I recently had the coolest experience.  I read an article in PS (PowerSource) magazine entitled “Digging into the Past” by Tracy Vreeland.  This article covered the dig at Copper Head Bluff for which I volunteered last summer.  The really special thing about this article is that it talked about the dig, the artifacts unearthed and other discoveries.  The Copper Head Bluff dig was my very first true archeology experience and the first time I met Professor Chris Judge.   Reading the article not only took me back to that special day in May of 2022 near Florence, S.C. overlooking the Great PeeDee River; it reminded me of all I have learned in a short time.  Also, knowing how little I knew then, I am excited by just how much I have to learn.

 Since that time in May of 2022, I volunteered at the Archeology Labs at USC Lancaster when I could.  At many of those labs, I was fortunate to wash, weigh, and count artifacts from that very Copper Head Bluff Site.  Professor Judge spoke at lab about how much there is to discover about the Mississippian Period (about 1200 to 1500 A.D.).  He taught me about projectile sequences, pottery types and patterns and how to handle different artifacts appropriately.  I learned about acorns (and carbon dating from those acorns) and how to handle graphite without contaminating it. I learned about features in a pit that could represent the corner post of a house or dwelling.  All of these things and more I learned during the dig and they were reinforced during lab.

When I read “Digging into the Past”, it was special because I knew what they were talking about and generally understood the terms.  I understand why the discoveries are important and how much pain-staking effort is involved in each part of the process; from the dig and collecting coordinates for actual finds, to processing the artifacts in the lab.  I was so happy to have come this far and even more humbled to have met Professor Judge and others who have taken me under their wing.

In another two weeks, I am happy to share that the group is returning to Copper Head Bluff and I have been invited back to the dig.  I cannot wait to see some friendly faces and meet some new ones.  Digging into our past is worthwhile for so many reasons.  I am thrilled to be along for the ride.

If you would like to read the article you can find it here:  Powersource Magazine, Fall 2022 by Santee Cooper - Flipsnack

Until next time…