Category: Upcoming Events

April 11, 2024: Kelsey Kreiser

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APRIL 11, 2024 7PM EST

Discoveries from the Garrison
Kelsey Kreiser

The Garrison Neighborhood, established in 1896, was the first Black-owned neighborhood in Tampa. Until the 1940s the neighborhood flourished with Black-owned businesses, schools, and churches. Despite this, few mentions of the neighborhood exist in archaeological reports of the area. Downtown Tampa’s archaeological requirements prioritizes the National Register eligible Fort Brooke site, leaving this unique Black neighborhood underutilized in the study of Tampa’s diverse early pioneers. Since 2016 Stantec has been excavating portions of the Garrison, including the Caesar Street School, an African Methodist Episcopal Church, storefronts, and numerous residences. Through the artifact assemblages of these sites a greater understanding can be gleaned of life in this important Tampa neighborhood.

Due to potential severe weather on lecture day, we have decided to move this presentation to Zoom.
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/yjbv5zup

This monthly Archaeology Lecture series is co-sponsored by the Alliance for Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Society (CGCAS) and Weedon Island Archaeological Research and Education (AWIARE).

 

JUNIOR ARCHAEOLOGY SUMMER CAMP 2024

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AWIARE is planning an exciting new archaeology summer camp at Weedon Island Preserve designed for children 7-11 years old who are interested in exploring the past.  The camp is conducted by professional archaeologists and allow kids to experience archaeology first-hand through activities, experiments, hikes, and an excavation.

The summer camp is designed for children with an interest in prehistory and history as well as learning how early people interacted with their environment. Campers learn about the importance of archaeology and gain an understanding about early natural resources that were necessary for life in the Tampa Bay region. Highlights of the camp include guest experts, tour of an archaeological site, hands-on archaeology, lab analysis, pottery making, atlatl adventure, and earning the certificate of Tommy the Tortoise, Junior Archaeologist.

We hope you will consider joining us this summer!

Dates: July 1 - 3, 2024 (9a - 3p)

Ages: Children 7 - 11

Registration: $175 per camper/week (Limited to 10/week)

Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

How to register:  Download registration and liability release forms provided on pdf below. Return via U.S. Postal Service, along with check or money order made out to “AWIARE” for appropriate amount or online via PayPal. Once the completed paperwork and payment have been received, we will provide a confirmation and other information via email.

Download the Registration Form

Camp Week

2024 Adult Archaeology Camp

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Discover Weedon Island's Ancient Past

It was such a great experience to host this year's Adult Archaeology Camp at Weedon Island Preserve, one of Florida’s preeminent archaeological sites. Participants worked with professional archaeologists and researchers to uncover clues about the culture and lifeways of the early people who inhabited the Tampa Bay region, along with assisting AWIARE researchers in excavation, recording data, screening sediment, and collecting artifacts, bone, and samples, many interesting artifacts were unearthed from the excavation, sorted and processed.

Along, with archaeologists Dr. Robert Austin and Dr. John Arthur giving talks about the site and local Indigenous history, we had a special guest visit us the second week, Dr. Ezra Zubrow, and his lovely wife, Marcia. Such a honor!

We look forward to seeing you next year!

HANDS-ON WEEDON

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EVENTS

AWIARE’S FIRST ADULT ARCHAEOLOGY CAMP - A BIG SUCCESS

AWIARE held its first Adult Archaeology Camp February 22 – 26, 2021. Eight participants spent a week of performing archaeological activities that included field and lab experiences at Weedon Island Preserve and informative site visits. The camp enjoyed great weather the entire week. Protocol was in place for Covid-19 restrictions at all times.

On Monday, after the participants were welcomed by Phyllis Kolianos, the group learned about the area’s archaeological past in a slide presentation from Dr. Robert Austin followed by a trip to the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center to view the ancient canoe and exhibit area.  After lunch, the campers hiked to an excavation area of the Weedon Island site for a talk by Dr. John Arthur with Kendal Jackson and George Stovall about the USFSP research and excavations, and to view the trench area where the group would participate in field work for the rest of the week.

Tuesday through Thursday, the participants were divided into two excavation teams led by Austin and Kolianos with morning and afternoon shifts of working in the field excavating and doing artifact and shell analysis in the lab at the research station.  Heather Draskovich assisted the campers in the field and Cindy Martin worked with the lab team. 

On Friday, Austin led a caravan to visit the important south St. Petersburg sites of Pinellas Point Mound and Maximo Park.  The participants were given informational hand-outs, as Austin spoke of the context of these mounds and their archaeological history and importance. With the success of this inaugural camp, future camps are being planned.  The 2020 camp was underwritten in part by a donation from the Margaret and David Perry Foundation.