The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Archaeology event teaches about learning from past
New South group inviting public to headquarters May 7.
Archaeology is looking at the dirt and the artifacts it holds and figuring out the story line, a “what happened here” kind of thing, says Mary Beth Reed, president and director of history for New South Associates. As part of Georgia Archaeology Month, the Stone Mountain-based company, which works to identify and preserve historical records, buildings and sites, is inviting the public to its headquarters May 7 to become archaeological storytellers through interactive activities and interaction with the people who uncover Georgia’s history for a living. The event is free. “The best way to educate the public about the value of historic preservation and archaeology, in particular, is do things like this,” Reed says, “so we can learn from the past.” Q: What does New South do? A: Under the National Historic Preservation Act, agencies and other entities are asked to consider the impacts that their projects can have on historic resources and our cultural record. We have historians, archaeologists and architectural historians who assist clients in identifying and evaluating what those impacts can be on sites, buildings, artifacts, things of that nature, and how to avoid or mitigate those impacts. Q: Can you talk about your event?
We have exhibitors, including Georgia State, UGA, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Greater Atlanta Archaeology Society. We are lucky to have Abby the Archaeo-Bus, which is Georgia’s archaeology mobile classroom. We have many hands-on activities. People can learn to make stone tools and do rock design art. They can excavate for artifacts. Q: Do you plant the artifacts? A: We do with our kiddy site, but the actual excavation area has yielded several artifacts that speak to the history of our property and we do rebury artifacts found each year. We are on Ponce de Leon Avenue where, if you put a shovel to the ground, you are likely to come up with artifacts. There is no gold involved! Artifacts are more likely to be a rusty nail or piece of pottery or a medal or a penny. All of these things help us understand individuals who came before us.
Q: How do you reach teenagers with a pretty low “lame” threshold?
A: Barry Mann, who tells ethnographic stories, seems to hold the interest of people of all ages. Last year, we introduced basket weaving, which to my mind could have been a little bit of a snoozer but people came to that tent at 10 a.m. and stayed till we closed. The atlatl throwing area is another big favorite. Q: What is an atlatl? A: Used in prehistoric times, the atlatl is a long wooden shaft used with a spear that allows the spear to be thrown farther and faster. It takes a lot of finesse to throw it.
Q: Why is archaeology important?
A: An archaeological site provides an unblemished window to the past. Archaeology is sometimes the only way we learn about people who do not have a written record such as prehistoric Indians, enslaved African-Americans, and many other groups.