The event, held in Stabler Hall, featured artifact displays, mock excavation activities, and a guided tour of the dig site off Fair Park Boulevard. The open house, hosted as part of Arkansas Archaeology Month, drew a diverse crowd, including anthropology students, faculty members, and local residents.

鈥淚 was really surprised at how many people came,鈥� said Dr. Maureece Levin, assistant professor of anthropology and lead researcher on the project. 鈥淲e had a lot of engagement. A lot of my students were getting up and talking to visitors. We even had a site visit at 2 p.m., where people could see the excavation site firsthand.鈥�

The archaeology project began during the Fall 2023 semester as part of the Archaeological Investigations class. Students have since uncovered the foundation of the former Safeway Ice Cream Plant and recovered more than 700 artifacts, ranging from bricks and tiles to nails and glass. The project is supported by the Arkansas Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE).

For students like Noah Welch, an anthropology major from Cabot, the hands-on experience has been invaluable.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been interested in archaeology but actually applying it and getting to do what archaeologists do has been amazing,鈥� Welch said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done shovel testing, and we found a large piece of tile, concrete foundation, asphalt, and nails鈥攂asically everything you鈥檇 expect at an old factory site, except the actual ice cream, which is a real shame.鈥�

The open house also highlighted the educational impact of the project beyond the university. Paige Blair, a senior anthropology student and project intern, noted how she had engaged with many different members of the community through the project.

鈥淲e had a high school student come out who was interested in archaeology and wanted to get a feel for it,鈥� Blair said. 鈥淎 father and his 10-year-old daughter also came out to dig with us, which was really special.鈥�

Rebecca Hardcastle, a double graduate in psychology and anthropology from the University of Arkansas and project intern, found the experience personally rewarding.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been so great to get back into applied anthropology,鈥� Hardcastle said. 鈥淚 even enjoy cleaning the artifacts because it鈥檚 nice to see what we鈥檝e found once the dirt is washed away.鈥�

The open house also served as an opportunity for students to develop leadership and public outreach skills. Levin emphasized the benefits for interns and volunteers.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e not just learning excavation techniques,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e also gaining experience in public engagement, historical research, and artifact documentation. I鈥檝e seen them gain confidence in their archaeological skills and leadership abilities.鈥�

With more than 100 volunteer hours logged from more than 30 volunteers so far, the project is set to continue through the spring semester, with potential for further excavations in future years. Levin and her team are also working on an Ottenheimer library display and a possible permanent exhibit in the School of Human Inquiry.

For those interested in volunteering, opportunities remain open to volunteer on Sundays from 12-5 p.m. through the end of the semester.For more information about the project or to get involved, contact Dr. Maureece Levin at mlevin@ualr.edu or .

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The open house will take place from 1-3 p.m. Friday, March 14, in Stabler Hall 107. Attendees will have the chance to view historical artifacts discovered on campus from the site with expert interpretations, participate in a mock excavation, and join a guided tour of the excavation site (weather permitting).

The open house is an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to engage with the university鈥檚 ongoing archaeology project, which aims to uncover the rich history of the land where the campus now stands.

鈥淥ur campus has a much deeper history than people know,鈥� said Dr. Maureece Levin, assistant professor of anthropology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his open house is a chance for people to see what we鈥檝e recovered, try their hand at archaeological recovery, and learn about the past through hands-on experience.鈥�

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Garden Site Archaeology Project began in Fall 2023, when students in the Archaeological Investigation class uncovered the foundation of the mid-20th-century Safeway Ice Cream Plant and recovered more than 400 historical artifacts.

The project, supported by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE), provides both students and community members with hands-on archaeological fieldwork experience.

鈥淭his event is a great way to support our interns and students as they share what they鈥檝e learned,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淲e want to invite the community to see how archaeology helps us understand the history of our own campus.鈥�

No prior experience is necessary to participate, and all are welcome to attend. For more information about the project or to get involved, contact Levin at mlevin@ualr.edu or if you would like to volunteer.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Open House for Campus Archaeology Project appeared first on News.

The open house will take place from 1-3 p.m. Friday, March 14, in Stabler Hall 107. Attendees will have the chance to view historical artifacts discovered on campus from the site with expert interpretations, participate in a mock excavation, and join a guided tour of the excavation site (weather permitting).

The open house is an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to engage with the university鈥檚 ongoing archaeology project, which aims to uncover the rich history of the land where the campus now stands.

鈥淥ur campus has a much deeper history than people know,鈥� said Dr. Maureece Levin, assistant professor of anthropology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淭his open house is a chance for people to see what we鈥檝e recovered, try their hand at archaeological recovery, and learn about the past through hands-on experience.鈥�

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Garden Site Archaeology Project began in Fall 2023, when students in the Archaeological Investigation class uncovered the foundation of the mid-20th-century Safeway Ice Cream Plant and recovered more than 400 historical artifacts.

The project, supported by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE), provides both students and community members with hands-on archaeological fieldwork experience.

鈥淭his event is a great way to support our interns and students as they share what they鈥檝e learned,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淲e want to invite the community to see how archaeology helps us understand the history of our own campus.鈥�

No prior experience is necessary to participate, and all are welcome to attend. For more information about the project or to get involved, contact Levin at mlevin@ualr.edu or if you would like to volunteer.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to Host Open House for Campus Archaeology Project appeared first on News.

鈥淥ur campus has a much deeper history than people know,鈥� said Dr. Maureece Levin, assistant professor of anthropology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淚f you have ever been interested in what is hiding under our feet on campus and what it can tell us about the history of the land where we work and study, this is your chance to literally dig up that past.鈥�

Work on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Garden Site Archaeological Project began during the Fall 2023 semester, when students who enrolled in the Archaeological Investigation class were able to locate the foundation of the mid-20th century Safeway Ice Cream Plant and recovered more than 400 associated historical artifacts.

Community members will have the opportunity to join Levin and her students during the 2024-25 academic year to learn about archaeology fieldwork and lab work. They will be investigating through shovel and auger testing, excavation, and associated archival research. No prior experience is necessary to volunteer.

鈥淵ou will learn how to properly study and excavate an archaeological site, how to handle artifacts, collect samples, and how archaeologists use what is in the soil to better understand the past,鈥� Levin said. 鈥淚 want everyone in the community who is interested to learn how archaeology is done. A lot of people think archaeology is a far-off science where you go to another country, but it can happen everywhere humans have been.鈥�

Levin received a one-year $14,510 grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities to fund the community archeology project. The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education also provided matching funds to support the project. Michelle Rathgaber, educational outreach coordinator with the Arkansas Archeological Survey, will serve as the humanities scholar on the project.

Anyone who is interested in joining the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Garden Site Archeological Project can , , or contact Levin at mlevin@ualr.edu for more information.

Levin will plan an exhibit of the artifacts found at the project site in 2025.

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