Southern American Bottom Archaeology -SABA

We're not behind the scenes this go around, but we're stoked to support our friends at Camp Vandeventer Waterloo for their next Archaeology merit badge day!

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT RESPONSE.

It's time! Registration is now open for Camp Vandeventer Archeology day 2025! This year we are partnering with the Cahokia Archeological Society and the Illinois State Archeology Survey to host a single day event September 6th from 8 am to 5 pm.

We will be doing a dig at Camp Van this year. All scouts will need an adult with them, a blue card, and a sack lunch. Please see the registration form for more information. The event is free again this year. If you want to camp please indicate Yes on the registration form.

The registration form is at https://forms.gle/JoRVW2mBjnY2CN7RA

As we wrap up this week at Hawkins Hollow, new friends were made, alliances formed, and so, so many post holes found, meet the crew that made it all happen

Here's the the incredible crew who made this exavation season possible. Let’s meet the gang!

There are a lots of myths and legends out there, but let's take the time to get the facts straight about archaeology!

"I swear the spear-point was THIS big!"

We can all be prone to tall-tales, but it's no exaggeration that we're getting excited in preparation for our final excavation season at the Hawkins Hollow site this coming June.

Great funding opportunity to help with field school costs or other research!

Please share...
Now accepting applications. See comments below for important links, or email [email protected].

Archaeologists Are Finding Dugout Canoes in the American Midwest as Old as the Great Pyramids of Egypt In the waterways connected to the Great Lakes, researchers uncover boats that tell the story of millennia of Indigenous history

Excavation mapping requires patience, teamwork, and good communication skills. 🗺️✍🏻

A little bit of fun nail color doesn't hurt either with this duo of and Darnell! 💅🏻

We're wrapped up for the season, but will continuing to analyze things in the lab. More updates soon from our recent flotation work where we've been recovering little bits of plants and animal bone!

"Well, we worked so hard to build a little house together
In the snow or the rain or the ice-cold wind whenever." ⛅

The Hawkins Hollow field crew powered through a month of rain, hail, and even a few close tornadoes 🌪️, but we withstood the odds and learned so much about the construction of this 14th century Mississippian Period structure.

A deep and genuine thank you to to everyone who helped this season possible, particularly the Hawkins Family and Camp Vandeventer Waterloo.

Lots of lab work and data analysis ahead...🌿🔬 Stay tuned for more photos from the excavation and our Boy Scout Weekend on the horizon!