Detail of the Taylor House near Monticello. This will be the site of our upcoming joint AAS-UAM/AAS-SAU Spring Break Dig, March 24-30.
Almost every Spring Break since 2006, the AAS-SAU Research Station has held a “Spring Break Dig” somewhere in south Arkansas–an opportunity for volunteers to get their hands dirty and learn how archeologists excavate at a real site in the region. In the past we have done “Spring Break Digs” at the Royston House, the Abraham Block House and Block 6 at Historic Washington State Park and at Dooley’s Ferry (a historic crossing of the Red River).
This March 24-30, the AAS-SAU Research Station will be assisting the AAS-UAM Station to host the 2014 Spring dig at the Taylor House near Monticello, AR. Also known as Hollywood Plantation, excavations in 1982 by Skip Stewart‐Abernathy made it the first plantation site to be excavated in the state. Built in 1845, the Taylor House is a two story, dogtrot style, log house near Bayou Bartholomew in Drew County. The 2014 Spring Dig will focus on the root cellar, the ell, the rear porch of the house and the smokehouse. This research has the potential to provide important information about the antebellum period in southeast Arkansas. Volunteers welcome.
The Taylor House is located on Hwy 138 about 20 miles east of Monticello.
For getting additional information and directions and signing up, contact Dr. Jodi Barnes (AAS-UAM) at: jabarnes@uark.edu or 870‐460‐1290, or Dr. Brandon at jbrando@uark.edu.
