BDC Celebrates Archaeology Month 2018

Update: 8 October 2018 - Dr. Poplin is sending his able associate, Jeff Sherard, to fill his place on Saturday.  Also, a heads up : The Beaufort District Collection Research Room will be closed from 1 PM to 2 PM on Tuesday, October 16th for Amanda to get her lunch. We'll be short staff that day.

October also is Archaeology Month. Due to the re-scheduling of "Altamaha and the Yamasee Indians," we actually have two programs - both with Dr. Eric Poplin -  on tap to celebrate this year. He'll drive down on Tuesday for his lecture about Altamaha and return on Saturday, October 13 for the ever popular artifact identification session.

The Beaufort History Museum / Beaufort County Library local history series Season 3 opening lecture is focusing on the archaeology done at the site of the Yamasee Indians most important town, Altamaha. Dr. Eric Poplin was the lead archaeologist on the excavation and is said to be bringing along some actual artifacts from the dig for program participants to see.

Hurricane Florence caused us to re-schedule this lecture. Registration opened to the general public on September 25. Check this link:  https://beauforthistorymuseum.wildapricot.org/event-3073818 for seats that might still be available.

We will have another archaeology related program on Saturday, October 13th. Dr. Jon Leader, the State Archaeologist, and Jeff Sherard of Brockington & Associates will hold court that day to conduct our 6th Annual "What the Heck IS it? Artifact Identification Session." 

Drop in with your artifacts and try to stump the learned  archaeologists. The program and information is free. Anyone who has objects that they would like to have identified is very welcomed to attend. At past sessions, we've seen "stuff" from prehistoric periods, the time of Jesus, up to relics from Home Depot! (Psst: If it turns out that you have an artifact from Home Depot, these guys will not laugh at you. They are that professional.) Here's the downside: You have do to all the hauling.  Here's the upside: The program will be held in the Beaufort Branch's Theresa Dunn Meeting Room on the first floor so no climbing of stairs or riding the elevator will be involved.

Don't have anything to bring? That's ok, too.  Even passive bystanders who come to the sessions see  interesting objects and learn interesting things - listening to what the archaeologists say about what shows up on their table from library customers. In this case, eavesdropping is not frowned upon.  

"What The Heck Is It?" Returns

It's almost time for our annual "What the Heck Is It?" Drop-In Identification session to celebrate Archaeology Month. Start gathering up items that you'd like for the experts to identify. We are honored to again host South Carolina State Archaeologist Dr. Jon Leader and Dr. Eric Poplin, Archaeologist at Brockington & Associates from Mt. Pleasant, SC. Unfortunately due to scheduling conflict we cannot host our session on "International Archaeology Day" but will do it a week earlier, on Saturday, October 13, 2018 beginning at 10 am in the Beaufort Branch Meeting Room, 1st floor, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC. 


It is so much fun to see what folks have stashed away in their homes - artifactially speaking. Over the past years, we've seen arrowheads, spearpoints, fossils, Cold Charlotte, 1st century lamps, tourist produced pens (thought by the owner to be an Egyptian receptacle for poison), a Nazi flag taken during World War II, and even some 20th century concrete garden statuary from Home Depot. So there's no need to be embarrassed if what you have turns out to be entirely something else. Based on past experience, I know that the archaeologists will not laugh at you.


Anyone owning an artifact with an unknown provenance, date of origin or identification is invited to bring it to "What the Heck is It?" for identification our expert archaeologists. There is no limit of the number of items you can bring and no fee for the identification. Just understand that whatever you bring, you have to do all the lifting and toting to get it into the building and to get it back to your vehicle.

Heck, even if you don't have an unidentified item to bring, come in anyway to learn about the artifacts which have been brought in for analysis. It`s cool to see the array of items.

Please note: The Beaufort County Library is closed for Staff Work Day today, Wednesday, October 3th. Regular hours resume October 4, 2018.

5th Annual What the Heck Is It? Artifact Identification Drop-In

It's time for our annual "What the Heck Is It?" session - my very most favorite BDC program of the year! It's always fun to see what folks have stashed away in their homes - artifactually speaking. Over the past years, we've seen arrowheads, spearpoints, fossils, Cold Charlotte, 1st century lamps, tourist produced pens (thought by the owner to be an Egyptian receptable for poison), a Nazi flag taken during World War II, and even some 20th century concrete  garden statuary from Home Depot. So there's no need to be embarrassed if what you have turns out to be entirely something else. We are honored for the fifth time to have Dr. Eric Poplin, Archaeologist at Brockington & Associates from Mt. Pleasant, SC here to identify your objects.  We are grateful for the continued support of the Archaeological Society of South Carolina for this program.

Anyone owning an artifact with an unknown provenance, date of origin or identification is invited to bring it to "What the Heck is It?" for identification our expert archaeologists. No fee; No registration; No limit - though you must be able to haul the artifacts to the 2nd floor and back out to your car! 

Even if you don`t have an unidentified item, come in anyway to learn about the artifacts which have been brought in for analysis. It`s fun.

This event is free and open to the public.

Event Name: “What the Heck Is It? - Year 5”

Short Description of Event: Drop in with your artifacts and try to stump our learned archaeologist,  Dr. Eric Poplin. No registration. No limit of the number of items you can bring. Just understand that whatever you bring, you have to do all the lifting and toting to get it into the building and to get it back to your vehicle. Co-sponsor: Archaeological Society of South Carolina.

Time and Date of Event: Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Location of Event: BDC@ Beaufort Branch, 311 Scott Street, Beaufort, SC 29902

Price of Event: Free; Ages 12 - Adults
 

 

"What the Heck is It?" Session 2 on Jan. 22

Hilton Head, SC: The Archaeology Society of SC/Hilton Head Chapter will be holding their second annual archaeological artifact identification day. The "What the Heck is it?" program will be held Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Discovery House, Coastal Discovery Museum on Honey Horn Plantation. This year there will be one afternoon session, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.

Expert analyses will be provided by Dr. Jon Leader, the State Archaeologist of SC and Dr. Eric Poplin, Vice -President, Brockington & Associates with offices in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Anyone owning an artifact with an unknown provenance, date of origin or identification is invited to bring it to "What the Heck is It?" for identification by the panel of expert archaeologists.

For further information: George Stubbs- 843-363-5058 www.assc.net

Library Holiday Schedule Note:

All branches of the Beaufort County Library will be closed December 23th, 24th, and 25th in observance of Christmas.

The Bluffton Branch will re-open on Sunday, December 26th with regular hours and all other branches will re-open on Monday, December 27th with regular hours.

All branches will be closed on December 31st and January 1st in observance of New Year's Day.

Want to see a piece of space junk?

HRC member Coastal Discovery Museum is exhibiting a piece of an Atlas V rocket that fell out of the sky and washed ashore on Hilton Head Island back in May. Purportedly it was the first time such material has appeared on Beaufort County beaches. Telephone 843-689-6767 for information about this particular artifact and exhibits at Coastal Discovery Museum.

Artifact ID Event on Hilton Head -- Jan. 29th

The Archaeological Society of South Carolina, Hilton Head Chapter is hosting "the first ever artifact identification event on Hilton Head" on Jan. 29th at Discovery House. "What the heck is this?" is loosely based on the Antiques Roadshow concept. Two of South Carolina's most prominent archaeologists, Jon Leader and Eric Poplin, will be on hand to identify your personal mystery artifacts.

For more information about the program, please contact George Stubbs at 843-363-5058.