Archeology - Winthrop Rockefeller Institute

Archeology

The Archeology program at the Rockefeller Institute is a cooperative venture with the Arkansas Archeological Survey. Our mission is to broaden the public’s interest in and understanding of Arkansas’ archeological heritage through a variety of enjoyable programs and services.

Select an archeology program or scroll down for more information:

Picture the Past Archeology Film and Lecture Series

At no charge to the public, Picture the Past provides Arkansans with a snapshot of the field of archeology. At 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every other month, uncover the hidden truth about North American archeology through knowledgeable guest lecturers and intriguing films. View the traveling archeological exhibits that correspond with some of the films and lectures.

A North American archeological study guide CD is available at no charge to Picture the Past participants or by request. This study guide is made available in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Archeology Certification Workshops

According to the Arkansas Archeological Society’s Web site, the Certification Program provides a means of obtaining formal extended training in various aspects of archeology outside of an academic degree program. The program was established in 1972 by the Arkansas Archeological Society and the Arkansas Archeological Survey.

Click here for more information about upcoming certification workshops at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.

Project Dig

This hands-on educational simulation for middle school classes takes place each fall. Designed to introduce students to the academic fields of archeology and cultural studies, teams of students become archeologists as they first craft artifacts for a culture they create and then learn to excavate, restore, analyze, reconstruct and present another team’s culture through its artifacts. Students must participate through class groups. Teachers interested in participating should contact Dr. Skip Stewart-Abernathy.

Arkansas River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society

The Arkansas River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society meets at the Rockefeller Institute the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and offer lectures, news of current events, and opportunities to help with research and preservation projects.The Chapter also conducts fieldwork the third Saturday of each month.

To learn more about the Arkansas River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society, contact Dr. Leslie C. “Skip” Stewart-Abernathy, WRI Station Archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, at 501-727-6250.

Archeological Exhibits

Two glass-enclosed archeological exhibits based on research conducted by the Arkansas Archeological Survey are on display at Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. One exhibit displays artifacts found at nearby Carden Bottoms, located in the central Arkansas River Valley at the base of Petit Jean Mountain. This area was an important crossroads for American Indians in the centuries before European contact.

The other exhibit focuses on Native American rock art that was discovered in a large rock shelter at Petit Jean State Park. Pictographs (painted images) and petroglyphs (engraved or pecked images) created over 500 years ago can still be seen along the walls of Rock House Cave, which has been classified as a protected archeological site.

2009 Arkansas Archeological Society Training Program

The Arkansas Archeological Society’s 46th annual Training Program is a research project in which individuals interested in archeology can gain experience in all phases of archeological excavation, site survey and laboratory processing. Under professional supervision from the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s archeologists, Society members will excavate Carden Bottom during this year’s Training Program. Participants will camp here at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain throughout the two-week event.

Historic Rural Arkansas Photo Documentation Workshop

Arkansas’ rural landscape is filled with historic old houses and abandoned barns that provide a visual reminder of many Arkansans’ heritage. This annual workshop teaches the basics behind photo documentation of historic houses and outbuildings; how to properly complete Arkansas Historic Preservation Program inventory forms; how to use GPS and topographic maps to record location; and proper comprehensive record-keeping associated with historical sites.