The Arkansas Archeological Survey is hosting a public excavation in Central Arkansas at the end of the month.
Robin Gabe, park interpreter at Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park in Scott, says the two-week excavation is a training program for archeological society members to participate in an excavation led by a professional archeologist. For members of the general public, the park is creating temporary trails to allow people to see the excavation up-close.
“We’ll have barriers up of course, so they can continue to do their work, but visitors will have the chance to visit with an archeologist and find out in real time what are they learning, what are they finding out, what’s going on,” Gabe said.
Dr. Paige Ford is a Station Archeologist at the Arkansas Archeological Survey, and is leading the project. She says, while only Archeological Society members are allowed to excavate, prospective members still have time to sign up and join the training.
“This is unique because it’s at a state park, but we do host this event every year across the state at various archeological sites. Some of them are on private land, but we always have permission to do that research in partnership with landowners. And if people become a member of the society, then they can participate in those excavations every single summer."
Ford says spots are still open, but are limited to 100 participants. Sign-ups close on May 11. The state park is also extending their hours during the two weeks. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Saturday, May 30 to Saturday, June 13, and closed on Monday, June 8. On June 6, the park is hosting a public day complete with events and activities for all ages. Ford says, on this day, visitors will also get a chance to see the lab, which is typically closed to visitors.
“If you take one of Robin’s tours and walk up you can see us pulling things out of the ground but they’re quite dirty,” Ford said, adding the items are taken to the lab where they are then washed and sorted.
“So that’s when you actually get to see the things for what they are.”
Ford said her archeology work is focused on preservation. “We don’t excavate unless there is a reason and something to learn.”
She added archaeologists use tools like remote-sensing, ground-penetrating radar to pinpoint data that will help them understand more about the cultures they’re studying. Ford said they also work closely with tribal nations to get their approval and insight before starting a dig
Ford said she’s not worried about running out of things to research anytime soon. “There are endless things to learn and endless things to excavate,” she added showing artifacts to visitors helps make history more tangible.
“It can be difficult to relate to something that you can’t experience and seeing things coming out of the ground that have also been made by people in the past, it makes those people more real and relatable.”
