The South Carolina Avocational Site Database (SCASD) is a resource available to and designed for avocational archaeologists. The impetus and final form of this program came from discussions between avocational, professional, academic, non-profit and for-profit organizations and private individuals.

Visit the State Archaeologist page for more information along with access to the SC Avocational Site Form (found at the bottom of the page). 

Questions regarding the site form can be sent to Joseph Wilkinson.
Request for assistance or questions on related matters can be sent to SC State Archaeologist Jonathan Leader, PhD. 

 

When: October 26, 2019, 10 AM – 3 PM
Where: 12,000 Year History Park on Congaree Creek
1120 Fort Congaree Trail
Cayce, South Carolina

Each fall the Archaeology Society of South Carolina sponsors a free gathering of archaeologists, prehistoric and historic skills demonstrators, story tellers, and others, who present how the people of South Carolina’s distant and recent pasts experienced their daily lives through work, play, food, and community.

We are excited to announce that we will be returning to the 12,000 Year History Park on Congaree Creek for our annual Fall Field Day on October 26, 2019. Come visit us if you’ve ever wanted to learn how stone tools and pottery were made, to try throwing an atl-atl, or if you are interested in learning about active archaeological excavations occurring in our state!

Follow our Facebook event page for more information! We hope to see you there!

45^th Annual Conference on South Carolina Archaeology
February 16^th, 2019
Schedule of Events

8:15-9:00              Registration

9:00-9:20              Welcome and Introduction by President Keith Stephenson

Morning Session

“Heritage at Risk: Coastal Erosion of Archaeological Sites in South Carolina”

9:20-9:40              Positive and Negative Impacts on Archaeological Research Resulting from Erosion along the Upper Lake Marion Shoreline, by Robert C. Costello (Division of Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, University of South Carolina, Sumter)

9:40-10:00           Is it a Funding Problem, or Do We Just Not Give a Shit? by David Jones (South Carolina State Parks)

10:00-10:20         Break

10:20-10:40         Our Heritage at Risk: Archaeological Salvage of Two Late Archaic Period Shell-Bearing

Sites on Edisto Island, South Carolina, by Karen Y. Smith, Meg Gaillard, David Jones, and Sean Taylor (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources)

Keynote Presentation

10:40-11:40         Climate Change and Cultural Response: The Future of South Carolina Archaeology, by David G. Anderson (University of Tennessee)

11:40-12:00         Presentation of Awards and DNR Recognition

12:00-1:30           Lunch

Afternoon Session

1:30-1:50              The Office of the South Carolina State Archaeologist Introduces the Avocational Site Form, by Joseph E. Wilkinson (South Carolina Department of Archives and History), Christopher Judge (Native American Studies Center, University of South Carolina, Lancaster) and Jonathan Leader (South Carolina State Archaeologist)

1:50-2:10            Bascom Points and Caches and their Possible Role in the Terminal Late Archaic in Georgia and South Carolina, by Albert C. Goodyear (South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of South Carolina, Columbia)

2:10-2:30           Archaeological Research on the Brookgreen Rice Plantation, 2016-2018 Findings Update, by David T. Palmer (Coastal Carolina University)

2:30-2:50             Analysis of Wood Charcoal from Brookgreen Rice Plantation, by Steven Luse (Coastal Carolina University)

2:50-3:10             Archaeology 2.0: Anthropology and Outreach in the Internet Age, by Jason Pentrail, James Waldo and Micah Hanks (Seven Ages Research Associates)

3:10-3:30              Break

3:30-3:50              South Carolina- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Cooperative Agreement Final Results, by James D. Spirek (South Carolina State Underwater Archaeologist)

3:50-4:10              Pro-Social Archaeology in South Carolina: Archaeology as Interface for Slave Descendants, the Public and Enlightened Racial Discourse at Historic Brattonsville, by J. Christopher Gillam and Richard J. Chacon (Winthrop University, Rock Hill)

4:10-4:30              Archaeological Evidence of Coal Use at the Founding of Clemson Agricultural College, by Grace A. Lockett and David M. Markus (Clemson University)

4:30-4:50              Procurement and Consumption: Preliminary Analyses of Foodways at Stono Plantation, by Brandy Joy (University of South Carolina Columbia)

4:50-5:10              ASSC Business Meeting

5:10-5:20              Concluding remarks by President Stephenson

 

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina offers grants-in-aid up to $1,000 to any graduate student working on a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation that addresses the archaeology of South Carolina, both historic and prehistoric as well as terrestrial and underwater.

Applicants, head to our application page to learn about the application details and apply today.

We would like to take a moment to thank long time ASSC member Don Rosick for his generous donation over the past year to help fund the continuation of the Grant-in-Aid program.

The ASSC Grant-in-Aid program has helped provide $28,000 over the past 27 years to help support more than 50 student research projects in the state of South Carolina. This program would not be possible without the long term support of our society members. If you would like to donate to Grant-in-Aid, visit our donation page for more details.

The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2019.

Now in its sixth year, the South Carolina Arkhaios Film Festival provides a venue to share archaeological research through the use of film. During October 12-14, head to the Main Branch of Richland Library in Columbia, SC to catch 22 award-winning films by both local, regional, and foreign filmmakers. To learn more about the festival, head over to http://www.arkhaiosfilmfestival.org/home.html.