostage. Mary Musgrove Mathews, "Queen" of the Creek Nation, narrowly escaped death on that day. Mary used Fort Mount Venture as her main trading post, and was in Savannah when the raid occurred.
The LAMAR Institute launched a search for Mount Venture in 2003 on the forest lands of Plum Creek Timber Company, and their archaeologists are narrowing the field of possible locations for the fort. In the process,the research team has identified several other important 18th century sites. One of these is the likely location of a 1790s fort, possibly that garrisoned by Captain Armstrong's Company of Glynn County Dragoons. Support for the project comes from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program, the Plum Creek Foundation, and Plum Creek Timber Company. The archaeological discoveries at Mount Venture highlight an important part of Plum Creek's Sustainable Forestry Initiative program to manage these historically significant sites in an economic and socially responsible manner.
Daniel Elliott, lead archaeologist of the expedition, stated, "This was one of Georgia's most exciting colonial outposts! In 1741 Fort Mount Venture was Georgia's first point of defense against attacks from Spanish Florida." Events in that war helped to define the very shape of United States' geography. The massacre at Mount Venture was the greatest conquest in Georgia by the Spanish. This Spanish victory demonstrated to General Oglethorpe just how vulnerable Georgia was from guerrilla attacks. We are on the threshold of discovery!"
The Lamar Institute is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization registered in Box Springs, Georgia to promote research and public education on archaeology in the Southeastern United States. The Sansavilla Bluff project is part of the Institute's Pre-Civil War Forts Initiative, which seeks to locate and explore military sites in Georgia dating prior to 1861. The Sansavilla Bluff project was funded by research grants from the National Park Service's American Battlefield Protection Program and the Plum Creek Foundation, Seattle, Washington. Other LAMAR Institute projects associated with fortified sites and led by Mr. Elliott include the discovery and exploration of Forts Abercorn, Ebenezer, and Mount Pleasant on the Savannah River, Fort Argyle on the Ogeechee River, and Fort Morris and the town of Sunbury, on the Medway River. The LAMAR Institute's full research report on the work done at Sansavilla Bluff is available for free download in pdf format at this web address: http://lamarinstitute.org/reports.htm .
Shown Above Are Examples of Ceramic Artifacts Excavated at Sansavilla Bluff by the LAMAR Institute.
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