Get Your Hands Dirty at HCF's Public Archaeology Days | Arts & Culture

Dig into Columbia’s past with Historic Columbia Foundation during Public Archaeology Days at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins home on Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1.

 Participants will have the opportunity to work with archaeologists while getting their hands dirty screening for artifacts from an active excavation, washing recovered artifacts, learning how to survey a site and create archaeological maps. Open to both adults and children, this hands-on, family friendly event is free.

Presented as part of Historic Columbia Foundation and the City of Columbia’s African American Heritage Project, Public Archaeology Days are designed to introduce people to archaeology and the history of the site, commemorating the achievements of Modjeska Monteith Simkins, South Carolina’s matriarch of Civil Rights activists.

Because space is limited for the hands-on activities, Historic Columbia Foundation requests participants to register in advance at DigwithHCF.eventbrite.com for a three-hour shift, 9 am to 12 pm or 12 pm to 3 pm. The general public is invited to stop by the Modjeska Monteith Simkins home at anytime on November 30 or December 1 to view the archaeological dig or take part in any of the other events those days, including:

Saturday, December 1 – SC Public Archaeology Outreach Division will be on site from 9 am to 3 pm, teaching children how to refit broken pottery and about stratigraphy by making sand art they can take home.

Saturday, December 1 – Keith Brown, known as Little Bear, noted potter and member of the Catawba Nation, will give pottery demonstrations, talk about the history of his culture and tribe and have pieces of pottery for sale.

Free guided tours of the Modjeska Monteith Simkins and Mann-Simons Sites on the hour from 10 am to 3 pm on both days.

·      Lunch-Time Lectures:

Friday, November 30, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Anthropology professor Dr. Kimberly Simmons will talk about representations of African Americans during thepast century through photography and film. Dr. Simmons recently authored Reconstructing Racial Identity and the African Past in the Dominican Republic.

Saturday, December 1, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Chris Judge will talk about the recent findings at the Kolb Site, encompassing the past 12,000 years of history in South Carolina. Judge is the assistant director of the Native American Studies Center and co-director of the Johannes Kolb Archaeology and Education Project in Darlington County.

For out-of-town guests, the Clarion Hotel Downtown Columbia is offering a special nightly rate for Public Archaeology Day participants of $89.99 plus taxes for a King room or $64.99plus taxes for a Double room.

Public Archaeology Days are sponsored by Historic Columbia Foundation and the City of Columbia. The Modjeska Monteith Simkins Site is located at 2025 Marion Street in downtownColumbia. For more information about public archaeology day and Historic Columbia Foundation, visit historiccolumbia.org.