Hattiesburg

• Date: Tuesday, October 7, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.
  Place: Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center, 220 W. Front St. Hattiesburg, MS
  Event: Lecture on Prehistoric Earth Oven Technology in the Pine Hills. Fire-pits are not a new discovery in the archaeological record and are found on prehistoric sites in the Southeast. In the Pinehills region of Southeast Mississippi, excavations have documented what appear to be the remains of clay lined baking pits. The actual method of prehistoric cooking technology is tougher to envision without some experimentation. This presentation endeavors to illuminate possible uses of earth oven technology as they are revealed in archaeological context, and provide an experimental approach to their creation and delineation.
  Contact: Mike Fedoroff, University of Southern Mississippi, 601-441-8884, mpfedoroff@yahoo.com

• Date: Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.
  Place: Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center, 220 W. Front St., Hattiesburg, MS
  Event: Lecture on the History of Camp Shelby - The lands that form what is now Camp Shelby has had a very long history beginning with the early Native Americans that first inhabited the region some 8000 years ago (or more). The land has been in continual use through pre-Civil War agricultural practices, early logging industry, and finally what it is used for today—a military instillation. Come and participate in an open discussion about Camp Shelby’s prehistory and history. Bring artifacts for an identification session (time being allowed).
  Contact: Rita Fields, National Guard Archaeologist, (601) 558-2596 or (601) 517-1490 rita.d.fields@us.army.mil

• Date: Saturday, October 25
  Place: Camp Shelby near Mahned, MS
  Event: The University of Southern Mississippi, in conjunction with the Mississippi National Guard, will be conducting an archaeological excavation at 22PE2400 to determine if the site is eligible for listing to the National Register of Historic Places. The large prehistoric site was first identified during Hurricane Katrina timber salvage surveys in 2006. The site is located on a high hill overlooking Miles Branch. Artifacts recovered at the site included pottery, chipping material, and projectile points.
  Contact: Rita Fields, National Guard Archaeologist, (601) 558-2596 or (601) 517-1490 rita.d.fields@us.army.mil

• Date: Tuesday, October 28, 6 p.m.- 7 p.m.
  Place: Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center, 220 W. Front St. Hattiesburg, MS
  Event: Lecture on the Winterville Mounds Archaeological Project by Dr. Ed Jackson, USM: Investigation of a Late Prehistoric Chiefdom in the Mississippi Delta—In the 500 years prior to contact with Europeans, Native Americans living in the Mississippi Delta and elsewhere in the Southeast lived as members of complex chiefdoms. The most obvious evidence of these former societies is the large mound centers that are scattered across the region. One of the largest of these is Winterville Mounds near Greenville. This talk will describe the archaeological project that has been investigating Winterville since 2005.
  Contact: Dr. Ed Jackson, University of Southern Mississippi, 601-266-4306, ed.jackson@usm.edu

Brooklyn

• Date: Monday, October 20- November 8
  Place: De Soto National Forest
  Event: Volunteer Excavation—The De Soto National Forest will be conducting an archaeological excavation at the Adeline Russ Site near Brooklyn, MS. Last October, the decision was made to excavate the Adeline Russ Site, a small prehistoric located on the sandy west bank of Marth Creek. This site has deep, rich deposits of material related to prehistoric occupations, dating between 8500 BC and AD 1150. Volunteers last year recovered artifacts including pottery, projectile points, and evidence of stone bead manufacturing.
  Contact: Robert Reams, Forest Service Archaeologist, 601-584-8488, robreams@fs.fed.us

Southwest Region